If you did switch...I would put sofa along the long wall (it would face the foyer). Then two chairs next to window. There is plenty of room for another bench along pony wall for more seating.

Ideally, how many would you like to be able to seat?

I don't believe that area needs to be "blocked". j will have to step it off, to ascertain how many feet we have from the front door to that living room wall where the sofa was. That would be the "beginning" of the d.r.?

Sounds like a plan Stan. I would love to know the measures of the current d.r. and l.r., as well.

It's a great benefit to have that opening to the patio. Agreeing with you on your initial comment.

I think she's only about 9' max width in current living room. Phooey! So length goes the length. That mirrored buffet she has in her Idea book could eat up a lot of wall in there as well.

Just a minor meltdown girls.....lol!! No, it's fine, any help or suggestions is great and I thank you! when I get home I'll give you the measurements of those 2 walls. Do want me to move the dining room table into the living room when I get home?

Also, just to update this thread, I "think" I'm going to take those 2 blue chairs in the living room and try to put them in the new baby room......1 will definitely work in there since it's blue and I'm having a boy and I'll put the other one somewhere else, maybe playroom or moms room for the baby and that way I can start fresh in the living room......I won't have to work around those blue chairs.....

Honestly, we don't really use either one of those areas. We never go in living room and only in the dining room for special occasions, such as holidays when it's our turn to have the family over, lol!

then make the table smaller and set the extra chairs to the window or either side of the moved mirror console.

Ok, we need you to dream now. How would you really like to use that expensive real estate? For example, my "formal" living room was never used until we purchased an antique desk to put the laptop on. Now it is a great quiet spot for computer use.

Spot for the gals to sit and visit while the guys cook on the grill?
https://www.houzz.com/photos/40-park-roseland-property-morristown-nj-contemporary-living-room-new-york-phvw-vp~149736

A great idea! 4 comfy chairs that are angled so backs are not facing the entrance. Only 4 people can sit comfortably in a one 2-3 seater sofa and a pair of chairs. j, what do you think? I guarantee with this arrangement this room will see lots of use.

Just cut it out. It was almost perfect when this post was started. Someone is getting carried away.

Honestly, j sab, all you need is some color. area rug in each room. art of your choice on 2 walls in each room. Then draperies. What you have done does not need to be undone.

I do think you should leave the leaf out of the table until you need it.

sandra, so far j. has purchased a coffee table and console table which can be used in the living room. Moving the console out of the entry way had solid reasoning because of the tight quarters for all the pieces. She is not wanting to keep the blue chairs. Her reasoning most likely is they don't fit into the types of neutral rooms she has posted in her Idea books. The old sofa needs to be replaced. I see nothing wrong with brainstorming options most especially when there is a living room that comes directly off the front door/hallway area. Rather than having her purchase a sofa, pcmom thinks maybe there is another arrangement that could work well in that space. It resolves the problems of running directly into a console table and sofa or having the sofa on her only long wall, which then does not allow for much more. So I agree with pcmom's idea of the 4 chairs. In all fairness I think every option should be explored before any purchases. If it turns out j likes the former arrangement or the one which grover put together, then she will have made a decision based on her options.

As for the dining room, I very much like the furniture and with a few adjustments the room will be lovely (already is). There's no harm done...yet. It's not until more purchases have been made and it is then discovered that perhaps there were arrangements that work as well if not better, then we will have dropped the ball...all of us. There is no one single manner in which a room can be specified and arranged. The fact the room (l.r.) has not been used leads me to believe unless we give it a specific intent, it will be real estate (as pc stated) that continues to sit without "company". That would be a shame. Don't you think?

Well said, Karen!

Isn't the point to give ideas to the poster that they may not have considered? Our poster is at a cross roads. In the end, she will decide what will work best!

