Hi Everyone,
This is a follow-up post to answer some of your questions about my living room furnishings and also to try out some of your suggestions. So, if you already read part 1, please click the link below to read part 2. If you’re landing here for the first time, please keep reading from the top of the page.
Part 2 Begins Here
Hi Everyone,
I hope you’re doing well this weekend. It’s the official beginning of the “holiday season,” as most Americans prepare to cook, clean, travel, and block people on Facebook.
Just kidding.
Sorta.
But we won’t go there, now or ever.
As for what I’m doing, well, I have a way to go to become more organized.
I desperately need Done and Done Home, but they’re in New Jersey. Still, the cleaning service I’ve been using came to help out. And I mean help as I spent the entire hour picking up and disposing of all the light fixtures and rug boxes into the recycling.
In addition, I also beat together (to release the dust) about a dozen pillows.
Yuck, I didn’t handle my living room furnishings properly. Before the renovation began, I should’ve had professional movers wrap everything up in plastic. I’ll never forget how they did that when I moved to Boston.
The other day, I contacted Robert, my GC because I suddenly remembered that Cale is coming next week, and we have nowhere to sit.
Besides, it’s high time the living room furnishings came down from the loft, which sits over the den closet and upstairs bathroom.
Robert texted back immediately and said. “Can it wait until after Thanksgiving?”
Sorry, it can’t wait unless we want to eat sitting on the floor.
Robert, being the good guy he is, responded that the guys would be there at noon on Friday. And so they were, and they had everything down and in its place in just over 30 minutes.
While there was definitely too much furniture in the bedroom, I do miss the yellow chairs.
However, the living room furnishings are back in their old location.
But here’s the thing. My living room feels quite large, and it’s not small. However, without the bay, it is only 22 feet long. The bay does give adequate space for the air handler and antique settee I’ve owned for 25 years.
Okay, it’s taken a day or so to get used to having the living room furnishings back in place, and here’s the thing. I’ve always known that between the fireplace hearth and staircase guardrail. I only have about ten feet to work with. Normally, that would be fine, but I have to leave a path behind the sofa. It’s only about five feet of path between the sofa and guardrail.
Below is where we left off. (minus the temporary game table)
So, let’s look at real life.
I know you’re used to seeing the chairs like this below.
There’s something else going on and I’m not happy about this.
Do you see how blurry the images are? I just realized that it’s probably the LED lights. There’s a mix, but most of the lights are LED. They have an imperceptible strobe effect. That is, to us. But perhaps it interferes with the camera?
Compare the image with the night after I moved in 2020! This is also from an iPhone 10, although I need a new one. My current one is a 13.
My screen looked so good there and I am missing the window treatments, too. I need to get cracking on that!
Okay, the blurry images are bothering me. It is 1:30 PM, and I just took a pic of the living room in 100% natural light.
That’s better. I will give this some thought and research.
No matter, I am not planning on keeping the chairs this color. Please remember, this is all of my old living room furnishings, not what it will be.
Anyway, the stool placement represents where the front of the sofa has to be. I have always envisioned slipper chairs instead of armchairs. However, finding the right slipper chairs is not easy these days.
Something like the one above or the one below. These are from the 19th-century Napoleon III style.
Above is my sofa from the side, for reference.
In any case, the chairs are a lot further back in the floor plan above. I can move the rug closer to the fireplace and, if necessary, layer it with a seagrass rug.
Above, I pushed the chairs back several inches.
The stools represent the widest part of the sofa. I selected the 213c size, which is 84″. There are seven alternatives to the length, and 213 is in the middle and listed as a tw0-person sofa. I’m afraid I have to disagree.
The inside is at least six feet long, which is plenty of space for three people—maybe even four if everyone took a shower that day. We used to sit three on a piece with 60″ of space.
This room has always been tricky, and having a 39-inch-wide stairwell in the back of it doesn’t help.
Of course, I just had to select the coolest, deepest English sofa God ever created. But the sofa itself is not big and bulky. It is only about 30″ tall and has beautiful lines, as you can see.
I just had another thought about 45 minutes after publishing, and that is to push the sofa back about 15″ from the railing and then walk in front of the sofa.
Below is what that would look like.
I think this could work since the back of the sofa is so low.
Laurel, if the back is only 30″ high, then the seat must be ridiculously low. How do you expect people to get in and especially out of it?
haha. Oh, are we on that topic again? I don’t expect anything. ;]
But guys, I love you, even when you’re crabby. Sorry, I know you don’t want to hear what I’m about to say any more than I don’t want to hear that banana cream pie is bad for me. (please scroll to the bottom of that link) ;]
However, ya gotta use them leg muscles! Yes, I know it hurts.
In any case, I tried out the Jules chair at the Charles Spada showroom right after Labor Day, and I had absolutely no problem getting in or out. The chair was very comfortable, too.
I’m finishing off with a view into the den. My vintage sofa is coming on Tuesday. Still, I am deeply disturbed by the lights’ effect on my nighttime photos. The only lights that are not LED are the recessed lights (halogen) and the Anglo-Indian sconce bulbs, which are incandescent.
You can definitely get the tubular bulbs needed for the picture lights in incandescent.
