Help with Open living room/dinning room area

4 years ago

Hi everyone! After a couple of months of racking my brain, trying to figure out what to do! I decided I need help. We just bought this house! I love the open floor concept, but I'm having a hard time designing it to keep that openness in the space but also have a formal dinning table and enough seating for a large family in the living room.

A few thoughts/questions:

1. The mantle will go, and I'll have a reclaimed wood mantle installed centered just above the fireplace. Not much I can do to distract from the off-centered brick wall? Any ideas?

2. What would be the best seating setup for the living room? I would love to have a sideboard or cabinet on the wall in front of the fireplace; but that leaves me with less seating! I'm thinking two easy chairs by the fireplace, my Article Sven Sofa under the big window and a loveseat facing the fireplace (see my attempt to visualize this in the photos). Or should I skip the loveseat for another chair? maybe the sideboard?

3. I have the 8 seater table from Article as well, but it's too big for the dinning space. I'm thinking a smaller table for 6 with a bench against the wall. Bad idea? I have 4 counter stools that I'd like to use as well. This leaves me with limited space to move in the dinning room and no space for a small bar cabinet.

I am open to all/any ideas. I really want a mirror in this space as well, but not sure where best to put it. I have a large cool painting that I was thinking of adding above the mantle as well.

Looking forward to getting your feedback!

Featured Answer

anj_p

4 years ago

7'? You mean from the counter to the wall? Then I think you're pretty stuck with what's shown in the rendering. 7' isn't big enough for a table with chairs around it. (3' table, 3' on each side for walking = 9' min). You'll get the most out of your seating by doing what's in the rendering with seats at the bar and a bench against the wall.

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Comments (9)

jck910
4 years ago
1. Have the mantle go all the way across the brick (not like the white one. Art at least the size of the firebox over the mantle. Try it centered then a large basket on floor to right of firebox

2. Will there be a TV? If so get a sideboard that is the a good height for TV viewing and place it to left of Firebox. Sofa facing FP. 2 chairs in front of long windows with a table between. No loveseat. Basically only 1 person ever sits on them so a third chair would take up less space.

3. Not knowing DR dimensions I would forego the counter stools and just have the table and chairs
PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
4 years ago
Hello Mona,

Congratulations on your new home. Thanks for the pictures that helps a lot!!

How many people will be using the room/dining area every day? Agree, will there be a TV?

If you give us the measurements of the the rooms we can put together a 3D rendition with some suggestions for your consideration & in answer to your questions.

Marcie
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Mona Algherbawi
Original Author
4 years ago
There are 3 of us in the house (including a baby) who will be using the dining room everyday! But we do host quite often (when there is no panedmic). We don't need a TV in this living room as we have a family room with a TV already. It'll be mainly for chilling/reading and chatting when we have people over.

The area is 24' wide, and the sides are 14' on the living room side (the fireplace wall is 10') and 7' on the dining room side.

Thanks so much!
Mona Algherbawi
Original Author
4 years ago
@anj_p: The bar is 10’. 7’ is the wall perpendicular to it. Yeah, that’s what I figured. Do you suggest getting a smaller table? I’m not sure what it would look like if I get a 4-people table! Then I won’t be able to push it against the wall with a bench 🤦🏽‍♀️
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anj_p
4 years ago
No I don't think you need to get a shorter table unless the one you have is wider than usual (most tables are 3-3.5' wide). I don't think the length is the issue in that room, it's the width. You can just get a bench instead of chairs on that side. Your table is probably 6' long or so, right? Then it will still fit in the dining room. You may want to play around with just putting chairs on 2 sides instead of 3 and pushing it more towards the corner to avoid encroaching on the living room space. 6'+3' = 9' so you'd have 1' to spare. If you want to share some space with the living room you could put seating on both sides.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
There doesn't seem to be room for both barstools and table and chairs. Around the table you need at least 3 ft. of space for a chair to move and to walk around. Even the bench doesn't supply you with the needed space. I don't imagine you will move all the barstools each time you plan to use the table.
Here are a few arrangements.
PRO
Mae Day Organizing and Interior Design
4 years ago
Beverly's layout looks great.
Mona Algherbawi
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you Beverly! Great advice. I like the sectional idea. I actually just bought one for our family room that I can try to put upstairs and see what it looks like
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