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Design Dilemma
jenny_nash

Nightmare 2-story Room

13 years ago
So sorry I bought a house with a 2 story living room. I have tried for 4 years to decorate it with no luck. The room depresses me. We're saving up for wood floors, high baseboards and a new staircase which I know would make a big difference. Any ideas on bringing some pizazz in the meantime? We're traditional and I love the mineral color in the rug. Ignore the mess. I have a 1 year old who will be moving all his junk to a playroom soon. I am really intimidated by those windows....don't want to waste any more money on something that won't work. I need ideas for pictures around the tv unit the ones there are too small and look awful. I was trying to copy a look at the furniture store for less. Went with ready made frames and prints my husband took. The look is not the same.

Also don't like the accessories on the round table. I can't do a lamp there because a chord would be in the middle of the room. The sofa is too small against that wall of windows. Someone said something about flipping the arrangement and having the chairs at the wall of windows, but my husband doesn't think our sofa is the right kind to back up to the entry way...
Featured Answer
  • 13 years ago
    One of the first things I do when confounded is to simplify. Sometimes I leave it simplified, but once I get to the bones, I usually get a better view of what needs to be done. To that end, I've done a bit of that here. I've removed the molding on the flue, taken everything off the mantel, and made the art larger, built the bookcase taller and emptied it, and removed some of the things on your table. Rest with it awhile and then start adding stuff back in a little at a time. When something doesn't feel right, take it out again. It's a process: seeing what's too small, what's too bland what doesn't fit. Take your time; you'll get it right and the journey is part of the fun.

    Comments (74)

    • 13 years ago
      new pics
    • 13 years ago
      more

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    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Jenny, www.Art.com is a great resource for finding that large format painting/print to put over the fireplace. In many cases they can re-size various pieces to fit your needs. As far as the TV stand goes, it looks more like it's just off on a very naked wall space. Look for some larger artwork to put on that wall, or add more smaller pieces to it. They don't have to all be aligned. try random placement to make it seem like the smaller artwork/pictures are taking up more space than they really are. I do agree that the chairs are not proportionate to the space with the existing table. Although I like the eclectic feel of the mis-matched furniture, it doesn't flow well. The wall of the staircase would be a great place to add a smaller book case to help take the burden of the built in next to the fire place, and it would be a place to add that much needed taller table lamp that you can't fit next to the His and Her's chairs. Best of luck!
    • 13 years ago
      We used to have a little table with a lamp on that wall, but we had to get rid of it because my 1 year old could likely pull it over on him. We also had to remove a large trunk style coffee table because we had an emergency room visit when he tripped and gashed his head on it. I have a lot of artwork, but I don't think any of it is going to work with my dimensions. I have a sister design team coming out on Wednesday and will post any big improvements. How does the community feel about trees? I know fake trees are a no no to a lot of designers but this room needs some color and filler. I don't know if I'd be able to care for a real tree. Thoughts on leaning bookcases on either side of the built in? Too much symmetry? I have a tendency to go over board with symmetry. The matching end table is in my nursery right now and the lamp is in the basement.
    • PRO
      13 years ago
      Try some taller Orchids if you're looking for a pop of color. They're really low maintenance. (about 2-3 ice cubes once a week) or a good silk floral arrangement on top of the entertainment center to give it some height. A book case is something that you could screw into the wall to ensure that your son can't pull it down on top of himself. They make corner and edge protectors for children who are still a little clumsy, that are available through Amazon, or at your local Lowes or HomeDepot that you can paint to match the piece it will be attached to just to round out the edges and soften them a little. I think that the book case on the sides of the built in would help add some much needed filling, and symmetry isn't always a bad thing, it can help add balance to a room of that size. The corner with the built in is very dominating because there's so much going on over there, so adding another larger element on the other side of the mantel will balance out that space a little more, and not make the corner feel so cluttered.
      Jenny Nash thanked Amber Storer
    • 13 years ago
      OK, these photos give a much better sense of the size of the space. First off, no leaning bookcases. They are much too flimsy and casual for this room (for any room, pretty much, IMO). Indeed, this room calls for bigger furniture, but perhaps we can do something with your art.

      I also see why the built-in is the height it is; it aligns with the doorway on the left.

