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Hi Kendra,
Thank you so much for helping me with the mock-up floor plan so I could visualize your space. I love how the view carries from the front door to the back through those amazing windows. In fact, I think that we need to capitalize on that by making it a true focal point and drawing the eye straight through.
LIVING ROOM
1. In the living room I would use a large sectional or two large sofas set in an 'L' to mimic a sectional. Scale is important in this room, so the sectional/sofas need to be large enough to fill that space. It looks as if you inherited a mirror? (I would center it over the sofa along that wall it is on currently.)
so the configuration would be like this with the windows on the very left
this shows doing two sofas in the 'L' shape
this 'L' shape creates an open area and plenty of room to add more seating.
I love the idea of having a large sectional or two large sofas. My biggest problem is how to find the right sofa. Can you give me the dimensions of what I am looking for and how and where to look? We have very limited stores (try one) in Moscow, so I am going to have to travel to get things or buy them online. If I buy online how do I get a comfortable one? I CAN SEND YOU SOME LINKS FOR ONLINE SHOPPING, BUT THATS JUST SCARY WITH SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE. YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT THE REVIEWS AND SEE IF PEOPLE LIKE IT, BUT EVEN THEN, THAT ISN'T TOO RELIABLE. I THINK BEST CASE HERE IS I CAN SHOW YOU THE BASIC STYLE AND SIZE AND THEN YOU CAN SHOP OUT OF TOWN. So any help on that end would be great. IF YOU WERE TO SHOP OUT OF TOWN, WHERE WOULD THAT BE AND WHAT FURNITURE STORES MIGHT BE THERE? We are 1 1/2 hour from Spokane and Coeur d'alene. Lewiston has a few furniture stores but it is not high quality. I CAN TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT GOOGLE AND SEE IF I CAN FIND A SOLUTION IN THAT AREA. I really like this look, but I am not sure I want to go with blue? I LIKE THIS LOOK TOO. WHAT COLOR(S) WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE WITH IN YOUR LIVING ROOM? Colors are tricky for me. I like blue. But the master bedroom has blue walls right now, so I am worried about too much blue. I like yellow but it never seems to come out right when I try and use it. I like red too, but the kitchen is red.
2. Add a sofa table at the back of the sofa/sectional that backs to the windows. This will allow us to add lamps and accessories to the table and draw the eye to the windows beyond.
A sofa table allows us to stage a bit of a focal point, to draw the eye through to those amazing windows in your home. It also keeps the sofa off the wall/windows.
depending on the size of the sectional/sofas
you may be able to walk behind the sofa and table
Length is more important than depth. It need only be 14-16 inches deep - but should cover most of the length of the sofa.
There are a lot of styles to choose from - from rustic to modern - depending on your personal style.
Pottery Barn uses sofa tables really well - check out their catalog or pop into one of the stores to get an idea.
I like the use of the sofa table. Can you recommend some web sites to look at. DEFINITELY. This one doesn't scare me as bad because no one has to sit on it. Would the one in this picture work? IT WILL DEPEND ON THE LENGTH OF THE SOFA. CAN YOU MEASURE THE TABLE FOR ME? The table is 4' long.
3. The cocktail/coffee table needs to have a good size as well, and I would choose a large square-ish table. A tray and a few accessories will make it functional as well as pretty.
a large square ottoman would also work.
Can you give me the size of the coffee table. I WILL GIVE YOU A RANGE. My biggest fear is just making sure everything looks good together. Can I pick some stuff and send it to you and get your ideas before I buy? ALWAYS! YES OF COURSE!
4. To make this the conversation area you would like, I would add a couple of occasional chairs to create a grouping.
not in front of the fireplace, though
Again how do I find the occasional chairs? Love the idea. The more seating the better. I THINK WE CAN FIND THEM ONLINE EASILY ENOUGH. I WILL SEND YOU SOME LINKS.
5. For practical purposes, accent tables can be added at both ends of the 'L' of sofas and between the two occasional chairs.
shy away from 'matching sets'
I think I can handle finding accent tables after most of the other stuff is in place. Would love to get your feedback when I think I have something that will work. YES, GOOD IDEA.