Yes, I certainly do. I just want us to help and not confuse what really needs to be done with what (in a dream world) could be done.

i think 4 club chair, if in the budget, is a very great idea! if what she has now works then perfect we have all helped! now Leaf out please lol.

flair, j was planning to replace the two chairs so the cost of two more would most likely be less than the sofa under consideration? Depends on what can be found that will do the work and at what price point?

flair, here is the original photo of the table with all leaves. Notice how far apart the chairs were. If you look at j's most recent post, I believe one leave was taken out. Notice how the chandelier is looking much larger? (2nd photo) Not certain but I think this is so. LOL

j, if you like the idea of four chairs, one consideration is the Clara. The proportions are good for your room and the rounded back will work nicely against the angles of the room and tables. There are several stock colors. The first one is Dune which is a neutral and warmer which would work nicely against your lighter wood. The other is much lighter. The lighter one may read a yellow undertone and it appears your console table has a pink undertone. The chair is $999.00 and the measurements are 30"Wx34"Dx34.5"H The tight back will allow for a nice decorative throw pillow to inject some color and/or pattern.




Your console table, et.al can go on what is now the sofa wall. Thoughts?

j, another thought...if you really like your two armless chairs and don't mind going neutral (pretty much on balance in the room,) you can always buy two more. They are a very nice width. There are no arms I realize but they are wide enough to accommodate arms and elbows on the seat.

Love, love, love the idea of 4 chairs! So wish I had the perfect area for that! It's great that you aren't working around a TV in your room! If the blue chairs are being moved and you are going with 4 new chairs, keeping the chair backs low is perfect! I do prefer chairs with arms...easier to relax (with your beverage, of course).
The dining room chandelier does not "work" here. Are you flipping the rooms? If the LR is going in the DR, maybe a gorgeous ceiling fan?
Moving the mirrored chest to your daughter's room is a great idea!
I'd like to see a narrower console table in the entryway. Or, move the bench under the mirror and get a smaller accent table for the pony wall to place a lamp and an accent piece.
Instead of a chandelier in the entry, the second ceiling light Flair posted is a beautiful touch there!

j, where are you? Did you throw yourself on the bbque. Tell us what you are thinking...original look, floating sofa, 4 chairs or something else? There is no right or wrong..just perspectives and opinions.

Hi everyone,

Karen, haha, lol!!!! Sorry I've been MIA, I've been chasing my 2 year old around all weekend, lol!!

I think I do like the idea of 4 chairs but I'm still trying to visualize it in that room. Grover, do you think you could do a visual on how 4 chairs in the LR would look???

Karen, I don't love those chairs and its $900 just for one chair? A little more than I would want to spend on each chair. Any others you think would work? I'll look at some pics and see if there are any I see that I like.

I don't think I want to do the DR in the LR though, I think I'd rather leave them the way they are.

Four chairs:

grover, do you like the idea of 4 chairs? I'm also thinking with the south Florida setup with many, many homes with entrance and living room as j has, that there are other scenarios we can think about. Most (not all) southern Fla homes with this setup generally put together a pair of chairs to the back of the foyer and go from there. Thoughts?

j, if we were to do 4 chairs in grover's configuration, what do you want the budget to be per chair? You might want to give us a budget for all upholstery for the room and that info would make it much easier to configure. Thoughts?

Nothing says the chairs have to match (although the seat heights should): http://www.westelm.com/products/orly-dhurrie-upholstered-chair-h863/?pkey=cliving-room-chairs&cm_src=living-room-chairs||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-

However, I do like the sofa facing the window with the console table behind, and that's furniture j sab already has.

Just hoping the room becomes a magnet for you. Four chairs just invite gathering, so that is one option.

Or keep same furniture and add a spot for the laptop. That makes a nice study.

Or leave room empty and just have a chaise and small table for "Mom zone, break from the kids: Do Not Disturb!"


Just don't feel: This is the formal living room and I must follow these rules and have this sort of furniture!

j, I'm posting three chairs by EA which run between $700-800+ depending on fabric. Also as you know the wood pieces have stain options. I noticed you seem to gravitate to armless chairs so I put one in.



