Need a ladies point of view (or decorators)

[Pea-n-Me]

An example

https://farrediga.blogspot.com/2018/09/fireplace-with-built-ins-on-both-sides.html

 

[ronandannette]

You guys are all awesome I legit have my notebook and wrote stuff down I’m gonna make some changes!

If I’m remembering correctly, don't you have a little kid? Practicality with the flor space and decor pieces should be considered too.

 

[cvjw]

We don’t have built ins beside our fireplace, but our decorator added these. See pic. Also, we added a smaller tv over the fireplace. My husband wanted a bigger one, but I didn’t think it would look right. Also see pic of using white drapes for your windows to lighten up your space.
Please excuse the messy house. Pet sitting!

 

[_19disnA]

Everyone has their own design style, so what one person likes, someone else might not. However, the questions I would look to answer are: 1) what % of the time does your family watch TV there? 2) are there any other rooms where you gather to watch TV? 3) when you have company is this the place they mostly gather or elsewhere?, 4) how big is your family, 5) what is the typical number of guests you need to seat in that room? The answers to those questions will help you decide how to best arrange that room.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

An example

https://farrediga.blogspot.com/2018/09/fireplace-with-built-ins-on-both-sides.html

Yeah that can be seen as too bulky these days although it's not as closed in as ones of the past (the style is considered outdated I suppose one could say)

Here's an example of one of the main builders in town:



They kept the bottom portion but opted to not have anything on top.

Here's another builder:


This is another builder who opted to do floating shelves, a lower built-in and then a chair on the other side:




I have seen built-ins still even bulkier older style ones in high dollar homes still but they are fewer in comparison to a newer style of either not having any built-ins, having floor to ceiling windows (which the OP's house doesn't have so that's moot), or having a low-key built-in.

**All pictures are new homes in my area.

 

[mousefan73]

I dunno something about my living room feels like it’s missing something…any ideas?
View attachment 611431

I feel the TV is too large for that space. Is the fireplace working? Do you have a different wall to move the TV and instead hang artwork or a mirror above the Fireplace? I am not a fan of TVs above fireplaces.. just my opinion, as they are two separate things.. overload. I would also pick a color to give thte room pop. I see a green theming going on there. apples and plants. The couch could use some of that "POP"

But as a whole the room is very nice.. better than most people's homes

 

[Christine]

I agree on the furniture for this size of room but figured like the tv probably not something any of us would want to just toss out or relocate (their furniture looked really nice too!) in favor of something smaller. But it was a thought looking at the picture with the size and shape of the room.

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't toss any of it but maybe just keep in mind down the road. I only have 8 ft ceilings in my home and it is the *one* thing stopping me from putting up my TV over my fireplace. Just looks too jammed in there, but man that extra foot vertically would make all the difference. It's also really, really hard to find "not oversized" furniture. I've had a heck of a time for both rooms in my house where I have seating. I basically have to shop at West Elm and I don't love their comfort-level at all, but it's the right size mostly.

 

[Christine]

A good paint color to use, if you want to lighten up, is Sherwin-Williams Pediment. Now if you go look at it at the store store you might go YUCK. I know I did, but I've ended up using it all over my upstairs and am going to take it to my main level. It is a "gray" but it's got some warm-toned taupe in there. I ended up seeing a few of the rooms done in it online and it match a darker accent color in my new bathroom tile perfectly. I started using it in my master bathroom and found it was very restful and anything I had worked well with it (I've got a lot of 90s wood tones on the floor that I can't change now). It's really made my house feel so much fresher. I think it would do great with what you already have in that room and will lighten things up but still contrast with the wide trims you have.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yeah, I certainly wouldn't toss any of it but maybe just keep in mind down the road. I only have 8 ft ceilings in my home and it is the *one* thing stopping me from putting up my TV over my fireplace. Just looks too jammed in there, but man that extra foot vertically would make all the difference. It's also really, really hard to find "not oversized" furniture. I've had a heck of a time for both rooms in my house where I have seating. I basically have to shop at West Elm and I don't love their comfort-level at all, but it's the right size mostly.

Yeah it's good to keep in mind for the future.

We have 9 ft ceilings downstairs (aside from our entry which is two story height) I totally agree with you. Portions of our upstairs are 8ft ceilings and you can feel the difference even though it's only 1 ft difference. The front bedroom upstairs we can't remember the height but it's at least 10 ft. What seems like a small difference isn't really.

You're right about the furniture I mean you want it to actually be functional too so finding something that works in both can be difficult.

 

[Christine]

We don’t have built ins beside our fireplace, but our decorator added these. See pic. Also, we added a smaller tv over the fireplace. My husband wanted a bigger one, but I didn’t think it would look right. Also see pic of using white drapes for your windows to lighten up your space.
Please excuse the messy house. Pet sitting!

