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typeandrun

Help with entertainment center bookcase

6 years ago

This is so challenging! This is what I have so far. It’s just okay. I am using stuff I have. Anybody have suggestions?? Glass panels do not belong Just pulled them off our sidelights

Or is it okay as it is?

tia!


Comments (47)

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Hard to tell without more photos. I suggest posting photos of each wall in the room, showing the entire wall. As is, it is impossible to tell how the cabinet and panels relate to the rest of the room.

  • 6 years ago

    I generally prefer bigger items on the bottom.

    typeandrun thanked jmm1837
  • 6 years ago

    Are you asking about the knick-knacks? They seem perfectly fine. Never a bad idea to mix in a few books, even if they're just lying down, to vary the space a bit, but it's your house, so just put stuff you like to see. I would say that the shelves near the floor are dark enough that I wouldn't use them for display -- maybe you can find a couple of round baskets with lids (if possible) and use them to hold stuff you'd use in this room (games, an afghan, whatever)...


    Oak Harbour, Dusk, 18"x12", Utility Basket · More Info


    typeandrun thanked acm
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    There is no place in your home to use the leaded glass sidelight inserts. Sell them on craigslist or give them to Habitat for Humanity.

  • 6 years ago

    Here are a couple of pictures The entertainment center is centered by itself on a wall that is open to the entrance of the living room. Again the sidelights were just placed there as a place to put them. Not as a decoration. We have not decided what WE will do with them





  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Does the entertainment center actually house a tv?

  • 6 years ago

    yes it does and we use it all the time. It is in the center, the doors open then retract in

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Are the end pieces with the shelves attached or can they be separated from the main section? If they can be separated, I'd store them or find another spot for them.

    You have a pretty room but the visual bulk of the entertainment center is really overpowering it.

  • 6 years ago

    What is the size of the shelves? I think you are off to a good start. A few more books (maybe 1/3 books, 1/3 decor, 1/3 open space), placing heavier-looking items towards the bottom. I prefer a few statement pieces rather than a lot of little things. Color, scale, balance is what you are trying to achieve.



    typeandrun thanked Sammie J
  • 6 years ago

    Might be a good idea to put the sofa across from the unit, to give some balance.

    Hard to tell as we don't have a picture of the whole room. Good idea to remove

    the side pieces if you can.

  • 6 years ago

    The location of the ET center is the best placement in the room. The uniqueness is the side bookcases. I like the idea of removing the bottom shelf and placing a basket in bottom. Here is the current floor plan. The red x is where the ET center is. The opposite wall is the fireplace.




  • 6 years ago

    That is a little tricky for furniture placement as you have 2 focal points in the room and

    doors and windows to contend with.

  • 6 years ago

    Yes it was @Angel 18432! Took a long time to get it right but worth the time and planning. It is so welcoming and cozy I love it

  • 6 years ago

    I think this is a very nice room and I like your traditional tv cabinet. It suits the space and adds height to the room. Truthfully, I’m sick of seeing those tv consoles with the tv hung on the wall! I do think drapery panels would help soften the space and add another layer of interest though!

  • 6 years ago

    ...

  • 6 years ago

    The sidelights are gorgeous..i would put one on each side of the windows behind the couch ,if they fit..as to the little shelves i feel all the little pieces are undermining the look of the elegant cabinet..less is more and each tiny shelf should have one piece that has a striking silhouette..in a color that stands out from the dark back ground...and if you insert pictures the frames should be simple and matching..the theory is to create a modern..not an old fashioned cluttered look

    typeandrun thanked btydrvn
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Those stained glass panels are beautiful. I would hang one on each end of windows like Draper panels outside trim. Btydrvn stated most of my thoughts as well. I would consider some art either side of your pretty unit. Lots of white. More photos would help us come up with ideas for you.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Here is example.

  • 6 years ago

    I think if you added just one large piece to each shelf it would look less busy. I added some books to a couple shelves and some Asian pottery in muted tones to complement the beautiful colors in your space.

    typeandrun thanked lynartist
  • 6 years ago

    Agree, adding drapery on each window would help soften the room.