Screw it. (yes, a pun) I don’t care. I can hire someone once every two or three years to change the freaking lightbulbs. I never turn them all the way up; they are all on dimmers, giving them a longer life. It’s the heat that burns them out.
xo,
*********************************************************
Part 2 Begins Here
Hi Everyone,
Whew! Some of you have strong opinions! That’s okay, but I had to delete two needlessly snarky comments. Differences of opinion are fine; put-downs are not allowed. 99% of you are beyond fabulous.
But this is an important thing to remember about my home.
This 1215-square-foot condominium in a converted brownstone has always been challenging. That’s because it was never meant to be what it is. We’ve discussed this a few times, but it’s okay if you missed it or forgot. The spaces’ limitations are what they are.
For example, the room that’s my living room was meant to be a formal dining room. Now, it’s a living room. That’s okay, but who puts a 39″ wide (with guardrail) stairwell running along the back of their living room? However, there is no other place it could go.
Please keep this in mind when you’re nitpicking making suggestions. ;]
I could put bean bags in this room with orange crates for coffee and end tables, and it would still feel incredibly luxurious. Cale is here now, and we had our dinner in the dining area. Eating there has always felt wonderful and cozy. But it’s also quite spacious. The view of the interior, no matter where one sits, is lovely.
Okay… Some of you had an interesting idea to put the sofa in the bay and in front of a console table.
And then, you didn’t know about the rest of the room, but that would be devoted to the dining area.
I call that a blind spot. Your idea is a good one, except you’re neglecting the star of the show.
The glorious fireplace. And let me tell you, that antique marble mantel with the regency-inspired mirror is my favorite element of all. Every time I walk past, my heart beats a little faster. Therefore, it’s not just any old star—it’s a superstar!
It’s not a terrible idea, but here’s an important point.
I feel that, in most cases, the functionality of a space supersedes all.
However, aside from the table being about 12 feet closer to the kitchen, there is no huge advantage in the functionality of switching locations of eating and lounging. But there is a big deficit in a balanced space.
It makes more sense that the primary piece of furniture, the sofa, faces the fireplace, thus the symmetry is maintained.
In addition, if the sofa is in the bay I would lose my side view of the sofa from the entry, kitchen, and dining area.
Now, if this were a dining room, it would be an awesome treatment.
Still, I tried to keep an open mind and worked on this idea.
See what I mean? The star is getting ignored. Incidentally, the plaster rose from which the chandelier hangs is not centered on the fireplace. It is about 6″ left of center. Could I center the dining table on the fireplace? I could, but it’s tight, and then there’s a big space by the kitchen. I could fill it with more furniture, but I feel that’s too much.
Ramona, who always has insightful comments, pointed out that the dining area looked “busy.” She’s right—in the photo, it does because there are a lot of legs. However, this is not the table I want. I want a table with a pedestal or birdcage-type base. Not only will it be less busy, but it’ll be much more roomy for guests.
Finally, I have contacted Englishman’s Furniture four times in the last 30 days and was promised I would have an answer about the table last week.
That did not happen, but I sent out the 4th reminder on Thursday. Still, nothing. I’m not expecting a 100% free table, but in exchange for publicity, I feel it’s only fair to give it to me at their cost. It’s a win-win situation. This saddens me, but I may have to let that one go.
Therefore, I’m working on a new idea. I did find a beautiful antique table hugely marked down. It is 54″ in diameter, but it doesn’t extend.
Boohoo. Still, if I get some extra sturdy table pads, the table can be extended to be a 60″ round table.
A 60″ table can seat eight people. And do I really need to seat more than eight in the dining area?
However, I would love a buffet table and the logical spot is near the kitchen. You may notice in the dining room switched plan, I put a buffet behind the settee because I don’t like to enter a room with the back of a sofa facing the entrance.
Next, I drew the sitting area closer to the railing, which I added to part 1 of this post several hours after publishing. While it could work, right now, I don’t like it for two reasons. One, I still have the inclination to squeeze behind what would be the sofa, and it felt roundabout having to go in front of the sofa.
Overall, below is the plan I like the best. (with the buffet table near the kitchen)
In other news, I got my new old sofa today. It looks fantastic in the den, but you’ll have to wait a while to see it as it has been transformed into a bedroom for son one. For fun, I brought the rug to my bedroom. One reason is because the bedroom looks quite stark now with all the furniture gone.
Oh! Here’s a big thank you to our young reader who suggested I turn off the live photo pre-set on my phone’s camera. It made a huge difference in the quality of the images. I’m also looking at some other settings to get the photos to look as good as they used to.
Below is a blurry image before the setting was changed.
And below is a shot I took last night with the live photo turned off.
That’s more like it!
In closing, I want to stress that the living room has always been lovely, except for the hideous spiral. But now, it looks like it’s been to a spa in St. Tropez for several months. It’s rejuvenated. My friends gave me the biggest compliment.
“It doesn’t look like a renovation; it looks like it was always like this.”
Okay, I have to go now. I’m working on putting the finishing touches on my updated Laurel’s Rolodex and the all-new Etsy guide. (That post is a small fraction of what’s in the guide) This year, some amazing new sources are included. The updates should be available on Sunday. But, you’ll also receive notification and a fresh copy of your download link(s).
Also, anyone who orders any guide except the Etsy Guide will automatically receive the Etsy Guide and the Rules & Tips Guides for free.
If you place orders ahead of the updates this Sunday, I’ll ensure you receive your free guide by this coming Monday at the latest.
