Help with Living room and Kitchen
by
Jcrawford
+20
We want toupdate the Living room and kitchen. We have removed the popcorn from theceiling and painted it white so far. We thought about put bead board and a chairrail and painting it white. Then tape, mud, and texture the rest of the way upand painting it a dark brown. Haven’t really thought about the kitchen. Anythought would be a help.
The living room
Looking at the kitchen
21 answers
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I have a great room similiar and I replaced the carpet with floating wood floor to match the beams. I bought a wood mantle online and stained it to match.My walls match the grout of the fireplace and my drapery is mauve. Sue
Sue D
on Feb 21, 2014
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Is that a tile floor or linoleum? Is it staying? With that flooring and the brick, the room is busy busy busy. You need to calm down the room and tie in the flooring and brick. Do you know what is behind the paneling on the walls? Sometimes texturizing is easy and looks good but in this room I think you should either work with the paneling or have smooth walls with the beadboard you mentioned or some wainscotting underneath. You definitely need a chunky mantle and I think maybe a tall bookshelf or two on the brick wall with their backboards painted with a pop of color. I notice you have no trim and so I ask if you are going to put trim in and what color? Do you like the wood beam look? Because if you do like the wood, then the chunky mantle and trim and even the beadboard would look warm and beautiful stained. I love dark brown and my family/living room is called bittersweet a very chocolate brown and I have my beams, trim, fireplace and built ins, and one wall of 4' beadboard painted white. But in your room I believe this will be too much with the dark floor and the brick. You could go with a neutral color on the walls (Valspar colors that i know-Oatlands subtle taupe, woodrow wilson putty, dust bunny) which would be a great back drop to adding punches of color throughout the room in art work, knick knacks, pillows and maybe even a fun piece of upholstered furniture. I know you said you just painted the ceiling, but is that a white white? You may want to consider, and I know this stinks, but paint it more of the antique white ceiling paint. I use Valspars which is a great toned down white which makes wood beams look better. The patio door could use some softening as well. Do you need to have privacy with curtains/blinds? I see a nice wood or even wrought iron curtain rod (even for the dining area) with silky type drapes with some shimmer or even texture that will pick up the colors in your pillows and accessories. I would think about removing the chrome light and moving it to the dining area or even kitchen. You need a ceiling fan there (I have ceiling fans in most rooms except kitchen and dining and I save on my electric bill in the spring-fall because keeping the air moving helps me to have my air conditioner set on a higher temp and lowered my bills by $100!)The brass is outdated and could easily be removed and spray painted with high heat spray paint meant for grills in flat black. Your kitchen entryway needs to be painted the same colors as the walls in the living area. Updating your kitchen could be as simple as a new countertop if that one needs it and handles/;knobs or replacing (or if you are really good) painting your frig black to match your built in oven. If you have the patience and the time, then painting the cabinets in their white or cream will lighten them up. I do not know what color is in the floor but even a gray would work too. I personally I think the paneling looks okay but with the stark white ceiling and the off white paint it is lacking in pizzaz. Is that door your entryway? What are those 3 spots on the wall where the door is? That would be a great place for a bench with storage underneath for shoes and hooks for coats and purses? Back to your kitchen and the eat in breakfast bar? I see a stool so do you use that area? That paneling definitely needs to be painted and I think that this will bring out the wood in the kitchen better too. Budget, time, and DIY skills are important to know before you start the projects. You have a great canvas to start and you could very well work with the paneling too. What is your favorite color? Because you need to incorporate that into your room as well. You may even want to consider a pop of color over the kitchen entryway? Have fun!
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Feb 21, 2014
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paint brick white or cream colr replace floor with hardwood or laminate paint walls a light khaki color change light fixture i'd love to photos after
Robin Gilles
on Feb 22, 2014
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I agree with Robin Gilles - there are too many patterns going on - love that ceiling - neutral colors will unify the space and make it seem even larger - good luck
Barbara Kaye-May
on Feb 22, 2014
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Im not a fan of the multi-pattern brick in the fireplace/wall they don't reflect a balance to the way (just my opinion) I would rather the brick be painted over into a uniform color either a charcoal or mid to light gray to stay neutral and allow for room color changes in the future.... The floor in a wood or laminate to match the beams.. then your idea of beadboard chair rail height, and painted upper walls to tie everything together color wise. Its a beautiful space with great potential.. hope to see after photos!!
