What do you think of one of these floor lampS for the fireplace-nook-side of the sofa?

I would opt more for something like this (Amazon) in the same finish as your table lamp.

Or this model (Amazon) but check the dimensions, not sure if it's too big or not for your space.

I never liked the brushed nickel lamp. Current lamp is light blue ceramic. Similar color to blue table.

I have watched your posting since day one and find your home very cozy and charming. I am not a designer, but one of the things I have wondered about since the sofa is back on the window wall, if using two wall lamps above the sofa would make things simpler. You like to read, so having swing lamps with adjustable light may work for you. Then find a table for near the door (next to the sofa or by the coats) to hold your keys, and shoes.

Motupeg - thank you! I think wall lamps could work... though the sofa isn't and can't really be places symmetrically on the wall, and wall lamps could draw attention to that and end up looking awkward - that and the expense of an electrician.

There coats are kept in the basement stairwell - there's just no space for a coat rack by the sofa/in the living room.

ED, I like the first lamp you chose. It is straight so won't hang over the sofa (and possibly become a potential head bump) but it is close enough to provide satisfying light. Plus, it is quite attractive.

Earthly Delights Thank you for your response. I respect your decision here. I did want to clarify that the swing lamps are screwed into the wall, which I have done, and I used a cord cover to go straight down the wall. Maybe you only have one outlet on the wall which you would have to use a split electrical cord (I did that in my office behind a sofa). I will cheer for you as you figure this out. Best. Peg

I'll repeat my suggestion again: install a black metal shelving unit with wooden shelves in the niche. Attach an adjustable clip-on light to it. This way, you'll have enough space to organize your things and convenient lighting in a logical location.

A lamp with a standard plug-in socket. No electrician required.
I like floor lamps, but I don't like clutter on the floor in a cramped space.

Thank you, Tachch. I've wondered about that, and my main concern (other than *finding* that shelving unit, in the right size, without spending huge amounts of $) is that several people have mentioned that the 30x12" end table makes things look crowded. Would a shelving unit look *less* crowded than a small end table?

A shelving unit is the perfect place for a wide variety of things. And even if there are a lot of things (on the shelves closest to the sofa), that's still fine.

And if you're stressed out by the potential chaos, you can put some things in boxes and put them away after work. This will make it easy to maintain perfect order, and everything you need will always be within reach, out of the way the rest of the time.

Essentially, you'll get your own mini-workshop, while also solving the problem of filling a niche. Sounds pretty good to me.

And I already told you – you don't need a shelving unit that fits the niche exactly. It can be narrower or lower. It's more important, in my opinion, to have the lower shelves at a comfortable height relative to the sofa, so they're easy to use while sitting on the sofa.

And one of the most important factors is the depth of the shelving unit. It's important to leave enough space between the shelving unit and the sofa so you can easily access the bottom shelves.

Place decorative items on the upper shelves. If the shelves aren't high enough for the niche, you can simply place a large painting on them. A built-in shelf is optional. A wooden shelf would also work. However, I would prefer a darker color (frame) and a lighter color for the shelves.

Here's a shelving unit, for example. I don't think it would be hard to find something similar.

I'm less fond of the low shelving idea, but it would also be quite handy.

Above the low shelving unit, the entire wall of the niche will need to be filled with paintings and/or photographs.

If I have some free time and you could provide me with links to stores where you'd like to buy a shelving unit (and your budget), we'll find a specific model. Please also reiterate the dimensions of the niche (height/width/depth) and the height of the sofa armrests.

Regarding "clutter," you need sufficient filling/clutter in this niche to balance the entire area/wall with the fireplace. If you're considering reducing the visual weight of the niche, consider only the niche to the right of the fireplace—in case you suddenly want to make that part of the wall lighter.

The original table and lamp made the corner next ot the fireplace look crowded so I'd be concerned about placing a shelving unit in that corner it you want the area to fee more spacious (for me, that's the idea...). As to the lamp, if you don't like the silver finish you can go for the same style I suggested in black.

The feeling of cramped space created by the table in the alcove and the lamp right next to the sofa was precisely because it wasn't the optimal combination for this situation. The situation is different with the shelving unit. Even when placed right next to the shelving unit, the sofa creates a completely different feeling. Plus, open shelving helps preserve spatial volume.

