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jmwalsh85

1810 Farmhouse: Furniture Placement & HELP

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Cool Houzz. I wrote a really long thoughtful post & it never posted so I am saving this and trying again ::sigh::

I am looking for help from my fellow Houzz Members. We have been renovating an 1810 farmhouse for 3 years and our next step will be electricity. Yes you read that 3 years, I’m exhausted. This post is a lot less witty because I’m tired and frustrated that the original post didn’t work. Please read it all, it’s a lot but I could really use your help, especially those of you with photoshop skills!

Our next step in renovation will be the electricity which means I will have to have a lighting plan which will affect furniture placement and plans (to a certain extent).

Things to note:

This is our favorite room in the house

This room is off the kitchen

We had masons rebuild the wall and create the archway out of stones in the original wall & yard

The previous owners had this room solely as a dining room

The closet next to the hearth I plan on making into a nook that holds firewood on bottom & my crystal & barware on top

The tarp is hiding Jersey Winder Stairs (google, hard to explain what they are)

The room is narrow (as is common with old homes)

Proper photos are hard to grab in mid construction

We are no child home (I feel like this is important to note as most people ask when designing)

We will have no ceiling lighting as we are soda blasting the ceiling to show the upstairs floor & exposed historic beams

Layouts I’ve considered:

Dining table next to archway, couch along foundations all & two chairs facing the couch

Built in along wall next to archway, with a tv & two love seats & two ladder back chairs closer to the hearth

Built in along wall next to archway, no tv, just books, two comfy reading chairs facing out, living room furniture next to the hearth

Dimensions:

Foundation wall to Archway (without blocking): 105”

Length of room from Hearth to back wall: 259”

Pass-through AKA walkway along stone wall to the staircase: 48.5”

What makes this so hard:

I cannot justify a room solely for a dining room. We have never had a dining room & we host like 1 large family dinner a year if that :)

I plan on having a kitchen table in our kitchen, whether that is my moms old dining table I grew up with that is drop leaf (and folds small when folded) or a primitive table and use the dining table in this room

We are a big TV family. My husband and I eat dinner & watch tv, I can’t see us carrying food upstairs to the other living room to watch tv while eating

When our most common visitors come over (my in laws) they hang in the living room in our current home and watch tv which is close to the kitchen.

Im having a tough time about being realistic vs making it work for us. Since the upstairs is another living room, I planned on having one of them be without a tv.

This room always felt special, like a parlor or a library. I want to enjoy the hearth & the stone wall. I will be adding lights in the trim work of the windows to show the stone wall. If you have any questions ask away! Please help! I really can’t even sleep at this point! Lol










Comments (984)

  • last month

    I love it! It has color of other rug in it Or get second one the same.

  • PRO
    last month

    Perfect! Good eye. Winner.

  • PRO
    last month

    Very nice!

  • last month

    Perfect… if you can buy rugs in person, it’s always preferable. Online can be tricky for lots of reasons.You scored with this choice!

  • last month

    A very cozy space… wish I could keep my desk area so neat!

  • last month

    Love the rug - Homegoods always has nicely-priced quality options! I'm wondering if you have considered pushing the couch closer to the TV with one arm up against the wall where the desk currently is. Then backing the desk up to it (like a really big console table). I feel like that might let the Living room and Office co-exist a bit better.

  • last month

    Amanda it was definitely tidied up for the photo hahaha
    And mnmamax3 that’s an interesting thought I don’t think I have ever tried that configuration! I don’t know if we have the depth for both as the front door is here but I’ll see if I can test it out when hubby is home!
    I really feel like I lucked out with this rug and I appreciate everyone’s examples shared bc it helped me decide on this lighter blue color.
    Should we move on to curtains? I want to finish getting this room put together heehee :)

  • PRO
    last month

    Yes, let's move on to curtains!!! I would love to see a pretty pattern in your room. Ballard Designs has some nice ones, and they're on sale, perhaps you'll consider one of these:








  • last month

    Thanks Diana! Those are beautiful but I think I’m personally drawn to more bold curtains. But this is why I love you all so much bc I could be totally off base. Do either of these work you think? (They’re pottery barn)

  • last month

    Also remember I’m thinking of covering the couch. If anyone wants to see the Etsy page and samples this is it: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1266096534/?ref=share_ios_native_control

  • PRO
    last month

    Well I LOVE bold patterns for curtains. I like the second one you posted.

  • PRO
    last month

    It’s got an English country house vibe

  • last month

    #2 is cool & #1 is good

  • 29 days ago

    First, a big applause for the rug! Good choice and good price. I think it looks good with the furniture.

    I love the idea of something bold. I like the first one but it would require repainting the room because the yellow is prominent but nowhere else in the room. Maybe some of us can find something nicely priced but adds some pizzazz to the windows.

