Ideas for my 1980s contemporary living room?

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

We moved into a 1980s contemporary a couple years ago, and now it's time to tackle the sunken living room. I'm looking for any and all suggestions for how you'd handle the space -- we've done nothing. We're using old furniture and it's currently filled with all kinds of kid stuff.

It's a large living room with a cathedral ceiling, and then an attached dining room with a step up. There are two huge windows on opposite ends of the space.

Above: Living room view from entry hall.

Above: Living room into attached dining room (currently using it as an office -- will hopefully use the space differently in the future).

Above: Living room view from attached dining room.

The one thing that we've already decided on is the hardwood floors -- we're putting in hickory, as pictured below. We've already installed it in the family room adjacent to the kitchen.

1) Any thoughts on how to handle the fireplace and the wall paint color? I'm debating painting the oak fireplace surround white (only painting the wood on the fireplace -- we're leaving the oak trim around the windows and the baseboard), and then painting the fireplace wall a darker color - gray or navy, we're thinking. We'd also paint the opposite wall this accent color (where the tv is mounted in the above picture), and then the two facing walls with the windows would be a lighter neutral. What do you think? Should we do something else to the fireplace? Paint the whole space one color?

I'm also trying to figure out a space plan. I'm trying to talk my husband into mounting the tv above the fireplace so we can add more seating. Here's one option:

And here's how it would look in 3D

I'm struggling because the change in ceiling height makes the fireplace appear off center, though it is centered on the actual floor area before the step-up to the dining space. You can see on the first floor plan layout where the ceiling height would change.

Here's another option if we don't end up moving the TV to above the fireplace. Once again, the ceiling height would change over the rear couch.

2) So any thoughts on space plans? Bonus points if you can figure out a way to work in the leather Stickley recliner pictured in the top photos -- right now I have it headed down to the playroom in the basement.

Thanks in advance for all your opinions!!

Featured Answer

PRO

CDR Design, LLC

10 years ago

This is a wonderful house! Lot's of potential. You have a good start on a plan. But, I don't think you want a sofa shoved that far toward the step-up. A piece of furniture under the lower ceiling feels odd. I would center the furniture arrangement on the high part of the ceiling, not on the fireplace. You have flexibility to where the sofa would land. With the off centered fireplace and tv to the right and angled ceiling, you can play around with the furniture and it won't be so obvious that it is or is not "centered" on one item.

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-place the tv on the fp wall, but I would put the tv to the right of the fireplace. So, the tv would go where you have the bookcase.

-Sofa would float where you now have the chairs. It would face the fp and tv and be centered on both of them (or approximately centered).

-2 chairs with their backs to dining room

-you would still have space for seating along the window.

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Comments (16)

apple_pie_order
10 years ago
Your new plan looks like the room will be mainly for grown ups. Is there another area for the kids to take over? Or is there a new kid area in the current plan that isn't labelled?
lindentree27
Original Author
10 years ago
The kids have already taken over my whole house. I'd love one room that's devoted to grown ups, though that's probably unrealistic :). I'm thinking the train table is the only thing that would have to be relocated -- in the last floor plan pictured I have a row of cabinets underneath the TV -- I think that'd be adequate for toys.
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apple_pie_order
10 years ago
Thanks for making me laugh. I'd go with one long sofa and two chairs, maybe another Stickley recliner chair to match the one you have. That will allow you some versatility in your floor plan as the kids grow. Try moving the tv right in front of the fireplace for a few days to see if that above-fireplace location works for you. A couple of lightweight Ikea Poang chairs in one of the leather colors close to your Stickley leather could be moved around easily when you need more seating.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
For extra seating, you could also consider a "bar" behind a sofa or sectional. (where you have the keyboards now). (I usually don't recommend sectionals, but in this room one would work well. Then, I would leave the window area open.

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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
I would paint out the oak it does not work with hickory IMHO I think the fireplace wood painted a pale gray and as for furniture and layout I would embrace the room it would totally lend itself to contemporay furniture and you surely could mount the T.V on the fireplace as for colors of walls I would wait until furniture is decide i could see long low white sofas with a huge coffee table and a fabulous area rug.
lindentree27
Original Author
10 years ago
CDRDesign - ahh-ha! Exactly what I was hoping for! A solution I hadn't thought of! Putting the tv to the right of the fireplace would solve a lot of problems! I'll have to play around with that idea!
lindentree27
Original Author
10 years ago
Patricia - I didn't think the oak and hickory would work well either, but we sanded it down and put a light neutral stain on it when we installed it on the family room, and I think it blends pretty well.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
Not bad.
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
10 years ago
As far as the colors, I don't recommend painting an accent wall. The only exception is if you could like to have the tv and fireplace area one accent. I would recommend painting the area to the right of the fp a tone similar to the fp. surround. The photo below is inspiration.

William Hefner Architecture Interiors & Landscape · More Info
lindentree27
Original Author
8 years ago
CDR Design -- you gave such great advice - albeit a couple of years ago. :) I just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration -- totally helped us figure out a direction for the space.
Val B
8 years ago
Love to see the end results! Looks great!
kulrn
8 years ago
Wow! Beautiful!!
Renee
8 years ago
Gorgeous!!!!!
PRO
CDR Design, LLC
8 years ago
You did a fabulous job! Thanks so much for taking the time to get back with us and show us the results. I hope you are enjoying your space!
JustDoIt
8 years ago
Wonderful job! Makes me want to start over.