Our Family Room Struggle

8 years ago

We have just begun discussing updating/remodeling our family room. Our home is a well built but dated and has not been updated since 1989. Our favorite and most used part of the house is our kitchen and family room area. As you can see I struggle with decor! If anyone can help with thoughts we would appreciate it I will list the measurements and what we like along with attached pictures. We like the bones and the space but are struggling with the best layout for furniture, where to put a TV, and how much remodeling to do.
With both of us working and spending time with the kids, trying to figure out what to do becomes overwhelming so we do nothing. Our home is the hub for most family gatherings because of our space. We want to keep the comfy, inviting, vibe but loose the 80s/90s decor. Help this frazzled stuck working mom out please!!
Amanda
1. Our family is 190 inches wide and 250 inches long
2. We have two young children and pets
3. The doors lead to a three season sunroom.
4. We like the bar and fireplace and both work but need updating.
5. We want comfortable furniture and storage for entertaining and watching TV.
6. Changing windows design, placement, or covering some would be fine because they need to be replace anyway but we don’t want to loose too much lighting.
7. We do not want to tackle a complete overhaul of a fireplace but would be open to ideas including changing the windows on either side of the fireplace and the mantle.
8. We are looking for design and remodeling ideas that we can tackle in phases for cost and time.
9. We love craftsman, clean, casual, and classic designs that are functional, pretty and not to trendy.
10. We don’t need to have the TV above the fireplace and are open to layout options.

Featured Answer

Betsy McIntyre

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi Amanda! You could easily make your living room bright and cheery -- I see lots of potential!

1. New color scheme. Everything is very brown! I would take out everything that's brown and do a completely new color scheme. Paint your walls and trim white (I recommend "Simply White" by Benjamin Moore). Paint your bar cabinets a fun color such as a grayed-out blue or aqua or even mustard yellow or kelly green. When you said you like craftsman style, I immediately thought of the work of JAS Design Build. I think you'll love their work -- find inspiration here: jasdesignbuild.com/work/projects/

2. Make the windows beside the fireplace larger! Joanna Gaines recently added large windows beside a fireplace (Season 5 Episode 2) and it completely transformed the room. If I were you, I would copy her window treatments, too! https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-02-mountain-house/

3. New mantel -- something updated/chunky/rustic. And new clean-lined/modern fireplace screen.

4. Move TV to where cat climber is and place that in a different room. The Benchwright Media Suite might suit your style! https://www.potterybarn.com/products/benchwright-tv-media-system-with-tower-seadrift/?cm_src=PIPRecentView. And there is a matching coffee table: https://www.potterybarn.com/products/benchwright-square-coffee-table/?pkey=e%7Cbenchwright%7C90%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C48%7C%7C27&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH

5. Replace carpeting with hardwood flooring and then add a large area rug to define seating area.

6. Replace current furniture with pieces that are more tailored and clean-lined (I love the Belgian Track Arm Sectionals from Restoration Hardware: https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?cellBackground=false&link=BelgianTrackArmAvailableslipcoveredCollection&categoryId=cat80012). Gray upholstery has worked great for our family. You could choose an accent chair or two that are colorful.

7. Remove mirrored backsplash in bar area and replace it with patterned tile! I love this look by CC + Mike: https://www.instagram.com/p/BarkKkiB9dF/?taken-by=ccandmikecreative

8. Add colorful artwork such as a large canvas of Emily Jefford's work: http://emilyjeffords.com/

9. Light every corner using table lamps and floor lamps.

10. You don't have pictures of your ceiling, but I'd consider a statement chandelier -- perhaps something like this: https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod13391458&categoryId=cat12210052

Hope this helps!

Betsy

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Comments (18)

jhmarie
8 years ago
The fireplace is fine - except the TV on the top. It has a more timeless look and if you want a change up, consider a new screen. I would try out the TV where the cat climber is.

You could dress up the windows a bit with some pretty roman shades. You could also do faux romans shades which would function as a valance and hide the blinds during the day.