Folks with questions about your guides, where they are, how to download them, etc., please check out this FAQ page that answers 99% of the questions I commonly receive. The most important thing to know is that your download links never change. If you search SENDOWL in your email, your links should pop up unless you deleted the emails.
I probably won’t send out another email until Friday, so please have a joyous holiday if you celebrate Thanksgiving! Thank you again for your immense kindness after my post about my health issues. I’m feeling quite well this week. So, there is much to be grateful for!
xo,
***Please check out the recently updated HOT SALES – It’s Black Friday week and the sales are amazing!
***
Also, please check out the newly updated HOLIDAY SHOP filled with Christmas and Hanukkah decor and gifts for everyone!
***
And very exciting, the entire VISUAL COMFORT wonderful lighting is 20% off – Yes, EVERYTHING is 20% off through December 4th.
There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below.
Please note that I have decided not to create a membership site. However, this website is very expensive to run. To provide this content, I rely on you, the kind readers of my blog, to use my affiliate links whenever possible for items you need and want. There is no extra charge to you. The vendor you’re purchasing from pays me a small commission.
To facilitate this, some readers have asked me to put
A link to Amazon.com is on my home page.
Please click the link before items go into your shopping cart. Some people save their purchases in their “save for later folder.” Then, if you remember, please come back and click my Amazon link, and then you’re free to place your orders. While most vendor links have a cookie that lasts a while, Amazon’s cookies only last up to 24 hours.
Thank you so much!
I very much appreciate your help and support!
Related Posts
A Gorgeous Modern Rental Home With A Tacky Kitchen
Is Christmas Peace An Impossible Fantasy?
Breaking News Bulletin – My Kitchen Installation is Underway! (2 parts)
Magical Christmas Decor Around the World
Did You Say Enfilade? On Fill What?
The Ultimate Christmas Tree Decorating Guide
Sophisticated Twin Beds – 20 Ideas For Grownup Bedrooms
80 Responses
Hi, I think your layout will work. Once that divine sofa is placed in front of the gorgeous fireplace it will all click. Not sure what is the disagreement with slipper chairs. My Mom had two. They were comfortable and great fun at parties. Two small people could share the seat. you could easily move to face conversations in different directions. Good luck in the home stretch!
You’ve made so much progress! Love!!
I wonder is the space to the left of the fireplace could be a banquet area. With a small tea table?! Might a L shape even work?! With 2 chairs floating?!
Layer the round table in the center of the room under the chandelier with a beautiful vase, or blue and white porcelain lidded pot. A smart place to welcome people into this beautiful room- keeping fresh flowers there.
For a more formal/ event dinner move the chairs around the extended 60” table.
60” table can easily accommodate 8-cozy her to know your dinner partner well.
You’re smart! You’ll figure it out for sure.
Only a suggestion ❤️👍
Dear Laurel,
Thank you for the high compliment. It was a wonderful birthday gift for this weird, elderly wanna be design freak.
Is there any notice about when the living room sofa will arrive? I want to see that beauty.
Of course, pictures never convey the way a space feels in 3D. I am glad you demonstrated why the dining room should not be flipped with the living room. I think it is especially hard to visualize your living/dining space because of the unusual proportions, especially the very high ceilings in the narrow space and how that works with the stairwell.
It was a great lesson for sure, and yes, your fireplace and the mirror are the super stars which balance the ethereal kitchen. If I had the bucks, I would do a mirror like that one side of my double sided fireplace. But my pennies have to go somewhere else right now, so I am living vicariously through your renovation.
Hope Thanksgiving was a great day with kiddos at home. I see from the notes you answered my idea for furniture but I did want to commiserate somewhat on the furniture and space. My husband and I downsized from 4000 sq.ft. To about 2200. I placed everything in the floor plan and it fit beautifully. On paper that is. I was moving to an island house from a large Georgian. I figured the furniture/upholstery could be changed when I was settled. Well from soaring 18 foot ceilings it looked fine, but with 9’ ceiling and one living room at 12, the SCALE was all wrong. Not only had I already sold the best pieces that I loved (that would honestly have fit in charmingly) and now I to begin to sell other pieces or just give them away. Sadly a person’s house was in a fire, but I was able to give them furniture for their place. A really conform table sofa, too! Sigh! However, we have recovered, moved to another house, another state, but now have. Completely different issues where the furniture is not “just right.” So, we are being comfy with what we have. Not going to start buying new. The point is, I understand, absolutely, about fitting favorite things in spaces that are not the same. And we have made some things fit in other rooms that were serendipity as well. I love what you are doing, it is extraordinary.
Just a thought from a grandmother who seats 20 plus at least twice a year for dinner; maybe consider a drop leaf table rather than a buffet. You sacrifice storage space for dining space, but the surface could be used for serving if not set up for dining. I have a cherished drop leaf cherry table made by my father. I recently refinished another smaller one of matching width to add to it when necessary. Most of the time it hugs the wall with the leaves down. Another idea is a coffee table that converts to dining height, as someone else mentioned. Pretty room, you will figure it all out. Remember, this is the fun part! Finally!
I love the selections. It is difficult to edit out beloved items. This I know, from moving so many times. I feel like the settee in the bay window makes it feel too crowded. If you didn’t need the table and chairs, it wouldn’t, but settee, table, chairs, side tables and lamps is a lot to pack in there, and how does one even squeeze back there? Can the chinese chippendale chair fit on a wall in the library, allowing a side table to be against the wall in its place? I also think you will be both fine and happier treating the space behind the sofa as your “hallway.” You only need 3 feet or a little less for comfort.
