Decor Help for Living Room

12 years ago

Hi all. I have an idea to have built-in cabinetry to the left, but remain torn on what to do with the wall to the right (9ft. wide, ceiling height 9ft). I am leaning more towards having an oversized abstract painting with a sprinkling of bright colours, and less towards a mural. I finally found a mural of a city pedestrian crossing that I like, but even the website's photo trial didn't convince me. In case you're wondering, there's another wall touching the wall to the right, but not shown, measuring 7 ft wide. I appreciate your suggestions. Thanks.

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aky3
Original Author

12 years ago

Thank you KShoa.

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Comments (19)

Anne
12 years ago
I agree with the built ins on the left, but wondering if you could mirror that on the right too? Drop the ceiling down to the same height as on the left side and the same width as the left and have symmetrical built ins.
Brenda
12 years ago
I'm confused by the ceiling. Is it really black? ... also, what is the purpose of the hanging light in the right alcove?
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aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Anne. The entire floor has 9ft ceiling, which I absolutely adore. The property actually came with the area to the left to be used for the built-in shelf is actually carved out, and is approximately 7ft 9incles high. There is also a bulkhead area to the right (not easily noticeable because of the colour blending). I have also thought possibly wainscoting on the wall to the right, to match the fireplace and built-in.
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi Brenda. The ceiling is white. I had to take another look at the photo after reading your comment. What you see is a side of the ceiling as the photo was taken from the stairs leading to the upper floor.
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
@Brenda. The light fixture was originally intended to hang over a dining table, but my plans since changed, and I moved the dining table elsewhere. I will be replacing this ultimately.
Anne
12 years ago
I wasn't clear before. I did not mean to lower the 9' ceiling in the whole room. I meant to say, can you build a drywall soffit on the right side of the fireplace, the same as is on the left and have built ins on both sides? May be some more pictures would help us understand the room better.
Anne
12 years ago
Queen Anne Residence 10 · More Info

Best Rd - Living Room Fireplace Wall · More Info

Traditional Living Room · More Info

McCall | New Construction · More Info
Anne
12 years ago
Suggest that you search houzz for built in bookcases and fireplaces and there are 1000s of ideas!
Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc · More Info
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks so much Anne. I think you were clear in your first comment and I had misunderstood, as I figured it out shortly after sending my response. The reason I wouldn't want to have cabinets on both sides really is the room size, and the uneven space size which would not create a real 'pair' without my having to eat up a chunk of space with drywall. Having too much cabinetry I think would make it look a lot smaller, especially since the shelf to the right would be pretty wide. The Queen Anne Residence 10 photo best resembles what I have in mind.
Anne
12 years ago
If you could draw up a floor plan and add some more photos of the room that would help!!
Anne
12 years ago
I was envisioning the built in on the right being the same size as the left. But I don't know what the walls on the right look like and how much room there is, etc.
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Gotcha. I will take some more photos in daylight and post.
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Here they are.
dclostboy
12 years ago
What about a built in buffet for additional storage and to balance the weight of the room? Abstract painting or mirror would work above.
PRO
Lisa Hoyt Design
12 years ago
Also, what about having lovely bookshelves built in with some cabinetry on the lower third of it for storage for the dining area? It appears that it is about the depth for bookshelves, about a foot or so in depth?
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks dclostboy. My concern about that is the weight it might add to the room...not so much balancing but the fullness. It is cozy as it is, being relatively small, so I'm leaning more towards the abstract painting to add some colour, and the flexibility of replacing the painting whenever I desire.
PRO
Shoa Gallery
12 years ago
Given the way the walls are built and the placement of the sofa, I don't think you can fit a piece of furniture in that nook and have it centered. I think your idea of a large art panel in that space is probably the best idea to add balance to the room (see my posts above). Also I would put a "statement" floor lamp in the corner by the window that you just posted.
aky3
Original Author
12 years ago
Very interesting take Lisa Hoyt Design. Would this then bookshelf standing approximately 3ft high then extend all the way to the end of the wall, in which case an abstract painting could still hand right above it? The depth is 14.5 inches. I no longer use this space as a dining area, but I could incorporate the same idea in my now dining area. What do you think of wainscot instead to match the built-in to the left and fireplace?