that's nice Flo! I agree the piano has to 'tuck' into a corner in order to make it work.

The black vase is for a table. It is small. Just so you Understand. You would need bigger one for big plant.

Yes Flo, second rendering just what I meant. It was the only way we got seating space and the piano in the same room. I have no rendering skills.

@CDR Design:

Answers to your questions

1. The dining room is rarely used, so I will convert it to office/study/reading room

2. Yes, we use this room a lot when having family gathering. We have a big family.

3. Sofa and chairs are often used in this room, average 5-7 people

4. Yes, there’s a family room in the kitchen.

OK, either Option 1 or 2 will work and give you a way to sit at least one more person on the ottoman. :)

@Flo Mangan

Thank you for the second layout. It's interesting, I will keep this in mind when I deciding to change things around.

What I have in mind is a little blue in this room. I'm thinking about these pieces. Please recommend places to shop for this similar pieces.

I also think about a tripod lamp. What would be better? Wood or metal? Gold or silver?

Can you put the piano in the dining room or living room in the dining room? I just feel for the size of the room, the piano takes over.

@CDR Design, LLC

You have a very good idea. If I use this room for the piano only, What's the room set up would be? The piano is in the center of the room?

greatbigcanvas.com this website has loads of options and they do very nice, reasonably priced floating frames with metallic detail. Just about any look you want. Check it out.

If you move piano to Option 2 position, you could do 3 large paintings above the chair rail. You can paint the walls a flat off white and paint the chair rail in the same color but use a "satin" finish.

I would not recommend tripod floor lamp in this space. They take up too much space. An arc lamp might work depending on your final piano placement. Very small footprint on floor and can swing light over sofa area or piano.

Yes, that would be striking to have the piano in the center of the room. Pianist could face the listeners who would be sitting in the current dining room area.

You actually could make this front room your library/study/reading/music room. Or, this could be a music room with other instruments in the space.

The current dining room could serve as both a listener room as well as a nice place to read when the family isn't over.

Now you will be able to fit a real coffee table in the "dining" room.

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I wouldn't think OP's dining room would accommodate a baby grand. The photos above are interesting, but plopping a big piano in a small room without the proper architecture imo would look odd.

Post size of dining room. I can test out options. I love developing schemes for multi-use rooms!

Can you also post length and width of piano so I have that size perfect to your piano. Measure longest side and across entire keyboard area. Thanks!

@Flo Mangan

Piano size: keyboard length 4'9", longest side: 5'4

Here's the size of dining room: to the right is the living room, top and left are windows.

Ok. I will work on later tonite. Thanks

My piano template is just about right. A few inches short on long side.

For a minimalist vibe, wouldn't want a large coffee table.

For practical/space reasons, wouldn't want a huge knee knocker.

If needing storage under/within the coffee table is not an issue, you might consider a round or oval metal and glass or metal and marble top one -- something similar to this could work:

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/brassica-34-inch-wide-faux-marble-and-gold-modern-coffee-table__46m34.html?cm_mmc=GOO-SH--NA--NA-_-46M34&sourceid=DFGPD46M34&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoajnmZqM6gIVlYrICh2xSgvuEAQYBSABEgK5p_D_BwE

But also consider if you want three end tables for the two ends of the sofa and between the chairs as you decide on your budget for the coffee table.

and would you want some black to offset the white?

https://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/coaster-furniture-702788-cappuccino-and-transparent-coffee-table-with-interlocking-oval-base-2140391.htm?partid=googlePLA-DataFeed-AccentTables-2140391&kpid=2140391

and would a lift top be practical -- how would you want to use your tables?

https://www.homary.com/modern-round-coffee-table-with-storage-lift-top-wood-coffee-table-with-rotatable-drawers-in-white-natural-white-black-marble-white.html?sel=2971&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29z0ipuM6gIVdeW1Ch0xZAMpEAsYBiABEgJh0fD_BwE (Note: not personally a fan of veneer; would rather have real wood or metal.)

@CDR Design, LLC

Thanks for the piano room pics. I would prefer not to have a lot of stuffs, so the idea of library of books won't happen. Will keep searching for inspirations.

Got it. For modern glam, I’d have the piano, bench, parlor palms and a wall of mirrors

The dining room is smaller than living room with big windows. I have tried several possible arrangements and not liking them. So the option of leaving piano in living room at this point looks best to me. You could move sofa to dining room and create another seating area there. Then reconfigure living room with two more chairs. Later tonight I will post ideas. Time to prep and cook dinner. Bbl

Yes flo that is what I imagined. The piano alone in the front room would make a stunning entrance. Dining room more suitable for sofa and chairs.

Yea, sofa is challenge on both rooms. Just too big. But I am on it! Bbl.