Wondering what guided you to ultimately setting the chairs straight-facing vs. gently angled toward the sofa? Something about making them parallel to the 90-degree angles of the mirror on one side and the railing on the other make them feel a tad regimented and antisocial to me, whereas your angled option struck me as dynamic and welcoming.
The mirror is transformative! I don’t remember a post about how you decided what kind of mirror you wanted and how you found it, but it’s glorious.
Question: Do you have two full bathrooms, one full bathroom, or a full bathroom downstairs and a half-bath upstairs? I’m hopeless with blueprints and design layouts and can’t tell whether the bathroom shown on your sketches is the one I know about on your lower level or one that’s a complete surprise to me on the main living level.
Happy Thanksgiving. You have an army of well-wishers cheering you on.
Just wondering if you have some type of lovely cart to safely bring food to your dining area? I’m seeing myself trip and cause nightmarish havoc on that sofa!!
Laurel:
I am always delighted to learn from you and to see how you have made your home even more beautiful.
Here is my question: Why not make the pathway through the living area go right in front of the fireplace–not between the seating area? Why not put the whole seating area closer to the stairway? You could leave the floor in front of the fireplace bare (i.e., rug free), which would be great for possible spills carrying food to and from the dining area. Also, from a greater distance, you could really appreciate the amazing fireplace and mirror.
I look forward to enlightment. Thanks!!!
Hi Kia,
That is not a viable option for a lot of reasons. But, thank you for thinking about it.
I’m a bit late to the opinion on the layout of the whole room, but I’m wondering if the sitting area might be changed so that the rug stays in its position and instead of the couch facing the fireplace have it perpendicular to the fireplace with the two chairs side-by-side facing the couch and of course the coffee table in between. You can even add another side table to one side of the sofa. This would make the room very functional , open the fireplace to the entire room , and moving around would be quite easy.
Just a thought. You have done wonderful things to your home, impressed at your ability to find what your heart desires (the sconces next to the fireplace,etc),
and as someone else mentioned, one should always try to leave a place better than when one started with -and you have also accomplished that!
Hi Cindy,
You’re not late, but this plan doesn’t work because there isn’t enough room to run the sofa in that direction. Design-wise is problematic, too, because of the configuration of the room and settee that would be running parallel.
Fortunately, I’m happy with my plan.
Would love me a birdcage table! Your buffet is lovely and practical by the kitchen.
You could put a car wreck in that room and it would still look lovely. What an elegant space. The new old mantel is perfect, as are the elegant hurricanes. That bay is beyond elegant, even without curtains.
Regarding table size, if I might share an idea; friends increased the size of their dining table by adding a folding plywood topper in the needed size. The hinge was recessed to be dead flat, to not scratch the table and both sides were lined in green felt They also used a rubberized mesh under the topper, so the top wouldn’t slide. It was hinged for easier storage in their large, but still space-challenged classic six NYC apartment. They actually stored the top behind a sofa that was against the wall. Later, it slide flat under another sofa, when the furniture layout was changed. I would send a picture if not for the apartment having been dismantled over a year ago.
Hi Walter,
That’s a great idea, and similar to what I was talking about with a heavy-duty table pad. I did that for another table, see post with tacky table cloth, lol. OMG that post is ten years old!
I do like the idea of a rubberized mesh, like a thin rug pad or drawer liner. (same thing)
One thing of concern for me with plywood would be the weight of it. Anyway, the heavy-duty table pads work. They are also pretty heavy, but yes, for a round table, they would come in a half-circle that folds on itself and one side is covered in felt. The only problem is the sliding around, but the solution you presented is perfect.
So glad to hear you’ve been feeling well this week! Yay! Your friends are right, the apartment looks like it’s always been this way. Everything is beautiful and I think changing the wainscoting had a huge design impact–it visually “right-sized” the space. Beautiful!!! Thank you & have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Always tasteful and thoughtful designs come out of your creative mind. I understand that the photos do not show the true space available, but based on your photos alone it does seem that there are a lot of legs and the stair rail also contributes to the vertical legginess. I thought that instead of the four legged little tables with the lamps you could use two classic pedestal tables with the lamps on top. I’ve seen them in marble and wood. That way instead of eight skinny legs, you have only two and they take up less floor space. I was in Boston this fall and looked for your building, but was not successful; but wow, I love Boston and your neighborhood. You are so lucky.
Hi Christine,
In all the time I’ve been here, it never occurred to me that there were “too many legs.” Please remember that a static image is entirely different from being in a room. I’m planning on a pedestal table for the dining table, so don’t want two more pedestals.
Hi Laurel,
Would you consider replacing your armchairs beside the fireplace with smaller chairs? This would give you more room.
Hi Carolyn,
Those are small chairs. 31″ high – 36″ deep and 30″ wide with the arms.
I wouldn’t dare propose any design ideas to a designer, but I do have a suggestion that might ease your frustration about the size of your dining table. For the very few times that you’re entertaining a large group for a seated dinner, just rent a table and a lovely tablecloth from a party rental company. That’s how I solved my entertaining situation in my square dining room.
Wow, Laurel, everything looks perfectly gorgeous! Can’t wait to see the sofa in place. And when I look at your photos I think how great it would be if there were one or two plants, possibly in the corners where the side chairs are now, like a fiddle-leaf fern or two? Ours just warm up our place so much and are easy to care for. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for all the years of enjoyable reading and inspiration!
