Wall with air return -- ideas?

6 years ago

Hi all! I would live some ideas with what to do with my wall here. The door that you see perpendicular to the wall is the entry from the garage. To the right if the wall is the kitchen, to the left is the living room. This is a very active area as it's the transition space between outside and inside, and it collects a lot of clutter. I would like for it to have more function, but that infernal air return is such a pain! We thought maybe we could put a large piece with louvered doors and the back cut out over the whole space. I don't think we're could use the space in front of the grate, but at least it wouldn't be such an eyesore. Right now we just have this very undersized entry cabinet. does anyone have any other ideas? maybe I should do a tall cabinet instead, and just leave the air return exposed? I've included a picture of a cabinet that we like.

Featured Answer

Cherie

6 years ago

I agree with Hallett. If the ceiling under the stairs is unfinished, moving the air return and thermostat could be straight forward and a couple hours of work for an HVAC tech. You probably have a panned air return with piece of sheet metal or foil cardboard is nailed to the floor joist. You'll want to check if the joist on the left is clear of obstacles. And it’s easy to run a new cable to the furnace for the thermostat if the ceiling is unfinished. If it looks possible, you can negotiate this as an add on the next time you service your HAVC system. But you'll want to be careful not to compromise your stair case structure if you need to cut the stair case framing for the new air return to run up the wall.

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Comments (10)

erinsean
6 years ago
How about a console table that is open below. It would be in front of the vent but not cover it. On top of the console table, you would see the vent because it is tall, but a plant, a box, a bowl could cover it and would not be noticed.
C Marlin
6 years ago
I might change the picture to a larger and lower centered one and not add any cabinet. Does your staircase not have a railing?
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
What do you want to spend? I would look into having the return pushed further left into the triangle part so you can have larger art. I would also move the thermostat to the right or even around the corner. Hundreds of dollars but then you can have a proper table with art above...
decoenthusiaste
6 years ago
I hope a handrail will be going on on those stairs! Can you stand in front of the return air vent and photo what is opposite it?
thinkdesignlive
6 years ago
I'm with erinsean and think something like this could work: prop some art on it and around it with some stools below (this will be less of an air block than a full credenza):
Downtown Apartment · More Info
Darlene Smith thanked thinkdesignlive
acm
6 years ago
Agree with taller open console -- wide enough to really claim the wall, and with a couple of drawers, but not blocking the vent enough to be a problem. Then you hang art over it and balance as needed with a lamp on one end...

Nobody has mentioned the lack of a stair railing yet? Super not to code...
Darlene Smith thanked acm
User
6 years ago
The railing was mentioned above.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
6 years ago
Lots of choices in tables that will allow the air to flow
Darlene Smith thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
Darlene Smith
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thanks everyone for the great ideas. To address the stairs, we live in the county and codes aren't really regulated. There is a wall on the far side of the stairs, so only 3 steps aren't guarded. We are in good health and for now aren't worried about the stairs. We'll address rails when the time comes.

I've pieced together in Photoshop an idea and am wondering how y'all think it looks. I've "customized" the table to fit the area but this particular piece of furniture is not that wide. I need about 5', I think. Do the proportions look right? I want to extend past the edge of the vent so it's camouflaged a bit. I may have to have a custom table built.

Thanks for your input!