Thanks @Flo Mangan, can't wait to see what you come up with. My to do list for the living room:

- Take out the chair rail.

- Repaint

- Replace carpet with wood floor.

But running to another dilemma, what should I do with the baseboards, molding, trims? leave them as is or paint them white?

I would add taller modern baseboard, and paint off white as I mentioned earlier. Paint trim white too. Trim and baseboard should be in “satin” finish.

I might as well ask who listens to the pianist, if anyone does ? or sings along...

But I would keep the change to living room as showcase room. Otherwise you will be changing all trim. You have a lot of wood so reducing the amount is a personal decision. The chair rail is different because it is very “traditional” feature. So deleting it in living room will really bring things up to more modern look. Also declutter walls.

Here is a basic setup for the 2 rooms.

@CDR Design, LLC - If the sofa is under the windows, aren't the two chairs placed in the entrance to the foyer?

@Design Girl, this is how I am understanding the house is set up, based on photos and the floor plans. I moved the furniture to the dining room and left the piano in the living room.

The CDR design board looks great. To maximize acoustics for those in your seating area, turn the piano.

@dsimber thank you for your suggestion. I didn't think of that.

In the end,placement will be decided upon acoustics, looks from all directions,how sunlight affects piano, where pianist feels most comfortable. Easy to turn based upon which factors are mist important.

Add sound absorption materials including rug, drapes, canvas art

Here are my cuts on things. Options to consider. I am posting the one with piano in dining room just in case you were curious.

Sorry the “bench” slid when I took photo of board. In this drawing, the bench would sit under art.

Consider the sound and “lines of sight” as you enter and view each space.

Not quite sure how these rooms line up? But tried putting together.

These are awesome @Flo Mangan. I won't put the piano in the current dining room, I cook a lot so I'm afraid grease from cooking will stick to the piano. That's a lot of cleaning.

Thanks for the baseboard recommendation. However, I will use simple board. The one in the picture has a crease, dirt get stuck there easily. It's hard for me to clean the baseboard. What's the height size of the baseboard do you think it will make better?

Yes, I agree. No piano in dining room. Current baseboards are 5-6” high. Yours currently look like 3”. I would remove them in living room, paint then replace with 4” plus top trim with angled edge. If I get time, I will try to do a mock up or two for you!

Just to whet your appetite on the living room a rough mock up. I just selected blue and white abstract art to show you how flanking art with pair of floor lamps would look so cool. I put new light wood floor, light walls and blue and white rug. Enjoy!

Here is one example of popular baseboard configuration for your style home.

Best to get floors done then baseboard. But you may have to paint first and wait on new baseboards until new floors go on.

For baseboards, generally I like a 1 x6. You don't need or want a quarter round. You will have to decide the baseboard in conjunction with the other trim. You have detail on everything. Are you removing the chair rail, crown, what about the detail on the door trim, etc.?

To me, for a compromise, I would replace the baseboard and remove the chair rail and crown. Leave the trimwork on your doors. Because of the square detail on the trim molding, I think you can get away with leaving the trim on the doorways (but if you have the funds, then change.) Then, I would go with baseboard the height of the trim piece on the bottom of your doors.

I think the trimwork on this house actually adds interest. Painting it white will make a world of difference.

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@CDR Design, LLC @Flo Mangan

Can I just paint the crown molding and baseboard white and leave the trim alone?

I really like this simple baseboard in this house.

Like the light finish of your wood trim.

If you make sure the surface of the wood is entirely clean and paint the wood in a couple of thin coats (rather than rushing the task and trying to cover what's there all at once ... and likely getting drips/runs) -- if you let each thin layer of paint dry before adding the next coat of paint, then painting finished wood should not be a problem. You might try painting a "hidden" piece first and, if necessary -- if the paint doesn't want to adhere to the surface -- rather than globbing on a thick coat of paint, use steel wool to "rough" the surface and then remove the dust before painting finishing the painting.

Like your white narrow room inspiration pic and the idea of leaving the wood inside the door way openings.

If you're considering painting the baseboard, wait until last to do that so you can consider another option:

If you can carefully remove the chair rail (and fill and smooth the nail holes in the wall) then AFTER you paint your wall, add the chair rail to/atop your baseboard to make it closer in overall height to the width of the inside the door trim. Painting the baseboard last enables you to have the option to keep your baseboard that now, higher, better matches your inside-the-door trim -- which might be a good idea, especially if you're keeping the carpet.

Also, if you're painting crown molding and your ceiling is white, then paint the crown molding white like the window frames. If you do end up painting your baseboard, instead of painting it the wall color, consider painting it white as well.

Yes. You can paint the baseboard and crown only.