      Now don't go running out to buy a bunch of stuff to fill up the space. It's the surest path to buyer's remorse. Let's get a plan first, and see what the sisters have to say.
    • 13 years ago
      I think some said it already - but I think that removing the moulding above fireplace will do a lot to bring the proportions back down to human scale. Right now, you need something to be framed by the space delineated by the moulding. So unless you can get a good tip on a mural painter, remove the moulding. Easier said than done I realize, but it terms of renovations in this room, it won't be the worst.

      That's my only suggestion decor-wise.

      In terms of removing furniture because of todlers - we've all done that. Or lived with lamps with broken shades (that was me) until most of the toddling was over. I hate to say it, but the baby stage doesn't actually last all that long. It just feels that way some days!
    • 13 years ago
      Decorative, hand carved panel out of teak. The panel is 84"l x 20.5"w x 2" thick. One side is painted brown, the other a crackled off white. Multiple uses for this piece of original architectural art!

      AA# 82098 $350.00
      http://www.archantiques.com/id180.html

      You're gonna need something BIG.
    • 13 years ago
      The carved teak is totally our style. Love the recommendations!
    • 13 years ago
      Pottery Barn has a media console in two sizes; one 10.5' long, the other 14.5 ' long. I've photoshopped the shorter one (kind of by guess or by golly) into your space with the largest art I could find: a landscape from art,com that's about 6' x 4'. It's the largest piece they had (and it's not the style I'd have chosen for this room, but you can see the scale anyway). I've also photoshopped two Monets that are 6' tall. They're not quite right either, but have a look.
      Jenny Nash thanked groveraxle
    • 13 years ago
      This conversation has been fun to read. Your space is looking much better with your blinds down and your bookcase simplified. @groveraxle - you have some wonderful thoughts/love the photoshopped versions your doing, how kind and helpful! I think the combo of a TV plus artwork could be a little over kill. You don't want what you look at the TV to be overly distracting. . just a thought! But definitely LOVE that over sized teak piece.
    • 13 years ago
      If those tall window really arent' to your liking, what about pinning some LONG lace yardage up in a criss cross pattern (ie, cup hooks or command strip hooks thru 'button holes" or grommets in the lace) -- my sister used the cheap all-over lace on sale from JoAnn's -- yards of it ... way cheaper than drapes, it will filter the light, but not block it out.... and it's inexpensive enough to play with until you settle on what you really want -- just pin and drape, don't even worry about hemming... if not lace, a light weight drapy semi-sheer... leave hemisphere window alone; start on sill below that, pin across center window and one side; then pull all that fabric over to a catcher at the height of the top of the bottom window and let the panel fall to the floor in that corner. Then again, start from far side of center, back to corner, gather and let fall....key here is drapy fabric that you LIKE and is CHEAP to buy as you will be going thru a fair bit of yardage...no rods, not lining, just coverage..until you decide what you really do want and have the budget for it.
    • 13 years ago
      Now here's an option I rather like that might work since you say you already have a lot of art. I stole this gallery wall (shhhhhhh!) from someone who collects bird art.
    • 13 years ago
      Kaelyn is absolutely right about the art behind the TV. I have NEVER liked art behind the TV (although one woman on another thread did it well...but then, she didn't have a massive room like yours). I think I might know what would be perfect there, but I'm afraid it will make you eat your heart out. I'll be back.
    • 13 years ago
      Kaelyn is right. Groveraxle is awesome. Thanks for all of your thoughtful input and work. I have new hope for the room. There's a picture in my look book that we'll try to copy when we get a new sofa in a year or so. We have some pretty bad fading from all the sun. It's the picture with the stripes on the bottom of the curtains. It provides coverage and draws your eyes down. Will hopefully be able to make a few changes to limp through the next year or so. The large piece for the fireplace is at the top of the list...that and getting the shelves adjusted and bringing in some greenery.
    • 13 years ago
      It's a Dogon granary door. It's at Sotheby's. They figure it'll go for between $12-18K. It's still not really big enough. First pic is the inspiration.
      Pacific NW Casual Living Room · More Info
      Jenny Nash thanked groveraxle
    • 13 years ago
      Jenny, keep your eyes peeled for LARGE interesting pieces, antiques, ethnic carvings, you might even hang a Persian rug. The room will be a work in progress for awhile. But it's going to be a lot of fun. And just removing the blinds to expose the view and corralling the baby toys ought to make you feel great.

