Help! Small family room

13 years ago

We just bought this house and I am starting from scratch (pic is an MLS pic). New paint (I haven't chosen a color scheme yet), new furniture, hard wood. We have chosen a "Autumn Maple" hardwood but I can't get past that. The room dimensions are 14 x 10. We both like the traditional look with clean lines but comfortable! I love the look of old leather. The kitchen will have expresso cabinets, white quartz and stainless steel. In an adjoining room, the dining room will have a rustic table made from old barn wood. I just can't get this room set. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

Kimberley Johnson

13 years ago

Ok. I'm going to plunge in, and may revise once you update us on flooring, etc. I think a small Chesterfield loveseat (or sofa if your dimensions would allow) in a caramel brown color would look GREAT with the old barn wood table. Then, I'd place 2 small scaled arm chairs (with low arms) in a rust contemporary fabric beside each other, with their backs to the dining room. Place a small thin side table between them. Add a rustic sideboard or buffet under your television for storage, and get an antique factory cart for your coffee table. Then, I'd remove the casing around your fireplace, and add an old thick rough hewn beam for the mantel, with same wood trim on edges, and add a lovely stone tile in a linear pattern, to give a nod to your more contemporary kitchen. It needs bronze tones, with metallic metal and glass. Finally, find a rug in all these warm tones, with a hint of gray or slate, to complement the stainless in your kitchen. It should tie everything together. Please let us know what you decide! Good luck!

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Comments (19)

mpohzehl
Original Author
13 years ago
PS. This is the other side of the family room.
Kimberley Johnson
13 years ago
Hi! I have a couple of questions first. Is that a painting or a window above the fireplace? Second, will your tv be placed on the wall as well? Next, what kind of flooring is that, beige carpet? Will the flooring stay? Is the breakfast area a ceramic tile? And finally, is the kitchen area to the left and behind the little wooden tray table? Is it open to the breakfast area, or is it a half wall? with bar? Thanks!
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PRO
A Crew of Two
13 years ago
The FP is small in scale so choose furniture that does not over power it. Do you like the tile in the fireplace? It seems very traditional, but you mention leather and barn wood....which to me reads more old world and can look heavy if not done right will overwhelm the room. The furniture in this room has that fell, but the scale of it is smaller. Nothing overstuffed or bulky. Soft colors. I love the worn leather chairs.
Rustic Living Room · More Info
Kimberley Johnson
13 years ago
I forgot to mention the places where I found these items. The chair and rug are on Overstock. The sofa is from Wayfair. The factory cart table has a link I'm attaching. I'm obsessed with these tables! All over pinterest and absolutely amazing! old and funky at the same time!

http://www.antiquefactorycartcoffeetables.com/
mpohzehl
Original Author
13 years ago
We've considered bumping out the back of the house 6 feet and moving the fireplace to the wall where the tv it. I like the idea of removing the fireplace facade and then mounting the tv above the fireplace? Colors?
PRO
Persian Crafts
13 years ago
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Anne Keehn
13 years ago
I would do an L-shaped sectional in that small space. We bought one several years ago from Furniture Liquidators. The great thing about it is that we were putting it in a small space, and at that time you could go there and design a sectional any size/shape you wanted, as well as picking out the fabric and firmness of the cushions. Not sure if they still offer that but it was very affordable. We chose a sable colored microfiber fabric which has held up great and is easy to clean. We normally buy leather furniture but this ended up being a really nice look, and warmer. I think when you have such a small space, one sectional is better than a sofa with chair(s) because it doesn't look as cluttered.
decoenthusiaste
13 years ago
If you have to watch TV here I like your bumpout idea. Otherwise, I'd put a smal scale sectional in the corner with a pair of chairs floating perpendicular to the FP facing the wall.
Kimberley Johnson
13 years ago
Well, if your budget allows for a bump out, then of course, do it! Is the fireplace on the back wall? Do you have views of a great yard? You could definitely move the fireplace, but, if it's real wood, it would be better suited for the back wall. If it's gas, then it won't matter. What direction do the windows flanking the fireplace face? That also directs how you design. If it's on the west, and hot often, then you won't want the tv on the rear wall (staring at the sun while trying to watch tv) and also tons of windows on the west can be super hot. It it's on the north, depending on your part of the country, it might be cold, and again, you won't want lots of windows. Update us on that, please. I do like the idea of a larger breakfast/dining area! Your new table will have tons of space!
mpohzehl
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Currently the fireplace is on the back wall that backs to a wooded back yard. My thought is to move the fireplace to the side wall (where the tv is) and install a low fireplace surrounded by stacked tile that looks like stone. Above the fireplace would be the tv. The back wall would be flanked with large low E windows (my husband is a contractor). I love the idea of a small sectional with 1-2 side chairs. Maybe the side chairs could be of saddleback leather? What about a color? I am so over yellow.
Kimberley Johnson
13 years ago
Wow! So lucky to have a contractor hubby. I love the idea of tons of windows on the back, especially since you have a wooded yard. Is it possible to send an mls pic or your own of the kitchen? Entry? I just would like to get a sense of the rest of your house. I, too, am over yellow. So many on houzz seem to recommend yellow every time. Do you love color? Like a more understated hue? Even with a 6' bumpout, a sectional can overwhelm a room and can make your new addition seem small. They do make compact sectionals, which I personally just bought. (Lane) That will work and will be super. Do you love leather, or love a more cozy soft fabric for your sectional? I'm so excited for you! We, too, just remodeled our entire house...literally! It's amazing!
charliebeth
13 years ago
I love the idea of a small L-shaped sectional in that space.
leelee
13 years ago
I would get a cabinet for the TV or if not in your budget, lower it. It's too tall for easy viewing.

You need a longer more horizontal picture over the sofa hung 5" over the back of the sofa.

Use your nice trunk as a coffee table.
leelee
13 years ago
I wouldn't go for a sectional in you very small family room. You are locked in to only one possible arrangement. Then you have to move the TV. If you need extra seating go for small chairs.
msubreeze
13 years ago
This is a perfect room for a small sectional. Move the TV over the fireplace no matter what you have to do to make that happen. It takes an entire wall now of an already small room. I recently saw someone hang a long piece of wood on a wall behind a sofa using "L" brackets (could go fancier hardware but not needed) Stain or paint any color and set lamps there - leave room for lamp cords to drop behind ledge or cut a hole. Put that where the TV is now, sofa in front of that. Now sofa is facing kitchen and you can see each other! Use footstool or coffee table that opens for storage. You are so lucky you have a beautiful home!!!
User
13 years ago
I would definitely choose art or photography before you choose the colors of your paint or accessories. That way you can choose something you absolutely love and pull colors from it for your accessories such as an area rug or vases. Etsy.com has so many shops with unique items. just use their search engine for what. You are looking for. and I hope you will look at my photography. Can customize with regard to size or media. you may want a large canvas with photography printed on it. photography is so realistic. it allows you to remember places you have been or visit places you dream about in an instant! my shop on Etsy is nancyhehmann. if you quickly want to see my photography just double click on the Carolina Photo to Go above (in green) in the upper left.
Kimberley Johnson
12 years ago
Mpohzehl, so did you decide on a plan for your space? Just curious! Please attach images!
mpohzehl
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
We started the tear out process and I have painted. We tore out the wall behind this room so that the kitchen has an island that backs to the family room. Still haven't decided on the rest of the furniture. This is what I have so far.