I need some advice on furniture placement and curb appeal...

Shelle
by Shelle
Hello everyone!! Can you guys help me with furniture placement for an open living room/ dining room space. There is a photo of the living room from the dining room, which has an awesome window. There is also a picture of the foyer and the kitchen to give you an idea of what the house looks like. Any ideas for the foyer would be more than welcome too. Thanks all!! I will post pics once we move in and decorate. :-)
Front of house
Living room view from open dining space.
Foyer at the front door.
Kitchen
Another view of kitchen, the backsplash has been finished and I am putting a large clock up on the wall to the left of the window.
  24 answers
  • Colleen Colleen on Feb 05, 2016
    It's hard to say, without knowing the specifics of your furniture and other decor. However, a few things come to mind....a console table for the plank wall in the foyer. And if that was my beautiful deep kitchen window ledge, I would be filling it with plants :). As for the living room, generally you want to place a couch and a chair or two into a nice cozy conversation area, cozy meaning not placing them too far away from each other, and keeping the flow of traffic from going right through that space, important if it's connected openly to the dining area. If you are looking for more tips in general on decorating, I find this blogger (also on Hometalk) has a lot of good general design tips: http://www.tidbitsandtwine.com/ Her sidebar is loaded with great posts! Have fun - glad you are going to post pics later: will be so much fun to see what you do. That looks like a gorgeous old home with some beautiful upgrades :) Tons of fun to work with, I'm sure!
  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 05, 2016
    house no. 2 had me in a similar living/ room dining room area. I consulted with an interior design person for "space planning" . this is what we came up with...larger of my 2 couches making a room divider facing the conversation/ tv area. behind the couch facing the dinning area - 2 smallish but comfortable chairs and a small cabinet that came off of an old "man's wardrobe" furniture piece...i'ts the one the top hat got stored in...just the right size. the smaller couch went in front of the fake bay window -(the floor and walls were st.) the window was curved with a wide ledge for my plants. with your floors actually curved to the bay, 2 comfy upholstered chairs w/ small table between to hold drinks. my aunt has a tiny lr- she uses a refurbished bench as a coffee table in front of her couch. i can't really tell the floor space footage from the pictures. now that space planning stuff....she measured the rooms i needed help with.....then measured the furniture ( all the pieces i was thinking about maybe using in those 2 areas) and worked it out on auto cad . we lay people use graph paper and cut out the shape/size of our furniture on graph paper and play with it. what i can't remember is how much space to allow for walking paths between furniture....
  • KatAych KatAych on Feb 06, 2016
    Outside, I'd put a couple flower boxes under the 2 front windows, a climbing plant on a trellis on that big empty space on the side, and maybe shutters on the outside of the other windows to dress them up a little. I'd even think of picking a third trim color that's a little different than what you have already so everything isn't neutral. For your foyer, just look at what other people here have done - not sure what your style is, but you're bound to find some inspiring makeovers!!! Your living room - I'd put the entertainment stuff on that long wall, then put the seating in an "L" shape so folks can enjoy both your television AND the view out of that gorgeous window! Your kitchen looks great - a really nice window covering would really highlight that window and add height and a pop of color. Your house is lovely!!! :-)
  • Michelle Harbee Michelle Harbee on Feb 06, 2016
    Just want to say your house is without a doubt my dream home and I'm incredibly envious! Absolutely charming.
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 06, 2016
      @Thank You Michelle Harbee you are the sweetest! I think we will be very happy there. Thanks again, have a great day!! :-)
  • Tan1781564 Tan1781564 on Feb 06, 2016
    Wicker furniture on the porch, window boxes and container urns out front, sofa and sofa table in bay, entry hall narrow table and small chair and potted herbs around sink
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 06, 2016
      @Thank You Tanapapa sounds great!! I do have two wicker chairs already. That is definitely where I will put them. Thanks so much.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Feb 06, 2016
    Such a lovely home! The kitchen is stunning! A few thoughts: for the foyer, a small storage bench with a tufted cushion for sitting to put shoes/boots on and off. For the living room, my first inclination would be to have the sofa with its back to the bay window, coffee table in front of that and a chair/love seat on the wall to the right of it. That way you will be facing the kitchen area- good for conversation with the cook! But there is a large framed opening across from that- not sure what it is. Are you planning on putting a TV in there?