Ideally, visualization would be the best way to understand it. If I can find the time, I'll try it out in Photoshop.

A big yes to lisedv's suggestion of a floor lamp with a small shade for the corner next to the fireplace, it really does open the space up, not looking so crowded, and is attractive as well. Lisedv as usual has very good suggestions.

You already have the bookcase on the right side which you cannot match. I'm showing here what adding shelves on the left side could look like.

Option 1) I must point out that I tricked the shelving unit (model suggested by Tachch) so that the height would be close to the height of the bookcase on the other side. Not sure if this can be achieved.

Option 2 Floating shelves

Personally, I still prefer the floor lamp option since both sides cannot be the same model of shelves.

Thank you, lisedv! Of the two above, I definitely prefer the floating shelves. Really appreciate that!

If you're willing, I'd love to see one of the floor lamps you suggest from the same angle.

It's difficult for me to show the exact same model and proper angle but here are both lamps. I'm showing them in 2 finishes, black and brass which also seems nice with your decor.

following along

Thank you, Lisedv! Of the two styles you posted, I prefer the one with less of a long arc. I might prefer a bronze or brass that was brushed. The black looks very dark, and I don't want bright gold.

You are giving me so much to think about!

Better to think about it than rush into a decision and then regret it!

Given my indecisiveness, I decided to stop at the thrift shop - I bought this lamp for $15.99 (plus tax.) I can always give it away…

I see there really isn't much space for anything but a floor lamp in that corner so the size if fine. At that price, you can't go wrong and one day you'll come across one you really like!

I’ve had both a 12 x 30, and an 18 x 30 side table in that space. I do like the functionality of the end table, but I understand that it makes the space look cramped.

New(ish) topic: color!
One or two of you mentioned that the different wall colors add to the feeling of… Too much in my living room.

I may have mentioned that my living room used to be painted only the soft yellow, and that I hired an interior decorator for a consultation, and she picked out the terra-cotta to tie in my fireplace with the rest of the space, and suggested the locations.

I do tend to like warm color on my walls. I’m thinking about painting the fireplace trim the same white as the rest of the trim in my house. Would you do that? And what would you do with the terra-cotta colored wall spaces?

You say trim... the trim on terracotta painted walls (matte finish) should be in the same terracotta colour (satin finish) not off-white (or what ever your all over colour is). I like the darker fireplace wall colour, it does make the fireplace blend-in. However I would paint the bay window and narrow wall next to the kitchen in the same off-white as the rest of that wall.

Lisedv - The specific "trim" I'm reffering to are the pieces of vertical wood on either side of the fireplace, and the horizontal strip of wood at the top of it. The trim at the base of the terra cotta walls, the bay window trim, and the trim in the rest of the living room is white.

You're saying that I should leave those pieces terra cotta? The rest of the living room wall color is light yellow (SW 'banana cream'.)

Not a pro ... I love the terra cotta color in your home. To me it makes your space interesting, cozy, and blends in perfectly. I like it the way it is, adding white trim to the fireplace I think I would find too choppy. There is a lot going on already but looking nice however, I would leave well enough alone.

Doods - So, you think I should leave the fireplace trim terra cotta, (and the rest of the trim white) it sounds like!

I don't know what you mean by trim but if you mean the baseboards they should be painted in terracotta like the wall.

Sorry. I am referring to the wood pieces on the sides of and top of the fireplace.

Im one of tye people who suggested painting all one color. if you paint the trim on the fireplace all you are doing is ading more busyness.

i suggest one color throughout. pick either the tera cotta or another color and paint each wall the sme. If you absolutely want to keep the fireplace wall different then the others walls, i could see it only if you remove contrast on the other walls. you have terra alternating little walls of yellow and terra cotta on the other side which is visually very distracting. your eye bounces all over the place.

Exactly what I said, keep the fireplace wall all terracotta colour including top trim and baseboards. Paint terracotta areas in the bay window and vertical section of wall near the kitchen in the off-white/yellow colour or the room.

I've been following along here and there. I love your cute home! I lived in a row house many years ago and enjoyed it.

