Remove wall? But LR will still be awkward!

last year

Struggling with how to best use this space. Home was built in the late 80's. It originally had a home-based beauty parlor business in the gable end of the large house, hence the now-awkward long narrow space that is basically a too-large mud room and drop zone for our family of 6. This entrance from the large open carport is the main entrance used by us and visitors, so everyone walks through it, and it feels like a rat maze. The current living room layout is also long and narrow for our large family, especially when we want to entertain guests. In the living room is also a stairway down to the partially finished basement. The wall dividing the currently labeled "mud room" and living room is NOT a load bearing wall and can be removed, and we are considering doing so. Would also require walling-in a smaller mudroom. The end result would probably be better than the current (just the open view to the slider door and back yard would make the space seem much larger), BUT the living room layout would still be awkwardly shaped and difficult to get more seating and TV space. Nope, there is no other location in the house to move the office (until approx 4 years when the oldest of the kids start to move out...at which time we won't need such a large living room anyway).

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Comments (5)

Lyn Nielson
last year
I would definitely remove the wall, but boxing in a mudroom just puts you right back to what you have. I would move the office over by the bathroom and just do a wall of built in cabinets/hooks to be utilized like a mudroom. No need for separate rooms, just creative styling to define areas. How about some photos on existing spaces, need to see how you use the space now, and what you need to keep.
Paducah Pat thanked Lyn Nielson
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
I think you want the living room to extend across the front of the house and include the two windows.

I'm not sure there is a way to accommodate everything you want.

Where is the back door of the house. That is where the Mudroom should be located.

You could place a home office next to the existing bath and have quite a nice hallway/storage/ circulation space outside the office.

This is a possible layout for furnishings if you create an entry and living room across the front.
Paducah Pat thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
last modified: last year
I do not see how your plan makes anything better . I agree the LR should fill the front of the house . You must have another entry where is it ? The floor plan you have posted is pretty useless with no idea of the rest of the house . I would even want to see the exterior to understand why this layout at all. Who told you there is no load bearing ? Not enough info to get help here . So better plan , a lot mor einfo and the plan needs to show all the house main floor too. Beverly's plan looks good are you into doing it right then that plan is pretty good.
PRO
Madden, Slick & Bontempo, Inc
last year
Here is another idea moving the mudroom to the bottom right of the drawing and moving the office to the left. The mudroom is still in close proximity to the carport entrance and it creates a nice big space in the middle for a family/living room. I also extended the wall between the powder room and the rest of the space so that the bathroom doesn't "feel" like it's in the living room. A wide cased opening will frame out the slider at the top of the drawing and allow more light into the family room.
Paducah Pat thanked Madden, Slick & Bontempo, Inc
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
Makes the mud room awkward since the muddy shoes are first in the LR. I amstill waiting for the info I asked for