Want to say that I love what you've done here. But based on the OP's picture, these are 8 foot ceilings they are dealing with (just like I have) and it's really hard to get the impact/effect that you have with the curtains and hanging them high like that. Go look at the original picture and see how little room there is between the top of the window and the ceiling. I've hung my dining room drapes like you have, it doesn't look nearly as good because I have ZERO room on top of the curtain. It still looks way better than hanging them at the top of the window like in ye olde times.

 

[AppleDumpling]

I have to agree with others; the TV is too big. Other than that it, it looks very nice. It’s a small room so you don’t want too much. I wouldn’t put shelving next to the fireplace, it would only make it appear smaller. Perhaps a lighter color paint, and maybe use a different shade on the fireplace wall for an accent wall.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This is our mantle from the great room (the other side of the mantle is in the kitchen area).

Technically we swapped the position of it. It was against the wall (for a 1 sided fireplace that we now have dual sided) with the main level being very open. We wanted a little separation. We added that wall behind the tv the other side is open. For nearly 6 years there was no shelving but last year we put in the shelves (it's just those two shelves). I do think I have a wee bit too much beach/sea decor in one place. While we do have curtains they are never closed and bunched up behind curtain hold backs on either side.

 

[DLgal]

Okay, is this a formal living room or a family/tv room? It seems to be having an identity crisis.

It APPEARS to be a formal living room. If that's the case, completely eliminate the TV and hang either a mirror or some art in the space, or a nice large decorative clock. That TV, as it stands, is a massive design fail.

If this is your main gathering space/TV room, my recommendation would be to knock out the fireplace entirely and build in an entertainment center, or find one small enough to fit in those space, then switch to a sectional couch so that watching tv is more comfortable and head on to the TV. An alternative would be building in or flanking the fireplace with some narrow bookshelves/cabinets and significantly downsizing the TV.

I agree that, in general, the sofa is far too large for the space, as is the coffee table. We have a small narrow living area as part of a great room amd we had to be very careful to find appropriately proportioned furniture. We went with a long, but low profile couch, a small rectangular, low coffee table and a small side table along with a low profile recliner chair.

 

[smokeyblue]

I started writing and realized I was going to suggest to get rid of everything expect the couch and ottoman and that's entirely unhelpful. I'm into mid-century modern so this isn't my type of decor.

I'd for sure get rid of the sconces and the chairs by the fireplace. I would also suggest adding a table lamp that has a lot more height to it.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

So I’m definitely going to repaint it a lighter color with the suggestions here.

get new pillows and a rug which I was thinking anyway and a new tray for the ottoman.

also to the poster who is awesome for remembering yes I have a little man who is on his way to walking so things won’t be nice forever lol.

The big question is should I get shelving built on the sides or do something with the mantle for instance brick it???? I’m legit taking all of the suggestions you guys made as I want to improve it.

this is the decor for fall btw! I didn’t know if you I should have put it here during normal times

 

[wenrob]

Overall, I really like it!

@TLSnell1981 I’m pretty sure there is a loveseat facing the tele. (You can see a portion of the left armrest in the photo.)

I think I would consider building in some bookcases/shelving, the same color as the mantel, on either side of the fireplace, and moving one of those chairs up on the wall (at an angle, toward the doorway) for extra seating (and keeping the other one in storage for if you need it). As it is, the seating doesn’t look very functional (but I get what you were going for). You could have an electrician move the switches to the other wall.

I like how you softened things up with the fabrics and greenery. (Feng Shui). A lighted seasonal spray across the top of the fireplace could add to the ambience.

Edit: spelling

I agree with all of this. The TV takes over that space. Bookcases (floor to ceiling IMO) will help balance it out.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

The last picture is much more flattering of the room. IMO, the sconces are the biggest issue. They aren't large enough for the space. I'd put some artwork there. My personal preference would be family photos to make the room look more personal & welcoming, but that's me. Any appropriately sized artwork that goes with the theme you want to create would work.

I totally understand the big TV. There's no way that TV would be downsized in our home. People recommending that would hate our living room. We have a wall that is nothing but a TV wall. We like having the option to watch three sporting events at once. We'd probably have more TVs there, if there was room.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I totally understand the big TV. There's no way that TV would be downsized in our home.

To be fair people weren't recommending downsizing the tv they were saying the tv was too large for the space. It wasn't about the tv being there. Husband's old coworker had a setup for 3 tvs in his basement (he loves to watch golf and other sports) but the space was built with that in mind. It's nowhere near the same as a mantle.

In-laws have an 80inch tv in their family room (although not above their mantle). It would be great for the basement living space but is honestly horrendous in the family room space.

 

[GAN]

I dunno something about my living room feels like it’s missing something…any ideas?
View attachment 611431

...a dog!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Beautiful OP!
if it were me… the TV would be gone, too overpowering, too high craning my neck looking up and ohhh I just want to look at the pretty fireplace lol.
pop of color… that vivid green of the plant in two pillows…
I don’t think ur .. missing Anything, enjoy ur home, it’s lovely!