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Need help for my extra long, dark living room!

11 years ago

My fiance and I bought our first house this year and have slowly been revamping it room by room-I've now come to a huge dilemma-The living room is on the back of the house, with a gorgeous view of our huge backyard-however, it is obstructed by an ugly enclosed porch addition. This blocks a lot of the natural light making it feel like a dungeon. One wall is taken over by a large stone fireplace with built in book shelves on either side. I need design ideas, such as color, furniture placement and window treatment ideas! I'm at such a loss with this room, please help!

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Comments (4)

apple_pie_order
11 years ago
Congratulations on your first house. Looks like the room is spacious. Can you upload a floor plan with measurements? Dark pen or Sharpie on paper photographs well. Also photos of your existing furniture (with all lights turned on) would help if you intend to rearrange it rather than buy new furniture at this point.

Will you be removing the addition soon?
PRO
Rockwood Design Associates, Inc.
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hmmm... You have alot going on in there...

First of all, if that is not a baseboard heater under the window, I would consider replacing the window with a door unit, a sliding unit would be best. If the porch will stay, do you need window coverings? You just need to ask if it is a privacy or shading issue... We do not use curtains, try looking at good quality rolling shades.

If you do switch the window for a door, you could remove the single door as well...

Carpet at the fireplace! I would consider hardwood for the room.

Regarding the fireplace, demo it out if you are not going to use it. Or, consider a gas insert and get rid of the stone to the sides. You can have built in cabinetry on either side.

This is a long space, yet your furniture is completely cramped.

Consider an "L" shaped sofa at the tv wall with a narrow table behind it, the current layout would work well with the door i suggested, but the furniture should be placed facing the fireplace on that side, and
be more spread out on the other side.

Get rid of the mirror, mount the tv on the wall, and get rid of one of the three tables. move the computer desk unit elsewhere, it does not belong in that space!

Good Luck-

Rockwood Design, California
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Thanks for your comments, its great to discuss with houzers! You are so right @decoenthusiaste the view is beautiful and one reason why I chose the apartment. the room is longer than it is wide, and I wanted the kitchen/bar to be included in the seating so the attached pic is how I was planning to lay it out. @cdrdesign I can't/change the table, its a gorgeous mahogany piece I had custom made and one I see keeping for some years yet! I dont plan a TV in this room, will put it in another room. This room in for living and entertaining guests. Sorry I dont have layout software, so you will have to make do with my scribbles using powerpoint! Could really do with help on choosing the light fitting in place of the central fan- what would look nice here or should I wait till the furniture gets here to choose the light to match?
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Gina Roberts
11 years ago
I would mount the TV over the fireplace and turn your living area facing your fireplace. Put a couch table behind the couch with a lamp on it. That will leave your entrance door more like an entrance door.
PRO
A Crew of Two
11 years ago
Paint will be your best friend here. Paint out those built-in bookshelves. Either a white or cream- start with a white primer and you will see a huge difference in the space to visualize what you want. Remove the shelf trim pieces to clean up the lines. A new FP insert would help. Do Roman shade window treatments so you are not blocking natural light unless you want to. The curtains are blocking light. Update the flooring. Not sure what you have going on in the rest of the house, but a wood floor would be gorgeous. If you replace the door- depending on if this is a front, side or back door- with an all glass door you will get more light. Then warm up the room by choosing a soft color. Something to compliment the FP. Benjamin Moore Fresh Air or Citronee. Add some crown molding painted the same color as the built-in shelves. Choose furniture in soft beiges or gray with pops of color in the pillows. Then the lighting. Canned lighting or track lighting on dimmer switches. Floor lamps or table lamps.
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