I'm thinking in the corner left of the fireplace with the floor lamp, if you remove those two art pieces from the wall and leave just he mobil and floor lamp, I think that would help relieve some clutter look in that corner.

re: the things you need for a couch desk. I also use a couch as my desk with my laptop. I have a bag that I put everything in when I'm done and slide between my couch and side table out of the way. Why can't you have something, box or basket maybe, that you can keep all your stuff in when the work day is over, instead of having another squished table just for that? Use your coffe table and other half of couch during the day, then put away when done.

Paint update: I’ve painted the baseboards near the fireplace (SW ‘baked clay’) and I’ve started painting the bay window.

I’ll pick up the wall yellow for the little wall by the dining table today.

Question: should I paint the entire bay window: ceiling, sides, trim and bottom white? I’d use the ceiling paint for the top and the same trim paint as in the rest of the house for the rest.

There's nothing wrong with painting the inside of the bay window in white. However painting the inside of the bay window the same colour as the walls creates a seamless and cohesive look that can make a space feel larger.

.

Thinking a bigger change here if it fits, Move the sofa so floats facing the fireplace with chairs on each side. The current sofa wall just seems so jammed in. Can still have table, or better yet baskets under table or closed storage cabinet, for the shoes and a lamp next to sofa.. Still a walkway behind the sofa to the little table/chairs and kitchen. Do add the floating shelves to left side of fireplace to balance that wall. Creates cozy LR seating. The terracotta wall, rug, and fireplace wall make this row house special.

@husterd

If you read the full thread, this was my original suggestion but the OP doesn't like that idea creating a passage way when you walk in. She has moved all her furniture around and came back to the original furniture layout.

Lisedv- thank you! Specifically, would you recommend painting the entire bay window yellow: the ceiling, the bottom surface, the sides and the trim?

Husterd:

Re: floating sofa - see above photos and comments. I did that and lived with it for a week or two and decided that I really didn’t like it.

Ps: re floating sofa. Right. I didn’t love the passageway, but furthermore, it made the whole space feel cramped to me as opposed to just one wall.

Baseboards on the fireplace look nice, and better painted the clay color 😊

It could be cool to paint all your trim the same color as the wall. So bay window and baseboards yellow. Color drenched. Agree that the fireplace baseboards look great painted clay.

So, I decided to go with all white for the bay window. The front door & door trim is white, as well as the front window trim, and the back higned patio door and trim and the stairwell trim, and kitchen... I didn't want to open a hornet's nest... of what (or everything!) I should paint yellow.

I'll post a photo once everything is dry and stuff is back where it belongs (and my house is back to it's messy "lived-in" state vs. active work-in-progress state.)

Thank you all so much for your ongoing help and patience (!) sprucing up my first floor living space. It looks so much better!

Bay window and small wall by dining area painted!

Now, for the next question: the kitchen has very little wall paint space. That said, the narrow wall border surrounding the patio door is highly visible from my open first floor.

The color on the kitchen walls is SW ‘sawdust’. It’s an odd name since all the actual sawdust I’ve seen in my life has been kind of a tan/beige color and this color definitely reads olive green to me… nevertheless, is it a good color for the space, or should the kitchen be the same yellow as the living room?

I like the painting you've done so far. I do like the green for the kitchen, my only comment is I would remove the terracotta colour scroll/fabric on the wall next to the door, it hides all the nice green which there isn't much of to begin with. The other items you have on the green look fine.

I love the SWBanana Cream. The decorator of the lobby of our gulf coast condo building used it. That inspired me to use it in our former patio home in Missouri. My sister in law loved it, and used it in her condo. Now we have a home down here in South Alabama. After the new windows are
installed this spring , I plan to use it in the house!

Personally, I would paint the wall from the stair case to the coffee bar all white. The wall is too choppy to use an accent paint color. Do you like the green around to patio door? If not, paint it the Sawdust color.

glschisler - glad you like the Banana Cream!

The color around the back door, as well as the other walls in the kitchen, is SW 'sawdust."

I love the old charm here! Nice places near door for ur stuff. I love what u did here! If u want more seating...put a narrow bench under plant window.