      Keep the baby stuff under control and you'll feel much happier with the space.
    • 13 years ago
      I think you have a fabulous space to work with. I have double high ceilings in my great room and would never buy a house without them. Your space has tons if potential. My two biggest recommendations would be to
      *Add moldings to the fireplace and paint the whole area out in your white trim color (similar to pic attached)
      *Upholster any new furniture in Sunbrella fabric to help prevent fading and easy clean up for kids spills is a bonus

      If you give me some room dimensions it may be easier to help you with a furniture layout and artwork/accessories plan.
    • 13 years ago
      Baby has officially been corralled to his TWO rooms. Will have to play with one toy at a time from now on. Amazing what a difference taking the blinds down did. I'm anti blinds now. Will scout for large interesting items at deals. There are tons of great consignment sales where we live.
    • 13 years ago
      KC, thank you! Didn't know about sunbrella fabric but will look into it! Sounds great. I love the molding idea on the fireplace also. Not sure of the dimensions... Will have my handyman measure when he gives us his hardwood installation quote. Anyone have suggestions on wide plank, hand scraped laminate floors? Yeah, nay?
    • 13 years ago
      Hi Jenny. I love handscraped hardwood for a family with kids. A 5 to 7 inch, 7 is more expensive so it's what your budget allows. Vintage floors is excellent for their handscraped floors as they are actually done by hand and not machine so they look amazing when installed.
      Jenny Nash thanked katchiu
    • 13 years ago
      This house deserves real wood, not laminate. Which kind of throws a wrench into my latest idea. But I'll put it forth anyway because I worked really hard on it. You need a coffee table, so I built you one, a big honker. Ignore the fact that there are too many legs. (A hazard of Photoshop.) Then I hung your rug on the wall since you don't really need it on the carpet (which I vacuumed, BTW). Ah well, if you're going hardwood, you can put the rug back down. ;-)
    • 13 years ago
      If it's this one--
      Traditional Living Room · More Info
      --it's beautiful.

      But copy this one from your ideabook too:
      Family Room · More Info


      Clearly we're on the same page.
    • 13 years ago
      Yes, it's the Alpharetta picture. I absolutely love the wood accent above the fireplace on the other picture. Different room personalities. One says let's chat about the gossip from the club. The other says warm and cozy. I usually like the look of the Alpharetta residence for a living room and the other for a family room. If we finish the basement, I'll make the upstairs more formal.
    • 13 years ago
      Jenny, we have almost identical homes! I have the same hate/love relationship with the two story/large window wall. I have been looking for pictures of built ins to add and I love yours. Appreciate all the advice here and am considering it for my own room. For my .02 worth, I have handscraped dark hard woods in the kitchen. HATE them. If I could change one thing, that's what it would be. Everything shows. Dust, dog hair, bread crumbs. Swiffer is necessary but even with regular sweeping the floor never looks great. Also, the grooves between the planks are impossible to keep clean. I have to vaccuum them with an attachment. They are the first thing going when possible. I would rather have laminate than these floors.
    • 13 years ago
      Hi Dbyrne65 - I had a design team come out to make some recommendations. They are shopping for accessories. As soon we get some changes in process, I'll post updates.
    • 13 years ago
      Love the windows they are your focal pt. with ceilings this high. You have to use big furniture, tall art. Fabric on windows floor to ceiling. Just on ends. Don't try and cover them. Big over size furniture. But I see you have someone coming in to help. With this huge room. You need help from a expert. You have spent years on things that didn't work. A designer in the first place would have saved you money in the long run. Good luck.
    • 13 years ago
      Can I suggest you put your money into a finish basement. That would solve a lot of clutter and the problem with room. TV in bookcase is not working. The whole room is focused on TV. I agree the amt of clutter in room is a big problem. Just a thought.
    • 13 years ago
      By the way stay away from store like Thomasvill all their sales people work on comm. so more they can sell you the more they make. They are also suppose to be designers, and space plan a room for you. Did she do that when you brought a 3K wall unit? I can't believe a designer would tell you the best way to go for TV. A living area should be a place for conversation, relaxing. You don't seem to have this in this room.
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      I've never been a fan of the "2 story" living room, mainly because I always think the windows look awkward.