As far as the bar and kitchen(which I am assuming has similar cabinetry) I have less pretty but similar cabinets and found that new counters, backsplash and apron sink really freshened the space - but I do like wood. I have considered new doors in a more craftsman style, but right now I am fine with it. Here it is if there is anything that you see for inspiration.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854040

My window shade is a faux roman shade.

If your microwave is over your range, consider a hood. You probably have stainless appliances, so a pretty stainless hood looks better and vents better.
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sillycannoli
8 years ago
if you are looking to update in phases over time, you will need an overall plan (and budget) that you can implement at different times. Hiring a designer would be great so someone can help you address all the issues in an integrated plan.

For the short-term, this is what I would do:
As others have mentioned, get a console for the TV and put it on the wall where the climber is. Move the couch so it is now facing the TV console, move the love seat where the couch is now, and angle the chair by the fireplace.

And this should be part of your overall plan, but to me the biggest bang for your buck would be changing the carpet to hardwood.
Amanda Ogren thanked sillycannoli
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
My suggestion is to get a TV console and place between slider and windows on wall opposite where cat climber is now. Then move kitties tower to corner to right of fireplace. Put sofa on wall opposite side of slider. Your chairs are really too large for your room, so when you can, replace them. One could be a compact recliner/swivel and the other a simple swivel chair. Use the ottoman for a coffee table with a tray to hold a drink. A nice colorful piece of art over your fireplace and a interesting wall treatment over sofa would be bring color and interest. A couple coordinating pillows in the sofa would help bring everything together.
decoenthusiaste
8 years ago
When you shop for the new seating pieces, don't buy a matched set no matter how much pressure or "freebies" the store's sales staff pulls out of their hat. Yes, your TV should go elsewhere, preferable out of a traffic path (so maybe between the sliders and window) and on a credenza (not a TV stand.) I think you can go for a bigger set too.
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
Some ideas.
Kathi Steele
8 years ago
Good ideas, Flo!

You need smaller furniture, for sure. BUT, you need to come up with a cohesive plan first. Then you will know what size furniture you need and not get furniture too large.

Can you take a picture from the fire place into the space this room opens onto?
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
With family, kitties and children, I selected a color palette for you of navy blues, grays and some interesting wall hangings. Of course, you can select colors you prefer but here are the concepts. Getting pieces angled right with the sketch tool is impossible but use your imagination on how these pieces would face the TV and console on wall to right side of room as I mentioned earlier.
everdebz
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
A rug with excitement of pattern and/or color?

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/kirkland-wa-living-room-eclectic-living-room-phvw-vp~7834378[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kirkland-wa-living-room-eclectic-living-room-phvw-vp~7834378)
everdebz
8 years ago
Wood floor at some point, and lots of light -- what about painting fp black, or another dark neutral?

[if you want "prettier" colors you have a sunroom] ?

[https://www.houzz.com/products/valspar-kettle-black-prvw-vr~617273[(https://www.houzz.com/products/valspar-kettle-black-prvw-vr~617273)
PRO
Galilee Lighting
8 years ago
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Betsy McIntyre
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Love this look for your fireplace:
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User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Being honest that’s an odd place for a bar area I would close that off. Can you see into the sunroom from the window. I would do a French or Square with Round top window and door to match and curtains. Whatever sofa you purchase have them facing each other and love seat in middle. Have the bar off the side of the sofa on left hand side.
felizlady
8 years ago
Lots of good ideas so far!
I often recommend a large Oriental rug with colors for a large space. My children and grandchildren used the patterns and colors when playing with little cars and boats on our rugs. Orientals don't show dirt or stains and can be sent out for cleaning when needed. They are great over hardwoods. And they offer a wide selection of colors for you to choose from for walls, furniture and accents.
Closed storage is a necessity in every room, whether built-in or in the form of chests, cabinets or glass-fronted units.
I would put the kitty tower somewhere else because it takes up a lot of space.
User
8 years ago
Which side of your walls is 250” the wall with doors or opposite