I do love your new arrangement, especially the idea of the buffet near the kitchen! You’re at the fun part–arranging and rearranging, until you get it right! I have an idea–offer tours for those who visit Boston! I might just make that long trek from Florida! Seriously, your home was beautiful before, and even more so, after this grueling renovation!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Dear Laurel,
You have restored your Grande Dame, to even better than her original beauty (considering she originally was half the house). The erasure of that horrible staircase and its replacement with such elegance and function is nothing short of a miracle. I just wanted to say that when you were considering where to move, having cared for parents and in laws who are now my age and now dealing with my own health issues, my first thought when you were considering the small town was, that it wasn’t near world class medical facilities and I was concerned, not even knowing your health issues. I am so thrilled you ended up in Boston which does have world class medical resources, because *you* are the most important consideration, you are so dear to all of us!!! … Wishing you good health, joy and Peace ALWAYS, to enjoy your beautiful home and family.
I wanted to mention Resource Furniture, which I know has a showroom in NYC, they have some other branches. They have a console table called Goliath which starts as a thin console and expand many steps to seat 12. That would work near the kitchen for when you need it. They also make other very cool inventions, also a cocktail table that becomes dining height, desks that come out of the wall, and beds that fold down from the top of a sofa without even moving the tchotchkes on the shelf above the sofa. Maybe you’ll find something that works for you and they”ll partner with you? Worth a look.
I have learned so much from you, have your guides and can’t wait to see your escapades enjoying and entertaining in your beautiful home. The beauty was hard won indeed. Love, Marguerite
I think moving the sofa closer to the fireplace in the diagram looks the best and makes for a cozy seating arrangement. This makes movement around the room much more pleasurable. I have loved your blog for many years. Your place is beautiful. Have a nice Thanksgiving.
Good morning & Happy Day Before Thanksgiving.
Will anyone else be joining you & Cale for turkey day? Who’s cooking the bird?
As I was looking at the picture of your handsome son in your kitchen, I couldn’t help but notice your lamp is missing its shade. Quite worrying about furniture placement & get that lamp its shade! 😂
Regarding your furniture & where it will end up, it will be easier to decide once it’s in your home. Hopefully you won’t be waiting too long. Then you can put it all on sliders & push it around & try different locations. And live with it in place for a bit to see how it feels. And if it functions well.
You’ll figure it out & it will be beautiful.
Now, about those window treatments….
Hi Mary,
If only there were three of me. I’m exhausted.
Dear Laurel, Based upon a blog you wrote several years ago regarding scale, I rearranged (with manly help) two rooms of furniture; a den and a living room. I’m still learning from you (kitchen cabinet paint colors) and am in awe of your resilience. I agree with your friend’s comment… it doesn’t look like a renovation. Most of all…so glad you are feeling well and enjoying time with your son.
Happy Thanksgiving to all! KrKrKrKr Thank you for the iPhone camera tip!
I like your final layout. I can’t recall if you ever shared this but are there any other units in your building that have that odd type of staircase that you replaced? Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi GG,
There’s only one other duplex, but their spiral isn’t as ugly and it’s tucked in a corner. I don’t think they have room for a straight-run staircase. The layout is such, that you walk straight into the living room from the hall.
This thanksgiving I’m especially grateful for your good health – enjoy the day with Cale!
* Feel free to burn this comment in that gorgeous fireplace, since I’m lower than a novice at interior decorating. Definitely why I’m in awe of your talents!
I’m on the same page as Mary Evers and wondering if another solution might be to outfit the room with furniture that can do double duty (mostly conversation areas and highlighting the fireplace) and be called into “dining” action when needed? Don’t forget the *. LOL
Laurel, I would also experiment with the buffet on the opposite side of the fireplace, near the dining area, and see how you like it. Depending on the size of the table you end up getting, you may appreciate the flexibility of having a buffet very close to the table. But I don’t remember what you have planned for that spot right now, nor how much room you have there.
Hi Mrs. Bee,
There’s a baseboard heating unit there, so it’s a little more difficult to put a buffet over there and also a little tighter space-wise. Actually, I would love a buffet on both sides. We’ll have to see.
Most of the parties I’ve been to, people are eating on their laps while sitting in a chair or on a sofa. The food gets put on the dining table because there isn’t room anywhere else. This isn’t true for everyone, but most of my friends.
And formal dinner parties are super rare.
Crazy about what you have done with your home! I live in Texas, so perhaps have a “different” eye. You mentioned something that I was taught years ago in my career: too many legs! I was hoping for a skirted sofa to balance and anchor the space. I love your look!
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m a leg woman. ;]
Laurel is right that putting the table in front of the fireplace would be a mistake. It is interesting that in theory one could consider the possibility, but even just in the drawing it becomes obvious that Laurel is right: the fireplace becomes an afterthought, and what a crime that would be! I myself have committed that crime, since we do have a table in front of the family room fireplace – but it’s the only place where it made sense for my kids to do their school work (we homeschool them), so for me the situation is temporary, even though I will have to put up with it for quite a while 🙂 Blocking a fireplace is a contradiction, it’s supposed to spread its warmth throughout the room – it’s this function that then translates into making it the star of the room, as Laurel says, and that’s true even when it’s a very humble fireplace. People instinctively want to “gather around the fire”, so putting the dining table there would frustrate this instinct big time: not only the symmetry of the room would suffer, but the people living in it would sense there’s something wrong, that the room is not as “happy” as it could be. In short – Brava, Laurel! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
That fireplace with the gorgeous mirror above is stunning. It makes perfect sense that it should be the focal point and anchor the seating area. The light fixtures flanking the fireplace and the ceiling fixtures are beautiful too. The home is really coming together beautifully. All the snags in the renovation process will be distant memories soon, if not already.