Buster Evans
on Feb 22, 2014
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My very strong suggestion is do not texture and paint the walls. Texturing just creates a huge dust magnet. I spent an entire year skim-coating the walls in my living/dining room to get rid of the texture someone put on the walls and then painted. I would think living in a hotter climate, you might want to cool down and "quiet" the rooms a little. You didn't say how large the space was, or whether you are interested in any more intense renovation. From the picture, the kitchen looks small. One thing you may consider is opening up the kitchen a little more by removing the peninsula and placing an island further back between the window and the door. I digress. Back to what you were asking. My suggestion would be to: 1) completely lose the window/door treatments and replace with dark bamboo blinds which would give a sleeker look. (2)Replace the current flooring with either hand-scrped hardwood or bamboo (renewable and very hard). (3)Tear out or drywall over the brick and tile the fireplace wall. (4) Paint the walls a cool colour that will act as a background for your furniture and decor. I would scrub down the wood cabins and paint the whole kitchen out until you decide what you want to do in there. There's a lot going on in this space at the moment. If you paint the bottom of the walls white and the tops dark brown, it will be very unbalanced. Id your intent is to break up the walls that way, the darker colour should be on the bottom. GOOD LUCK! I'm looking forward to the "before and after" reveal! Have fun with it, whatever you decide. There are lots of great ideas here.
Katie
on Feb 22, 2014
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We lived in a 1961 house for twenty years. Here are a few things we changed inexpensively and were very happy with. First we installed laminate floors in a mid-tone oak. Very easy to do. The maple ones looked cheap and the cherry ones looked too red. Secondly, we went to the walls of paint chips in the stores, and just grabbed the first colors that caught our eye, took them home, and put them up on the wall with tape. From there the process of elimination was easy. If it looked wrong to us, out it went. We did not match wall color to furniture because we intended to use slipcovers, which were way less pricey than new furniture. We chose ice-blue for our walls, with bright white gloss baseboards and casings. Third, neutral drapes to complement the walls in a shimmery fabric for some texture and interest. We have large patio doors like you. We put blinds there as well as drapes for insulation purposes. They allow light and give us privacy. Fourth came slipcovers for the furniture, and last, we accessorized with toss cushions and side tables. We bought one really funky piece; an African drum, in black. One thing I would recommend for sure is to paint out the brick with white and put a fabulously large piece of art up there. Whatever you decide, I hope you have fun making your transformation. We sure did! Have a great day! Val
Val
on Feb 22, 2014
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could be a great room. If it were mine I'd: Paint the brick wall off white or white; add a thick mantel over fireplace. Paint with high heat resistant paint the gold fireplace screen. Remove the "brick" side bookcase to open up the room. Install a full light door or French door at area door showing on right; remove the window valances; install 3" faux wood blinds and different sliding door treatment vs. old style verticals. Keep wood beams - may need to be lighter in tone.. not sure how high your ceilings are; paint walls warm light tone. Cover whatever flooring is with engineered hardwood if budget allows.. or use one of the great looking peel and stick vinyl flooring in clean bright looking faux stone look. Continue same flooring into kitchen area. Paint kitchen cabs white or light color. Remove the dark paneling AND the drop down over counter to open up kitchen and install drywall and paint (..is that painted paneling around other areas in white..? remove and install drywall and paint for clean updated look) Remove the "spindels" at entrance on right side of photo going to...other area? widen opening to open up entire space. Install new light fixture vs. swag one - something that has a drop rod - no swag... Get rid of the "dining light fixture" which appears to be hanging in the beamed living area (..??) You could actually move that to use in the dining area where that ugly swag is...Install new counters in granite .. or faux granite look in laminate .. not sure how wide the bar area at counter is, but I'd make sure it's deep enough for bar stools to push under on side facing living room AND don't wrap it around to encroach on the entry to kitchen-which is looks like it does now. Make that area flush with the bottom so you have a wider entrance into the kitchen. Add a pop of color with a back-splash.. Wow... I think that's it.