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 06, 2016
      @Sue@CountryDesignHome Thanks Sue. The photo with all the windows is the living room which opens up to the foyer. On the other side of living room is open dining space with a doorway into the kitchen, then the kitchen opens up to a 4 piece bathroom and another family room(which is a addition), then the back door and a sliding door to a deck. Sorry if it sounds confusing, I have confused myself. I will take more photos when we actually move in. Yes I would like to put a television in the living area. Thanks again Sue.
  • Cathy Cathy on Feb 06, 2016
    I love the kitchen. I would put one or 2 chairs in the bay window area so that one could enjoy the light from it plus look out if one wants to---would not block it off. Do you have access to the area above the porch? Would put a nice flower box up there and on the porch railing. Under the bay window, do a raised bed with some kind of brick and put in some what ever flowers you love there. Entry way, make sure there is a place to put down things---have you ever seen one of those bookcases that look like stairsteps---that would be interesting there and allow for the slant or the staircase not to look awkward.
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 06, 2016
      @Thank You Cathy ooooooo I love the bookcase idea. Thank you. Yes there is access above the porch, that sounds great.
  • Grace Gleason Grace Gleason on Feb 06, 2016
    In addition to not blocking the window, you might consider NOT blocking the only heat duct in sight. You need good ventilation, heating or cooling, in the room.
  • Victoria Eubanks Victoria Eubanks on Feb 06, 2016
    Perhaps two lovely side chairs and an ornate Victorian table in the bay window, some ferns in pots on stands at the corners, behind the chairs. If you will be watching tv in this room, then a tv armoire on the big wall with a sofa across from it, console table behind the sofa. Maybe a small settee between living and dining room.
  • Daw3000588 Daw3000588 on Feb 06, 2016
    I would put a round dinning table in the window area. Can't see the room from th other direction for living room. Table in the foyer for mail and keys.
  • KKAbsherwrites KKAbsherwrites on Feb 06, 2016
    I would put an upholstered bench in the entry foyer or a nice table or bachelor's chest for storage. In the beautiful bay window, I would put 2 accent chairs and a table or chest in the middle with a lamp, of course.
  • Chris Chris on Feb 06, 2016
    Curb appeal - add some window boxes in a dark color to ground the windows, especially on the front of the house. Use a combo of colorful annuals and good greenery fakes for all year round interest.
  • Sea3328407 Sea3328407 on Feb 06, 2016
    Foyer...get rid of that raised faux brick whatever it is on the wall under the stairs. Curb appeal...add some evergreen shrub plantings to hide the lower walls at front and ground the house. Paint the front door and round posts a really bright colour...red?
  • Trudy Trudy on Feb 06, 2016
    I agree with everything except painting the posts. Not sue about that...
  • LindaK LindaK on Feb 06, 2016
    I love your new house. Why not get a professionals ideas? They usually charge a nominal fee per hour, get to know you and your tastes and give you ideas to make use of the whole house. Then you choose what and when you want to implement those ideas.
  • Sharon Hartweck Sharon Hartweck on Feb 06, 2016
    Foyer, add a storage bench. Paint the hand rail and starter Newel posts a nice dark brown/espresso.
  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 07, 2016
    hey just a quick question- when i 1st saw the picture of the exterior- my brain went "train station" do you know the history of your property?
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 07, 2016
      @Dfm To my knowledge, this home was built in 1907 and was a former parsonage; a house provided by a church for its pastor to live in.
  • Judithann Terwilliger Judithann Terwilliger on Feb 07, 2016
    Think professional landscaping Woven wood blinds in kitchen put a wine glass picture on the one wall after two years start thinking about what you want to do and recoup the money you layed out for the house.
  • Cou456440 Cou456440 on Feb 07, 2016
    i would paint the railway in a dark brown!
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Feb 07, 2016
    LOVE your house! Love EVERYTHING about your house! If I may: how about 2 wing chairs with a round table in front of that beautiful window facing a couch, with a flat screen on a wall mounted swivel stand (for angle viewing), white sheer panels with tie backs and white faux wood blinds (depending on the amount of privacy you want), hang a framed stained glass piece in the middle window, ......I could go on and on. Love to decorate. #jealous Have fun and enjoy. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home.