Hi Laurel. First of all, krkrkrkr needs to open an online consulting business. Second, before they were bought out, Theodore Alexander made a beautiful 60″ pedestal table. The top is flame walnut and the octagonal pedestal is covered in walnut-colored leather. I am fortunate to own one, and I literally would not buy a home if it did not accommodate my table. Anyway, there are no used ones available right now, but maybe you’ll get lucky if you set up some kind of alert. (krkrkrkr can probably tell both of us how to do that.) Your place is beautiful. I am envious of your staircase railing! Talk about making lemonade!
Laurel, am loving your rug! And of course the fire place is the jewel of the room. I linger on every post where it is included. Cannot politely say how envious I am of it. And have always liked the placement of your dining table even before the start of the reno. Agree that the normal crossing of the room would be behind the sofa, not through the sitting area. Am dying to see your sofa in place. It is a gorgeous room.
I’m uncertain as to the reasons for objections to your chosen furniture placement; it has always seemed logical and the best use of the space and its elements. A table at the window is not a lengthy distance from the kitchen and will be used for many things other than eating. Working there in good daylight will be quite practical and pleasant. Once one exits the entrance, meeting a comfortable seating space centered on the fireplace and lighting feels more elegant and welcoming than coming face to face with a table with chair backs. I like it as you’ve designed it. Enjoy Thanksgiving with your son.
This space needs some masculine pieces. For dining, two vintage leather chairs flanking the settee would be so comfy, luxurious and grounding. Also, promise me a huge potted green something is going to have a home here. Enjoy Thanksgiving!
Hi, Laurel. I wrote a lengthy screed on Sunday that I think your dialogue box choked on and actually refreshed itself. Comments gone. I think Jules will be happy to luxuriate in front of the stairs and you will have great flow. A mix of armed chairs and slipper chairs is visually pleasing and offers options for people’s unique ideas about comfort. Billy Baldwin’s clients didn’t seem to mind the mix of slippers and Lawson arms or sheltered tuxedo sofas.
Oh Randy,
I’m sorry. I don’t see that comment. Thank you for reminding us about Billy Baldwin whose trademark was his iconic slipper chair!
Why oh why is it that the furniture that looked so good in your last home just won’t do in the new one and has to be redone or given away? I’ve moved too many times, including internationally and have always found this to be the case. I think you’re on the right track though. The space looks wonderful!
Hi Nel,
I am keeping most of my furniture however, some of it is moving to other spaces. The thing is, my home is only 1200 square feet and there’s only one living space. In addition, both the bedroom and living room changed sizes and shapes. The living room can now handle a sofa that it couldn’t before because of the way the spiral jutted out into the room. The sofa I chose is specific to the late 19th century, early 20th century and so that too, can affect the other furniture that looks good with it.
I suppose that’s why most of us have similar issues when moving or renovating.
Looking SO GOOD!! You must be so satisified every time you look at those amazing sconces.
You might check out waveformlighting.com for non flicker bulbs, etc. It’s a good website for many applications.
Hi Linda,
My bulbs are non-flicker bulbs. However, I’m not talking about a visible flicker which I would not be able to tolerate. It’s my understanding, that all light bulbs, even incandescents have a flicker or strobe-light effect, but it’s too fast for our eyes to notice. However, a camera lens can notice it.
I love all the blogs about your remodeling project. It’s real world design problems, not the fairy tale before-and-afters of so many other blogs. I’ve done several remodels and, yes, they are stressful in ways that can be infuriating. I love design and the design process, and it’s heartening and very generous of you to walk us through the many issues of designing and building a real, workable space.
I understand your layout now that you reminded me about your heater. I also understand better that your gorgeous fireplace and mirror should indeed be the focal point in the living room. The windows can be the focal point of the dining room.
To the person who complained about your Blog, all you have to do is stop reading it. There’s no need to insult our favourite Blogger! A little dose of kindness goes a long way. Try it. You might like it!
Thank you, Heather. I gave her a little help with having to be subjected to my boring posts.
Okay, I do not like the two small tables with lamps on either side of the dining table. Far too cluttered, especially with the lamps.
As far as switching the dining and sofa areas, by putting a sofa table behind the sofa in the bay, you will get plenty of air circulation and have room to reach and plug in things. I would think the sofa side would be very visible from the den. Of course, it will not have the same impact.
The settee could easily go where the sofa would in the living room, parallel to the fireplace with plenty of room to walk behind it.
Finally, I like your armchairs although I don’t know where they would go if you moved the sofa to the bay. I do agree their color is wrong. I have already registered my objection to slipper chairs which I know you reject. It is your home, but I would want my guests to be as comfortable as possible within my aesthetic.