With these chairs I'm in the hopes we can add a case piece to the room with art/mirror/lamps, etc. It's always preferred if you mix other elements in with the upholstery and to add some height and visual weight as well.

Is that $700 - $800. each. I think she can do better someplace else if she even decides on doing 4 chairs. I think a sofa & 2 chairs would work best.

OKL https://www.houzz.com/photos/todd-club-chair-black-white-preppy-contemporary-one-kings-lane-phvw-vp~20763199
$999.
OKL

$429.
OKL https://www.houzz.com/photos/roger-accent-chair-oyster-new-neutrals-one-kings-lane-phvw-vp~20762476
$649.
OKL

$346.

If you were to float the sofa then I would choose one like this one from EA for $1600+ (on sale), as it is 75" long. The two seats give more than enough room for two people, which is really all you need. When you specify a larger 3-seat cushion you are taking up much needed space and you can only seat 2 people "comfortably". If you decide to float the sofa, then the 75" will do a much better job for you AND it will allow you to place another piece of furniture on what is now the sofa wall.

Regarding chairs, if you are not going to invest in a good quality, then you are much better off keeping your existing Navy chairs. I say this because you have both a buttoned back and seat which gives more support for the long haul. The problem with the price point such as the ones above from OKL, the chairs will bottom out after several years and the "foam" seat cushions will do the same. Not pretty!


If you decide to do two new chairs, this one is the best value if you decide to purchase from EA. $759.00

This is a very sweet chair for $649.00 https://www.houzz.com/photos/toulon-chair-ballard-designs-phvw-vp~20769319

j sab says they pretty much never use the rooms and she doesn't want to spend a lot on chairs. I still think this arrangement, which uses furniture she already has, looks great. With the new sofa she plans to buy, art curtains, and rug to coordinate with the blue chairs, she'll be set.

grover, do you agree it might make better sense to go with a 75" (or apartment size) to allow for more room (depth) to place a console table on the current sofa wall? Thoughts?

or would you rather see her console table behind the sofa?

I'm so indecisive on what I want to do in that room......this is my problem, I can never make a decision......I like (don't know if I love) the floating sofa but my husband and my sister who I talk to 100 times a day, lol, don't love that arrangement and I can't decide if that's the way I really want to go. The 4 chairs could maybe work.

I liked the first one from Ethan Allen (but I'm not sure an armless be as comfortable as one with arms) or I really liked the 2nd one from one Kings Lane but maybe without the studs.....

I think my budget for each chair would be around $500 if I decide to go that route.

Have your husband and sister actually SEEN the arrangement with the sofa facing the window? And if I did that, I would definitely put a sofa table, carefully styled, behind the sofa since it's the first thing you see when coming in the front door.

Honestly, I like it better than the four chairs.

j sab, left click on my name & click on my ideabooks & bring up my ideabook for accent chairs (which I don't think you even need, btw), you will see a lot of chairs under $300.00 apiece. I still think all you need in each of your lovely rooms is an area rug, a painting or two, & draperies. I do not get a commission on my advice either. Good luck.

j, you are right about an armless chair not being as comfortable. I think in order for the 4 chairs to work they need to be really comfortable AND good looking. With the $500 budget per chair that becomes a problem. There are so many chairs out there that can be had for $500 or less, but I personally have a problem spending money on something that will not hold up. That's the problem. The current price point for a DECENT chair is around $800.00 minimum. So I personally would rather you hang on to your pair of blue chairs and spend money on your sofa to insure that it holds up for the long haul. The investment you have in the pair of chairs is almost negligible except for the fact you just purchased them.

j, I'm going to tell it the way I see it. It never makes me popular but I'd rather be honest and give you good advice rather than have you go down a very gnarly road. First thing on MY agenda...You spent well over $5,000 for your dining room table and chairs. Personally, I'm not a fan of EA, but you have a really spectacular look and quality in those pieces. It's the first thing I noticed when you posted. I had no idea it was EA. I thought it might have been another vendor. The LOOK you achieved with that purchase is far and away a great price for the results. So now, here we are with the living room. I know often times that clients set a certain value on individual pieces because that is what they know as being a fair value with the promise of quality. I would rather you do absolutely nothing with your living room rather than throw good money after bad. That gets very costly over time. You purchased the two Macy chairs for a very FAIR price and the reason you bought them was to fill the room and to not spend a lot of money. It is interesting that your budget for a sofa was around $2,000. So this is not about budget much as it is related to what is considered fair value in your mind. There are $300 chairs as sandraclark has pointed out and there are also many sofas available for much less than $2,000.