6. A large area rug will further define this conversation area and pull it all together.
The area rug really scares me. I don't know where to begin and what kind what colors and textures and the size. Any help on this one? They are supper expensive and I am afraid of getting the wrong one. If I was dong this on my own I would just buy the one from Costco and call it good:( I WILL DO THE SAME WITH THIS - THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE - AND LOTS OF ONLINE CHOICES, TOO. TEXTURED OR PATTERNED CARPET CAN ALSO BE CUT AND THE EDGES BOUND TO CREATE AN AREA RUG.
7. Curtain panels on the lower windows will draw your attention to the windows and the view. They are also important as they soften hard edges and add color and texture.
I'm not going to suggest you take them all the way up, just to the top of the bottom tier of windows.
you can use a neutral color so that they soften but don't stand out too much
and single panels - nothing too bulky
Curtains. I have tried to buy in the past, but can never find any I like. I usually just buy the cheep ones and live with them. Any suggestions on where to find good ones? I WILL SEND YOU SOME LINKS AND SOME OPTIONS. Just so you know there is only 10" between the wall and the window and the 8 1/2' between the middle window. Is this enough room to do curtains?
8. Lamps, decorative pillows and accessories will be added to bring in color.
the best thing about making the big stuff neutral, is that you can change your color scheme fairly easily with new accessories and accents down the road
this is where we add more personality, and it does come last
like putting the jewelry on for a party
skip this till later. YES, THESE WILL BE THE FINAL TOUCHES
9. You mentioned you would like to have your television 'hidden' if possible. Is there a family room in this home, or another designated area for television viewing? If this is the primary viewing room, the best place for a flat screen tv would be over the mantle. The bookcase is a little small to hold a flat screen, and the only other option would be a media cabinet next to the fireplace - which may work depending on the size of the television.
...Also he doesn't want to have the TV up there. He thinks it is way to high. So it looks like a side cabinet is our best bet. Where would I be able to find one? (I'm binning to think I need a personal shopper) I like the look of the first one, but wonder if it is too dark. The table and china cabinet are really dark. Should we go with a different color because of that? I WILL LOOK FOR SOME RESOURCES FOR THE TV CABINET. PAINTING THE FIREPLACE WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND WE CAN LIVE WITH THE HEIGHT.
10. The bookcase to the right of the fireplace should have a variety of books and accessories - again, one of the last things to work on...
talk about this later YES
DINING ROOM
11. In the dining area, I would add a large area rug
Again what kind of rug and color and size? WE WILL WANT SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE LIVING ROOM RUG AS BOTH AREAS ARE OPEN TO EACH OTHER. SIZE: PROBABLY AN 8X10. YOU CAN PUT BLUE PAINTERS TAPE ON THE FLOOR IN THAT DIMENSION TO GET AN IDEA IF THAT IS A GOOD SIZE.
12. Also in the dining area, I would change the curtains and also hang them higher, above the window molding and just under the crown molding
They should be the same color and fabric as the curtains on the windows across the room, since this is an open concept floor plan and both are visible
Suggestions on what kind of curtain? What color etc. I WILL GATHER THIS INFO FOR YOU.
13. Another softening trick in this area would be to use an upholstered chair as the captain chairs - or the chairs at the ends of the table.
it will further soften the dining area, along with a rug and curtains, and make it more inviting and less hard surfaced
I like the idea of the captains chairs. I will start looking for them. Do they need to be a certain color. I like these ones.AWESOME, I LIKE THEM TOO. I WILL SEND YOU A LINK FOR THEM.
14. Another chandelier - could really make a difference here. Something a little larger and more commanding or substantial.
I think this might be one of the last things we change, but I will start looking for something different. OK. SEND ME SOME PICTURES OF WHAT YOU FIND THAT YOU LIKE
ENTRY
15. In the Entry - you asked for a bench and I have a lot of styles to choose from.
you will need to let me know which type or style you prefer
This is my favorite bench. We definitely need some place to keep shoes. Right now they are just around the corner in the dinning room (see picture). I am not sure how big these drawers are, but it would be nice to fit some of the shoes in there. The boys also bring in there backpacks and there isn't any place to but them. They just end up on the floor in the dinning room. They also do their homework on the table. Our other house had a big open dinning kitchen area and they are used to being right near everyone and everything. I like them doing home work downstairs as uposed to their rooms, but it can get a little cluttered. If you have any suggestions let me know. OKAY I WILL WORK ON THE BACKPACK AND HOMEWORK SOLUTION. I WILL RESEARCH THIS BENCH AND SEE IF IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN PURCHASE OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE BUILT.