Hi Ramona,
Please remember that the photos unless close-ups distort the rooms. Objects in the back are smaller and more compressed-looking and farther away than they are and objects in the front look disproportionately bigger. The human eye cannot possible take all of what you are seeing in the photo. The lamps in front of the windows are divine. Plus, I need the light at that end of the room. :] The dining area does not look at all cluttered in real life. It’s quite spacious.
After the sofa arrives and is placed in your living room, I am confident you will quickly arrive at the best seating and furniture arrangement solution! I like your idea of having it placed facing the fireplace because it makes the space more open and visually flow, and better visual communication between the fabulous kitchen and the living room. Placing the closer to the stair rail sounds like a good plan.
In one of my former homes, due to the small size of the living room that had a front door in the middle of the long wall of the room, a large opening to the dining room and one to the hall and one to the den, I had a sofa and two slipper chairs which was all that would fit. I didn’t like sitting in them nor did anyone else. Not having arms on chairs in a room that will be used for actual living isn’t comfortable for most people. If this room will be used merely for entertaining and perching upon the furniture pieces, then fine. Just my opinion, you do you, of course!
I would love to see you do a sketch of the furniture layout as Mary Evers described. From the first time I saw your new home, I thought the living area belonged at the front of the room in front of the windows, which are the other beautiful focal point in the room, besides the fireplace. Like she said, you could have plants (what direction does that window face?) on a table behind your sofa. Maybe a lamp too and a framed picture you love, and more.
I don’t know how your dining are would fit into the space between the kitchen entrance and the fireplace though, which is why I’d love to see a sketch. Normally the fireplace is centred in the living room, but is it wrong to have it visible from two separate areas? As Mary said, it’s customary for the dining room to be near the kitchen so it’s easy to serve. Everything depends on what the layout looks like. Maybe you’ll even create more space for your living room furniture, or create another little area right in front of the fireplace, like your pair of stools.
How lucky you are to have 2 beautiful focal points in that long room!
Hi Heather,
The photos are deceiving. The room is not all that long. Not including the bay the length is 22 feet. It is a little wider than average at 15′-4″, but then there’s the stairwell taking up a hefty bit of real estate. Yes, it’s always been an inherently beautiful room. My favorite part now, is the fireplace area with the mirror. I can’t believe I gave it a second thought.
Here’s the thing with putting a large, heavy sofa in the bay. The air conditioning unit is back there and while I don’t want to see it, I need to be able to move the piece of furniture in front of it to plug things in and also can’t block all of the air flow. Plus, even with the settee, it’s more difficult to turn on. I have to go right on top of it for the remote to work. I’m finding that I am using both upstairs and downstairs mini-splits for auxilliary heat. Due to the architectural changes, about 30% of the heat was lost.
However, it’s a wonderful system because not only does it heat, it filters the air and moves it around which is a lovely feeling.
Also, the point of this piece is to see the side which is what makes it so outstanding. Back there, the side won’t be visible at all.
Finally, where does the settee go? It’s perfect in the bay. I’ve always enjoyed having the dining table back there and prefer the seating area to surround the fireplace.
It’s all gorgeous. Some of the other readers probably got ahead of me here, but I would turn the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace and have the two chairs facing so that the traffic flow is not the middle of the seating area. Also could you move the two lamps and occasional tables over to this area? Just a thought. I hope you are feeling all right. Don’t exhaust yourself. We want to be reading this blog for a long long time!
Amazon link not working. Would love to check it out. New subscriber
Hi Cynthia,
When links aren’t working, it’s usually something to do with the reader’s settings on their device. I’m guessing you’re on a mobile device. The first thing I’d check is to see that your add blocker is turned off. Hope that helps!
I adore the yellow chairs. I hope aren’t considering replacing them! The showroom chair has nice lines, but the fabric cannot compare. Gives it a clunky modern look.
Hi Janet,
I agree that the showroom fabric on the Jules chair is not that great. But, most of the other fabrics in the Spada showroom are gorgeous!
I was thinking the same thing as another here, that a sofa and two chairs or two sofas facing each other on each side of the fireplace would be my idea of perfection. I would put a sofa table behind and a lamp or two, then you wouldn’t have to worry about a walkway. A small bench in front of the stair rail would work for extra seating and can be placed anywhere. You are the decorator here, so I’m sure you’ll have a reason for not doing this.
As far as lightbulbs, I’m hoping the new administration will end the ridiculous ban on incandescent bulbs and give us the freedom to buy what we want again. I hate Chinese bulbs and I’ve had enough of the Government’s interference in what we can and can’t buy. Happy Thanksgiving and best of luck with your gorgeous room.
Hi Dianne,
I agree. Lightbulbs should be a personal choice and I am not making a political statement. I understand there’s an energy savings for doing LEDs and that is a good thing. So, that is fine. Offer more lower wattage incandescents and don’t make them more than 60 watts. No one needs a 100 watt light bulb for anything. I never get more than a 40 watt and those are on dimmers. I prefer 15-25 watts.
And then keep working on the technology to make incandescents more energy-efficient and longer lasting.
Folks tend to over light their rooms but in unattractive unbalanced ways. And if the majority want LEDs, that’s also fine. ’nuff said.
There is room for an 84″ sofa perpendicular with the settee on that side of the room. And I could put two chairs facing the sofa. One advantage to this configuration is I’d be able to use the square coffee table which is really too big for the den, if for no other reason than people need to use it for a bedroom sometimes.
There are options which is always a good thing!