The two tables you purchased for the foyer and living room have absolutely nothing in common with your intention for the dining room. The dining room and those two tables (console and coffee table) belong in two different homes. The tables would work very well in a family room but not in your living room with the dining room as you have designed it thus far.

I would suggest you do nothing until such time you decide you want to achieve the same quality look in each room. I very much like the idea of the 4 chairs for starters and for you to add more pieces and accessories, art, etc. as you go along. The chairs need to speak the same language as your dining room. That would be a modernized interpretation of traditional furnishings. This would not be mid-century modern attempting to go traditional.

I have examined this and I have attempted to make what you have chosen (on the fly) work. I could encourage you to move forward with your choices and waste more money on a look that just can't be what I know you really want. I would much rather you rethink your long term budget and get a really good idea of what the costs are for items you would really like and if it takes waiting then that is what you should do. Just filling up space to get it done and at price points that seem to make sense at the moment will leave you with an area that will have to be redone sooner than later....and that is just not what any of us wants. We want to do it, get it done, put it behind us and not have it all revisit us in 3-4 years. My opinion of course. I really, really care so that's why I'm writing this ridiculous tome.

Karen,

You are completely right in everything you said and I agree with you 100%. I really need to think about what I want to do with the rooms. And I totally agree with you about spending the money on things I really like even if they are more than I really want to spend so that in 5 years I don't have to go back and redecorate! You're right on point about it all!!

Karen...well said! I've always gone with your philosophy! We spent a small fortune on our dining room furniture (really we've only had open kitchen/dining rooms) over 30 years ago AND we still love it!

J...personally, I'd go with the 4 chairs. Sofas always seem to only work for 2 people, no matter how big, because no one really wants to sit in the middle! There's no place to put your arms!

j, I am so very relieved that you took what I had to say in a positive manner. So now, I feel you will be able to move forward in a very productive manner. The actual positioning of furnishings is not so important as understanding that you do not want to make mistakes AND you do not want to work around anything you don't love. It's no fun having to admit to mistakes and you are far better off to cut your losses and move ahead with what you will really love and enjoy. There is no rush far as I'm concerned. All good things in time. After you have given thought to everything that has transpired thus far, and after talking with your husband, you will know what you want, what you need to budget for and when it is time to move forward. If we need to do a better job of explaining your options, we can do that. I really do not want you to make a move in any direction until you are convinced you are going in a direction that makes sense to you. I am so very proud of you and your willingness to be open and to entertain any and all options. Excellent work!

Good things come to those who wait!

For wall art, kindly have a look at my Mood-Scapes in the Houzz Pro section/Photographers.
Curtis H. Jones - Avalon Nature Photography. Impressionism, Misty Landscapes, Abstract, Macro, and Clear Water Reflections are the categories.
An example or two:
Macro Photography:

Impressionism:

and Misty Landscapes:


All the Best,
Curtis and Team

More of my work can be viewed at:
http://avalonnaturephotography.com/

I am having a never ending battle of function over aesthetics. The way the couches are set up now has better function. I will plan to get a nest chair for the right corner. However, I hate looking at the back of the couch from the kitchen sink/island that faces the tv/fireplace. The other way we had the room set up is with the couches parallel facing each other. But the room is so wide that the space between the coffee table and couch was large. There was also an awkward space where the love seat is by the window. Any tips? Is looking at the back of the couch from the kitchen that bad or should I get over it?