    • Shelle Shelle on Feb 07, 2016
      @Thank You Diana Deiley How sweet!! I will post more pics when we move in. Thanks again!
  • The Redesign Habit The Redesign Habit on Feb 09, 2016
    I would leave your stairway railing white and add a nice bench/coat rack combo in your front hall (also white). You didn't really talk about your style but it looks like a mix of contemporary with traditional. You could use the faux wood blinds that are the two-inch slats to look more timely to the house. If you want to soften that look, you can add some beautiful white sheers to those windows or even a big, beautiful flowing scarf window treatment that could tie those three windows together. I would put a nice sitting area in that front window area..maybe a beautiful occasional table surrounded by two nice wing chairs. What a great place to curl up with a book! You could then put your main seating area across from that and use that as a visual divider between the two spaces. You may have to mount your TV to the side and use a swivel so you can view from different angles in the room. LOVE your home. Please share pics when you are all settled!
  • Bit By Bit Shop Bit By Bit Shop on Feb 17, 2016
    I would consider having an electrician install a small hanging lamp centered in bay window with 2 chairs as reading nook. I would just put TV in the family room addition. I also like bookcase idea for foyer. A small shelf in there is great for purse keys etc. & keeps floor area looking larger. I would also hang a couple of hooks to hang guest coats on. Hopefully you can access house from a side or back door,it was a lifesaver when our kids were young!
  • Opal Opal on Feb 18, 2016
    Your house is awesome. It appears that the living room is a bit narrow so I would suggest a love seat vs. a sofa, I agree with chairs by the lovely windows but not wing back because they come up rather high and think that a lower back would look better, be more comfortable, not block the window light and be more versatile. By versatile I mean that short backed (back = shoulder height) chairs could be positioned either right next to the window with a table or pulled out towards the center with maybe a plant stand or short table behind in the window area or facing the window by not block the dining area. I would like to see pics of the front door from the inside to get a better idea if you still want suggestions. Enjoy your new home.
  • Lisa House Lisa House on Feb 18, 2016
    I don't like the idea of coats hanging just inside your front door...so maybe a small table and narrow but taller (fit the area) cabinet for hanging coats of guests. Maybe a mirror above the table with an ornate metal frame (beveled glass). In the bay window of the living area, depending on your style...you could do a Victorian, that doesn't look like I spelled it correctly, heavier look with drapes, table with fancy lamp with lots of bling, and two chairs upholstered in velvet. The other end of the spectrum would be shutters on the lower half of the Windows, rustic wood and metal table, and two chairs upholstered in a French print fabric. Use an overstuffed sofa with bright print pillows, rustic coffee table and end tables, simple lighting on the end tables, bright but simple print area rug. Must have some plants in the bay window but use some that bloom...African violets, Peace lilies etc.... The kitchen you don't have to worry about because I am stealing all of it for my home! Just use valances on the Windows, grow some herbs in the window. Put the TV in the addition room. The stairway railing I would take back to the wood and stain to match the kitchen cabinets because they are fabulous. Paint kitchen walls a neutral gray. On the shelves in the opening...a couple Fenton vases for color, a pair of lead glass candlesticks that can be put on table for special meals. Whatever you do, take your time deciding so you can choose wisely, pick pieces you love-don't settle for just like, have fun with the decorations, don't stress over your decisions because if you are stressing than the item is not the one you should be purchasing...keep looking. Find some nice vintage or antique statement pieces also because your house is asking for them...I can hear it from here! Good luck. Enjoy.😄
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    • Lisa House Lisa House on Aug 23, 2016
      Why not! I would rather a big livingroom personally plus I think it's nicer to enter a home into a living space instead of a formal space. Any room to add an island or dinette for informal meals in the kitchen? Is there room for dining and other use at same time in the room you are thinking of using for dining? I am just thinking of a combo dining plus den type space that would give you another option of a place for TV viewing. Just don't stress over every decision because you will probably change your mind a few hundred times. I prefer to enjoy each day, to look for the humor in everyday occurrences, and life is stressful enough without sweating the small stuff. Enjoy your new home, decorate/use the way that works for you, those people that don't like it don't have to visit or move in! 😜