Hi Laurel,
Just for fun have you ever considered switching the seating area with the dining area? I’m envisioning the back of your new sofa pulled away from the bay window a bit. A simple console table behind it loaded with plants. Your chairs would of course be in front. It could look quite cozy.
Your dining space will have sufficient room to have your table extended when needed. And typically dining spaces are closer to the kitchen.
And if there’s room, a low buffet in front of the railing.
That’s my unasked for opinion. 😂
Hi Mary,
That’s an interesting idea and one I had not thought of.
Hi Laurel, I have really enjoyed following your process on making over your space. I am a big fan of colors you have chosen. The depth of your sofa from the front of the seat to the back of the slanted curl looks exceptionally deep. Looks like it adds another 8-10 inches of depth for the slant back Unless that perspective is off, I have to agree your second thought of placing the sofa closer to the stair rail will be your better option. Can’t wait to see it with all the seating and art in place!
Hi Harriet,
Yes, you are correct. The slant of the back is what makes the sofa exceptionally deep. The footprint in terms of where the legs sit is not. So, it’s not like a 44″ block.
My favourite of all your lovely choices are the alabaster light shades. Seeing that “moon” glowing in your teal den was gorgeous, enchanting, just perfect. A place to go and listen to beautiful (ballet) music.
I have loved watching the rejuvenation of your home.
Happy Thanksgiving
Your taste is impeccable and have loved watching it all come together. About bulbs – the led drives me crazy and I have contraband in my utility closet from buying incandescent bulbs off amazon right before they made it illegal to sale them. Wish I had bought more! To get dust out of your pillows, put them in your clothes dryer on low setting and spin them to get dust out. Happy turkey day and take care – can’t wait to see more post this coming yr.
Hi Pam,
Wow! Thanks for the tip for removing dust. I will try it with one pillow, just because I’ve never done that before. I bet throwing it in with a tennis ball would be helpful?
You know, you can still purchase incandescent bulbs on Amazon and other places, too.
Is this a crazy idea? What about putting the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace wall, with the sofa’s back to the dining area. Then the two chairs can face the sofa, with a coffee table in the middle. The walkway would then be along the railing. 84″ long, add 10″ away from the wall, totals 94″. 120″, the distance from the fireplace to the railing, less 94″, leaves a 26″ walkway. too narrow? Then there is lighting to add to this. or the back of the sofa could be toward the kitchen, but I don’t like that idea…anyway, it will be great!
Hi Susan,
No, not at all crazy and a viable option I forgot to mention. However, when I’m in the kitchen, or entering from the entry, I prefer to see the side of the sofa.
Your instinct to push the sofa back is correct imo. Not just because the space is tight at the back but because it looks like it would be tight in the front. It looks as if the distance from the edge of the sofa to the two armchairs would be quite close, especially with a cocktail table in between. People, especially introverts, prefer a little more space, which you have. Your traffic flow won’t be a problem in front of the sofa. It will feel natural since it will be the only way to get through the room. Also, the placement will feel naturally center instead of pushed forward. You’re almost there!
Laurel,
So nice to see some furniture back in the space! Given the constraints you are working with, I definitely agree with moving the sofa as close to the stair railing as possible and making the circulation path through the seating area, rather than behind the sofa. There is just not enough space to devote the necessary width to essentially having two circulation paths. It’s unfortunate that the sofa placement and the stair guardrail aren’t aligned more closely, but you have to work with what you’ve got, right? Luckily, the door to the Den will almost align with the end of the sofa, making a “landing” of sorts of the square footage between the sofa and the Den wall. This will make your conversation area so much more generous and inviting and you won’t be forced to have the new slipper chairs practically behind the hearth. Can’t wait to see what you do for window treatments for those amazing windows! All looking so good! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Hi Shawn,
Yes, the stair case could not be lined up with the fireplace mantel which is almost dead center, but off by about two inches. However, the spiral made a sofa impossible and it was an eyesore and dangerous, as well. So glad it’s gone!!!
I really like the yellow chairs, but I understand wanting a change. Lightbulbs are a challenge, but what can you do, I am still trying to find the right ones for this house. Between toilet paper and lightbulbs, we have made it so difficult and why?Anyway, I would put the sofa up as close to the rail as I could to make the room seem wider BUT I am not a decorator. I just love to put a room together. I was surprised to find the day picture of the living room made the walls look green, perhaps the camera?I really like how everything is coming together, Laurel.I look forward to the next post and am wishing you a happy holiday season. Next week we are off to cut our tree, here in Nova Scotia the holidays are in full swing!!!!
Hi Laurel, young person here. Your iPhone itself may be partially at fault for the quality of your photographs. All the iPhones of the past several years add significant digital processing to photos (and yes all digital photos do it to some extent, Apple’s post-processing effects are just over the top). Basically, iPhones are set up to make group shots in front of a window look like they’re not horribly back-lit. Three things you can try for better photos:
-Turn off “Live photos” (it’s the top right icon when you’re using your iPhone camera)
-Turn off “Apply HDR” or “View HDR” depending on your phone model (go to your phone settings, scroll down to “Photos”, and turn off “Apply HDR” or “View HDR”)
-Get a separate point and shoot camera and write it off on your taxes because iPhone photos are kinda crummy now and will likely remain crummy for the foreseeable future
Thanks so much krkrkrkr,
I will try those tips!
What an incredible journey! It is truly just gorge! Happy Thanksgiving Laurel.