  • 6 years ago

    following...

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Just throwing this out there - lol. The piece is so large and dark, your eyes are drawn there and it takes over the room. You could update and also lighten with chalk paint - don’t have to strip and sand. The picture below is not reflective of yours, but I thought it may help you envision your room if it was lighter. If you can also remove some of the shelves it will look more streamlined and you could add small baskets on remaining shelves/use simple and complimentary accessories that feel casual and warm. Changing hardware could also make a difference.


    typeandrun thanked Maureen
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you for the suggestion. It IS the statement piece of the room. However the rest of the room is very light with wall color, painted fireplace and mantle, lighter in size and color furniture. My floor is also a lighter wood. I love the warm brown cherry color and it is ageing beautifully in its patina and finish. There is a lot of light in this room, though not reflective in the pictures. I really like the idea of storage baskets on bottom as I need a place to store some toys for grandkids

  • 6 years ago

    I’m not bothered by this . You have enough other wood pieces in the room to balance this and the rug has enough color and substance to carry it also. I think adding art with a light feel on either side would look very nice and drapery side panels perhaps with a nice trim on the leading edge would suit this traditional space and add that extra weight to the room. Otherwise, lovely space!

  • 6 years ago

    ...

    typeandrun thanked lynartist
  • 6 years ago

    ooohhhh love all those drapes @lynartist !

  • 6 years ago

    I do love these Asian paintings from Chelsea House. Something like this on either side of your cabinet could look nice.

  • 6 years ago

    Wow love those curtains with the tassels...especially since you dont have much pattern in the room

  • 6 years ago

    And that art! I never buy new art..but these are beautiful and would lend a sort of authenticity to the cabinet

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    What budget for art and drapery would you like to stay within?

  • 6 years ago

    A curated collection of some items you love would be my solution to the shelves. They feel a bit random and disconnected right now.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    @decoenthusiaste the two middle shelves on each side hold collections of rookwood pottery vases and handmade tiles

    https://www.rookwood.com



  • 6 years ago

    Try putting only things that match in color together ? More impact and more interesting..

    typeandrun thanked btydrvn
  • 6 years ago

    Like the dancing ladies with the matching pottery piece on shelf above

    typeandrun thanked btydrvn
  • 6 years ago

    And the white couple plate with the white vase?

    typeandrun thanked btydrvn
  • 6 years ago

    Or the little green bowl in front of one of the big green bowls

  • 6 years ago

    I love your large piece and the place it is in. Keep posting!

    typeandrun thanked Susan Davis
  • 6 years ago

    So what do you think if the glass sidelights were hung on either side of the entertainment center? I really had no idea what I was going to do with them and just stashed them in the corner of the living room for safekeeping


  • 6 years ago

    @Flo Mangan i have a good friend who has a drapery workroom business so I will be very lucky to have her make window treatments at a significant discount. My problem is I have a total of 7 windows. 5 in lr and 2 in dr. Not sure what I should do? Maybe side panels on the three windows then the rest in Roman shades? And all the fabric needs to be the same or complimentary





  • 6 years ago

    While I like the art above the mantel, it is a bit crowded there. Have you considered having a custom light box made for the stained glass to set horizontally on the mantel or to stand in a corner vertically?

    typeandrun thanked decoenthusiaste
  • 6 years ago

    I never thought of a light box using the glass panels. Love the idea!

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Since all your windows have very little space beside them, I would consider roman shades, inside mounted if you have space. I would keep them all the same and light and airy. Drapery panels, IMO, will crowd the space and reduce the light.

    typeandrun thanked Flo Mangan
  • 6 years ago

    and every pic I post shows the room very dark. It is not at all, lol! I have lots of light


  • 6 years ago

    You can do a combination of shades and side panels. Either bamboo shades or a woven or even a matching Roman to your drapes. I would take advantage of your friends workroom 😂 the cost of custom window treatments alone would have me there in a flash!

    typeandrun thanked lynartist
  • 3 months ago

    Took me six years but i finally finished this room! another pic in prior comments

  • 3 months ago
    last modified: 3 months ago

    Pretty room - love your wall color!