Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Dear Lisa……………….

I was wondering if you might have a suggestion or two for my family room.The room is 15 x22′ long and I recently installed handscraped 5″ walnut plank floors and cream colored grass cloth on the walls. We have a raised hearth fireplace bricked to the ceiling. We have also installed new dark Oak crown moulding and baseboard. There is also a small wet bar across the room from the fireplace. I want a very warm room and my husband wants a very large LCD TV (UHGGGG)——-and he also wants the computer in the room. I like books and family photos and hate the TV and the computer—-We Need good seating and light to read by. I would like all new furniture and new window treatments—–PLEASE HELP!

So now to continue forward, you would like to replace all the furniture add a large TV and address the windows. First begin with a floor plan, with a little work you can create a scaled drawing. If you aren’t confident retain a designer to help you with this. In reviewing your pictures I would suggest these changes to your current layout. 

1. Move television to wall opposite of the french doors
2. Position the sofa to face the new television wall head on
3. Add a pair of chairs perpendicular to the sofa, use swivel chairs for easy television viewing
4. Finish off the area behind the sofa with a sofa table
5. Add a small reading nook in the corner to the left of the french doors
6. Consider an ottoman for a coffee table. The ottoman is functional for additional seating when entertaining, offers a foot rest and is a great way to add more textiles to the room.

Now that the basic floor plan is established let’s discuss the television ………. Darlin’ what is it about boys and their toys?? To keep the peace let him have them…but it doesn’t mean you have to stare at the toys every time you enter your beloved family room. You mentioned you like books and photos……….why not have the best of both worlds on display.

Here are a couple of pieces I carry in my showroom that could do the trick!

This beautiful cabinet holds a 42″ flat screen … to the left your husbands cabinet, space for components & television …to the right your cabinet, room for books & pictures! This cabinet measures 99″wide X 65″tall X 22″ deep. It would fill your wall nicely!

Another option is to have a custom or semi-custom unit built to fill the wall. Here is a wall unit I would customize, simply add doors to the center or make the center a pop up unit. Again this unit is 100″ wide ….. it will fill the wall nicely

Carefully choose your fabric for your panels. Stay away from any pattern that is too small …… small patterns can be overwhelming and may not run square. Dress your drapes, if you taste overall is more tailored consider adding a simple band to the lead edge of your panels. If you style is a little more feminine consider a glass bead trim or maybe the top third of the panel is a floral and the bottom two thirds a solid. Here is a roman shade with a banding application.

And Beth …… a happy husband makes a happy wife. Although my prince says a happy wife makes a happier husband! Marriage is give and take, give him his toys and you take the rest of the room! or the house!

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