FIREPLACE
16. The fireplace is red and you can certainly keep it that way. For an updated look, I would paint it
or cover the brick in a stone veneer. The hearth seems overly bulky or high. I would lower it by 4 - 5 inches and make any repairs. For a bigger change and the one I would do if it were my house - reduce the hearth portion and cover the brick, except for the top of the hearth, in a stack or ledge stone veneer sorta like this...
I would use a slab stone for the hearth top. This is totally up to you - you may like the brick and want to keep it. This feels more like your house, to me.
I talked to my husband about the fireplace, and he is unwilling to do anything to it He thinks it will be a big hassel to have it redone. That said I think I can paint it. Would it look OK just to paint it without lowering? PAINTING THE FIREPLACE WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND WE CAN LIVE WITH THE HEIGHT. I would love to paint the fireplace. I like red, but it really stands out in the room. Would you just paint it white? or another color? I WILL SEND YOU SOME OPTIONS BASED ON WHAT COLORS WE DECIDE ON. WHITE CAN BE AN OPTION, BUT THERE MAY BE OTHERS.
17. Final touches come last, and I will address them once I see the style and colors you choose for the furniture. I'm a big believer in neutral for the $$ items and bringing in the colors you want with the accessories, etc.
17) Final touches skip till later.
Hope I haven't asked too many questions. NEVER TOO MANY. I am anxious to start getting this done. I would love to move on to my husband's office so it could be finished by Father's Day? OKAY, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS SQUARED AWAY BY END OF APRIL AND HAVE MAY FOR THE OFFICE. Thanks that would be great!Also what do we start with? What is the most important things to find first?
Kendra,
Now that I have finally got this to you, and way overdid the options - sorry - you need to give me feedback about everything. I have given you a ton of choices because I need to find your personal style - you do have one, you know - and just let me know what you like, what you don't like, what you want to do and what you don't, and we will finish up the plan from there. Feedback! Talk to me :)
Best,
Claudine
PREVIOUS POSTS:
Hi Kendra,
So happy for this opportunity to help you with your lovely home.
You elected to start with the front room/living room. Here is what you told me:
So happy for this opportunity to help you with your lovely home.
You elected to start with the front room/living room. Here is what you told me:
"We recently bought a new house and renovated a cabin on the lake and she said you might be willing to give me some advice on how to decorate and what furniture to buy. I have pictures of the house beautifully decorated by the last owner, but I don't even know were to start in buying furniture etc. Would you be willing to give me some help? We live up in Moscow Idaho and there are few options for furniture/decorating help up here."
"I like simple, I would love to have a nice room were we can sit and talk. Would like to have a TV hidden somewhere, but not totally necessary. Want it to look put together. I like the colors that we have in the house now so I don't want to change the walls. We need somewhere to put our shoes when we come in the door. I would like some sort of bench so people could put their shoes back on when they leave. We take our shoes off when we come in the house. I like dark woods but I am also moving towards grays and whites too. We need more seating than we currently have, one couch and one chair doesn't do it. I am open to ideas because I don't really have great taste:( I hope that helps. Kendra"
LIVING ROOM PHOTOS
This is a wonderful room. I get it that you are feeling a little overwhelmed - that's natural in a new space - but I have to say this has great potential and I'm kind of excited to help you bring it to life!
The previous owner's real estate photos helped me with this space because of the panoramic lens view. The dining room and entry are both parts of this room because of the open floor plan, and should be taken into consideration in the planning of this space.
( previous owner photos)
How do you feel about the red brick facade of this fireplace? If this were my home, I would want to change that, because I wouldn't want it to dictate 'red' to me all the time.
This is your entrance, and the far windowed wall is your focal point. Its the first think you see when entering, and it looks a little - bare? boring? unimpressive? So I think we need to address that in the placement and choice of furnishings.
So I need a little more information from you, so that we get the right scale to the furnishings and correct placement. Can you please draw me a little floor plan. I'm more interested in measurements and window and door placements than your drawing skills, so don't panic.
Draw me a little plan of the living room and measure the wall lengths, mark the door placements and window placements, the height of the windows to the first horizontal trim, the fireplace dimensions, etc. Kind of like this:
Show where the windows are, and doorways, etc.
Then take a picture with your phone and send it to me.
(949)293-1965
In the meantime, I am gathering furniture ideas and playing with placement.
Talk to you soon!
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