Layout/Remodel — Help!

last year

Hello everyone! We bought a 4,500 sq ft house built in 1995 and we’re remodeling it slowly room by room. Looking for a bit of advice on what you would do in our great room, there are 2 built ins which are different widths/sizes on each side of the fireplace. The room is about 13’ wide and 17’ long with 18’ ceilings at the tallest point.

We’ve already had new black framed windows installed in those 8 windows (old ones were leaking and rotted), and we will be installing new flooring throughout.

So two questions here:

First — what would you do with the fireplace/built in situation? Remove the 2 story mirror, wall over the offset built-ins and do a more modern fireplace? Or leave the built ins but make them the same size and update their style? The built in closest to the windows is deep, about 36” and the opposite one is much more narrow — around 18”.

Second question — how would you layout furniture? There’s a huge doorway to the kitchen (the kitchen will be updated later), huge doorway to the left of the fireplace and the biggest wall is covered in windows. It’s overall an awkward room so we’re welcoming all opinions. :)

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (12)

beeboo22
last year
I’m not a designer but the fireplace seems very undersized/overwhelmed for the space.

Bumping this up so hopefully a professional will weigh in.
auntthelma
last year
Looks like it was planned to be both living room and dining room. dining room adjacent to the kitchen to divide the kitchen from living room.
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PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
Impossible to make suggestions without seeing the style of the home. Looks like it might be contemporary farmhouse style.

If you're going to watch TV in this room then you only have one location for a large TV.

An arrangement like this might work for the room.

I would not keep the shelving units white. I would paint them out with the walls.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
last modified: last year
Some option for layout
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
Replace fan with a chandelier and it will reflect in the mirror.

Using the 13' x 17' measurements the room can handle a 30" mirror.

Paint the bookshelves the wall color in semi-gloss. That will help disguise the different in size.

When you get your rug and furniture paint the mantel something other than white. Using @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images, I would consider a black mantel.
Paul F.
last year
The mirror is doing you no favors.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Or do not block the windows
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Or sofa, facing TV
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
I think smaller wall art would look better
Jennifer Johnson
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone for the suggestions!! The fireplace is double sided so removing it is not an option. We’re just finishing up the other side and this is an image of that one — it’s an extremely slim mantel/side profile because the opposite room is quite narrow. Style of the house is definitely black and white with natural wood tones throughout, some light grays in certain rooms and lots of greenery. Agree the fireplace is far too small and that mirror is way too large. We’ll likely extend the mantel to the sides of the built ins so it looks more suited for the space.
Jennifer Johnson
Original Author
last year
The other thing that may be hard to tell from photos is the mirror is recessed a few inches back. So we’ve toyed with the idea of having the mirror removed, then painting the cutout part black and doing a natural wood chunky mantel below. Art in the space above. Any thoughts on that?

Would be hard to do a sofa on the side opposite the windows as it’d block the walkway. Love love the ottoman idea as it provides more seating if necessary without feeling massive on that side. Also agree with the TV needing to go on that wall opposite the windows, thinking of doing the frame TV so it’s super matte and can be turned into art when not in use.

Wall color will be off white throughout this room because the kitchen is connected and we’ll be doing darker cabinets in there.

Appreciate all of you taking the time to help :)
hbeing
last year
the mirror reflections may be too busy visually