      But I think they have dealt with it in a really interesting way in this Houzz photo ... love how they have joined the windows together with the moldings between ... I think it takes it from "problem" to "feature"

      [houzz=
      Cathedral Living Room · More Info
      ]
    • 13 years ago
      Katycc79 god job on rooms you posted. See how the drapes go floor to ceiling. They also used moulding in large squares on walls then placed art work inside. The use of very large art pieces is way to go. Bring in texture with area rugs, palms, oil art. And color.
    • 13 years ago
      Yeah...Thomasville is the worst place to buy furniture from. Their "designer" was very inexperienced. She mapped out a plan complete with an oversized sofa. She didn't follow the progress of the order so she didn't know that the fabric was discontinued. They made me take the chairs that were ordered with the sofa that I would never receive. After 6 months of waiting for my sofa, I bought a floor sample at Ethan Allen that didn't work with the other chairs' dimensions. Corporate never responded to my e-mails. They were just happy to have the money they had from me. They didn't care that my order was a mess and I was unhappy.
    • 13 years ago
      The wall unit looks lost on huge wall. If staying fill space on either with very large potted palms. Remove any small art like ones by unit. Place tall pot on top of unit, in a color. I like your rug in pic. Use the blues as accent. Panels on windows use a peacock blue. For a dramatic effect.
    • 13 years ago
      A very tall 6-7 ft mirror. Not to wide should have border on each side of 5-6" over fireplace. Do wood moulding on wall on either side of TV unit. Start at top of media and go,up 7 ft on both side 36" wide. Wallpaper just inside of moulding a blue from rug. That would be inexpensive way of filling up that big wall. Still ad tall palms. In black ceramic pots.
    • 13 years ago
      You need end tables big dark wood no need for lamps unless you have plugs in floor? How big is your rug? Big square coffee table 36" or 40" in center do you have Z Galleries? If so check there store for all your furn and art needs. The best accessories around. They have mirror for firepl and coffee tables.
    • 13 years ago
      Let me put in a vote for NO drapes on the windows. I know you all have been convinced that you need drapes for an elegant look, but let me argue for the elegance of simplicity and for nothing--especially not a hunk of fabric--that detracts from the window panes and view. Take another look at the naked window; it looks like an old English conservatory, open and expansive, nothing hidden, as if you could see the world. Mies was right:

      Less is more.
      --Mies van der Rohe
      Jenny Nash thanked groveraxle
    • 13 years ago
      If you are thinking of replacing wall unit which I think you should. West elm has some great ones they have a light reclaimed wood look with metal legs, buy two run end to end to fill wall get a big screen, the one you have is lost go 55" or bigger. Place in center. I would still do the color block moulding on either side, they would go about 9 ft up. Paint or wallpaper inside. Cheaper than art.
    • 13 years ago
      I wouldn't do groupings very hard to get right. And when they are wrong can look cluttered.
    • 13 years ago
      2 Chairs not working. Keep fabric one push back by corner by staircase. Add table and lamp use it as a reading corner add books to end table .
    • 13 years ago
      Change area rug in entry to 6 ft round in brighter color center in entry. . Remove coat rack. Remove lamps and replace with one only color base, white shade. Add a palm to end where coat rack was. A colorful bowl and a candle is all you need on top. Love your dog.
    • 13 years ago
      Over entry table a very big 40 x40 art piece with color hang 7-8" above table. Think scale, you have high ceiling have to think big.
    • 13 years ago
      The sister designers had some great suggestions for repurposing some of my stuff. I'd love to redo the basement, put in hardwoods and start from scratch on the room. However, we'd be at 80k and I'm not sure I want to continue in my icky job. So.... we'll repurpose for now, do hardwoods in the fall. Then, we'll redo the basement and get new furniture in time. I dug out an entry table that we'll use instead of the rustic one which will go behind the sofa with some large accessories. They actually liked the art by the tv unit. It shocked me! They just had me space them out more, and they suggested a metal decorative item for above the unit. We found a mirror from my basement for the fireplace. I'll take pictures Wednesday when my handyman comes out to do it all.
    • 13 years ago
      We got rid of the coat rack. The sisters didn't like it either. :)
    • 13 years ago
      The dog is available. He has some serious anger issues.
    • 13 years ago
      We're doing a family portrait over the entry table about the size you recommend
    • 13 years ago
      You know what else would look good hanging over your fireplace is a kuba cloth skirt. Here is one I found online, and one in my own living room draped over a chair.
    • 13 years ago
      What kind of dog? I'll take him. Maybe he doesn't approve of the changes you have made. Have you been hiding his toys again?
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      I like the cloth. I'm scared of those big heavy items. The mirror in my inspiration room is 80 inches long.
    • 13 years ago
      He's an adopted silky terrier. He attacks feet when he decides it's time to go to bed. He used to attack anyone who touched the remote control.
    • 13 years ago
      Send him over. Grover will straighten him out.
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