  • 29 days ago

    Diana’s second suggestion is rather fabulous….Do you like that one?

  • PRO
    29 days ago

    The rug is fairly neutral, so I think any bold pattern and colors would work. The only reservation I'd have is a plain neutral--won't do anything to liven up the room.


  • 29 days ago

    Something like this could also work.

  • 29 days ago

    I think I have issues when it comes to curtains bc I think a lot look shower curtainy to me lol… I’ve always only had plain linen white curtains hahaha but I want a pattern and want this room to feel so cozy, English cottage vibe I love, I also love like blue and white decor (when does right). Hmmm. Keep the options coming bc I don’t love anything yet unfortunately. Not trying to sound ungrateful!!!

  • 29 days ago

    I like this one from pottery barn too but omg they’re so expensive I just realized they are sold as individual panels at 200 bucks! Def not in budget

  • 29 days ago

    Walmart; the "Better Homes & Garden." Or Wayfair.com or Amazon.

  • 29 days ago

    Wayfair has some inexpensive panels with patterns.

  • 29 days ago

    I asked for “patterned curtain panels” on Amazon and got good options. Average $40 per panel

  • PRO
    29 days ago

    If you don't want "shower curtain-y" then do not get grommet top curtains.

    Try Etsy--these look so pretty, and only $54 per panel (42"x84"). They offer several sizes, colors, and heading types.

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/1753715112/set-of-2-cotton-hand-block-curtain?ref=search2_top_narrowing_intent_modules_etsys_pick-2&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&logging_key=2069d15cda80beba589a57b019e74af9d43f7932%3A1753715112&variation0=4645586336


  • 29 days ago

    Now we're getting places thank you all so much! @RedRyder I like the Yellow Wayfair one and the Green Amazon one. and @Diana Bier Interiors, LLC I love the second etsy one the blue and green!

  • 29 days ago

    Love that fabric !

  • 28 days ago

    That looks nice Julie

  • PRO
    28 days ago

    Very pretty!


  • 27 days ago

    So, on Pottery Barn, check the open box sale area, sometimes things pop up there. Also, at the stores, there is always a clearance section, sometimes turns end up there.

  • 27 days ago

    Returns!

  • PRO
    27 days ago

    Another possible couple options. I think a geometric in a scale compatible with the rug pattern would be less shower curtain more living room.

  • 27 days ago

    The Ikat pattern looks like it would work and is very pretty. ( But is it too “safe”? Are we going for the gusto on the curtains?)

  • 27 days ago

    TIP: I love linen but it doesn't do well in sun.

  • PRO
    27 days ago

    Most natural fabrics will fade in sun. My workroom uses a blackout lining to avoid sun fade.

  • 27 days ago

    Hi, Julie! Based only on my own experience, please go with your first instinct of drama I settled on pretty - and they were very pretty - but every time i looked at them, I was a little disappointed.

  • PRO
    27 days ago

    There is so much beautiful architectural elements in your house/room be careful not to distract the eye too much. Every room is different so might have to purchase a couple and return the “losers!” Enjoy. I know with your good eye, it will be great!!

  • 26 days ago

    Thanks everybody! I’ll post pics when the swatches arrive!

  • 20 days ago

    Ok! The swatches came and they are really bad quality :( I should have known as I had ordered bathroom hand towels from spoon flower a long time ago but I tried to be hopeful. Besides the bad quality, none work. However, I think I am thinking I enjoy the idea of burgundy as it ties in with the brick of the fireplace. And burgundy and baby blue look really nice together. I also really love anything old fashioned floral, like English cottage or something? I don’t know what we would call it. I’ll do two posts this one will show the swatches. Then I’ll do another one of the curtains I like I found online and unfortunately, two are from pottery barn hahaha so maybe I have to save up lol but a couple others from Amazon so I’ll try there and can always return!

  • 20 days ago

    Here are some I like from online:

  • 20 days ago

    First four I like (the last one I’ve shared with you all before)

  • 20 days ago

    Another four

  • 20 days ago

    And the other pottery barn one :)

  • PRO
    20 days ago

    Of all of them, I like the last one best--the Kravet PB one.

  • 20 days ago

    Thanks Diana! I really love that one too and the pale blue in it looks like it would match the new rug perfectly.

  • 20 days ago

    Agree with Diana - the last one.

  • PRO
    20 days ago

    You might also consider adding a contrasting tape on the leading edges

  • 20 days ago

    Oh I like the sound of that, do you mean like fabric being sewn on the sides? Like a ribbon edge?

  • PRO
    20 days ago

    I like less color so it doesn’t dominate your room. I love blues so this is my favorite.

  • PRO
    20 days ago

    Yes, like this: