In better news, though, I think I've solved the downstairs floor plan issues--in a way which won't require me to purchase very many new pieces. Let's start with the old layout. I've added in some color to make this whole process easier. The red dots mark the flow of interest through the room. The yellow line marks easy lines of travel--the S.O. is remarkably tolerant of my design adventures, wherever they may take us, but he has three rules (1)light switches must be easily accessible, (2) furniture doesn't go at an angle, and (3) it's easy to walk from point to point. So, I wanted to make sure that the new design didn't disrupt the major traffic pathways marked in yellow. On the new floor plan, blue marks the new items that I would have to buy.
This room is large enough to accommodate multiple uses, which is good, because it does. The design dilemma is that the room's primary use is watching TV. The S.O. and I throw a weekly dinner party and Heroes-watching party every Monday night for, usually, between 8 and 15 people. So, I need a lot of seating that faces--or can be easily brought to face--the TV. Other than that, both of us use it to study--in his case, that means using the computer; in my case, that means spreading stacks of papers over (often) the floor. I also want to expand the "entertaining" potential of the space by creating multiple conversation areas, room for guests to congregate, and easy access to drinks--I'd prefer to keep drunk people off the spiral staircase, thank you very much.
Problems: The first thing you see when you walk down the stairs is the collection of mismatched chairs. I like them all on their own, but the overall impression is rather overwhelming. Having the couch on the wall opens up the space and makes it easier to create a larger conversation seating area, but it makes it more difficult to relax and watch TV without straining your neck. The "bar" is, as you can see from the Before pics, more of a place to set moving boxes than a place to set drinks.
***
This new floor plan, I think, preserves the good things about the present layout while fixing the trouble spots.
The drop-leaf table is a family heirloom, so it's going to stay in the space--flipping it around means that I can use it as a bar instead of a table. Of course, bars are supposed to be counter height, but if I switched to counter height (a) it would make the ceilings look even shorter and (b) I'd have to find a new home for my lovely pair of Maui chairs, and that's just not going to happen. I can store supplies in a buffet on the wall behind the table and use the table to mix and serve drinks. That also frees up that whole wall to display art. Yay!
The desk and bookshelves are very functional as-is, so I've left them alone for now. Although, I have moved one of the cantilevered chairs into the space between the bookcases and the staircase. If I'm feeling extra extravagant, I might splurge and buy one of those cute little library stools to make a footstool/table.
The couch and the other cantilevered chair will remain pretty much where they are now, with some new pieces to make a more comfortable, and less visually taxing, seating area. I'll add a left-armed chaise to enclose the seating area and replace the current coffee table with an upholstered ottoman which can double as extra seating (especially for playing video games, which require you to be right in front of the TV, and close enough for the cord to reach). I'll replace the coffee table with smaller, strategically placed side tables. Adding an area rug will help solidify this seating arrangement and hide the ugly carpet.
This new layout will easily sit 12 people to watch TV, but also allows for three different conversations during parties. I'm excited, too, that it won't require purchasing many extra pieces. I have a tendency to overload a room with furniture (everything you see in my Before pics was once jammed into a 520 sq ft one bedroom, after all) and I want to avoid that here. I have the space, I want it to feel like it.
Now, all I have to do is figure out a color scheme for the whole mess, and actually get rid of the pieces I don't need...
No comments:
Post a Comment