Barb
on Feb 22, 2014
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People mentioned they liked the wood beams above. I think a wood flooring would match them and would draw them out more, and create balance. Then I would paint the back of the kitchen cupboards on the island a cream color, and other kitchen cupboards, but would keep the wood paneling in the kitchen near the ceiling wood.
Megan Hantz
on Feb 22, 2014
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I would paint all the brick a white or off white, and paint the opening brick as in the link I have included, with the fire place framed with mantel. I think adding bead board with chair rail would look good (the wall above the chair rail doesn't have to be grey, but it would look nice), and changing the fire place doors for a black would look better, or a moveable front. Since it is a large room, a dark coloured floating wood floor would look fantastic. I would even stain the ceiling beams darker to match a dark wood floor, and the mantel could even match too. Then a large light neutral coloured area rug on top of the flooring. I could see you changing the vertical patio blinds and valance for large curtains, with a chunky rod. The window near the kitchen should have the same floor to ceiling curtains to match. It is hard to see what the kitchen looks like, but from the photo, I would paint all the cabinets, add silver hardware, and a darker counter top with an over hang on the living room side. I am guessing between the kitchen and living room you will be adding a dining room table set? Or is the dining room off the kitchen and living room? There are so many options, and you pretty well have a blank slate to work with. I am sure you will come up with something that is updated and will change the whole look of the room. Can't wait to see pics of the Before and After if you post them.
Kim Dagenais
on Feb 22, 2014
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I added a pic for you but it didn't show up. I will try again. Just copy and paste this in your url http://www.houzz.com/photos/77321/Fiorella-Design-eclectic-family-room-san-francisco. Houzz is a great site, and besides Hometalk, and Pinterest, I go here most of the time when I need some inspiration and ideas.
Kim Dagenais
on Feb 22, 2014
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I'd beadboard the ceiling and use milk paint on the beams. Pain the brick a lite gray and paint the fireplace insert black. The walls I'd paint a soft blue. Put some sand colored drapes. The TV on the plain brick wall and the couch across from it with some rustic but beachy tables and accessories.
Yvette
on Feb 22, 2014
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Oh, and I too would add a wood beam mantle and matching laminate flooring.
Yvette
on Feb 22, 2014
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So many ideas! You did not mention the brick, so I am assuming you like it. If it is in good shape, and you like it, keep it. I think brick adds texture to a room. I would take the paneling down and have drywall put up. I would NOT texture the walls. The kitchen could be painted in a shade of white to brighten the room, and your old linoleum floors ( I know that linoleum - have lived with it in two houses) should be replaced with a natural wood (dark stained wood will show every scratch), and then decide what color you would like on the walls. I like color, so I would pick a color that went well with the brick.
Sharon M
on Feb 22, 2014
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Is that paneling on the walls? I would replace that with drywall, the brick is beautiful, please don't paint it, you can break it up with large furniture, TV and or wall art. Is that your flooring? If so, use large rugs to define spaces since it's a huge area and that will help cosy it up. Replace vertical blinds and valance with some panels that are not to heavy. What is your style?
Nancy Block
on Feb 22, 2014
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For the living room...I would knock down the short brick wall next to hallway leading to the bedrooms?? Change the color of the brick wall to white. Add a chunky wooden mantel to match the ceiling wood beams. Paint the fireplace insert black. Change the flooring to wood 2-3 shades darker than the ceiling wood beams. White walls remove the texture. For the kitchen,,,I would simply gut it. I move about 4-5 feet out jnto the living room & I would put in an island that would be centered so you can get around it on both sides. I would make the island big enough to make a spot for sitting breakfast for 2-3 people. On back wall of kitchen upper & lower cabinets w/ appliances scattered in between. On the right side I would make ceiling to floor pantry from cabinets to store food, dinnerware, and glassware etc. The colors for the kitchen I would it white, charcoal grey & black w/ pops of a bright teal, or royal blue, or red.
Kayo Frazier
on Feb 22, 2014
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Open up the kitchen more by removing the overhanging cabinets and the wall. Paint cabinets a light color.
Lucy Boyette
on Feb 23, 2014
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I would take down the little side book shelf sticking out near the fireplace and instead build one next to the fireplace against that wall just up to the height of the mantel. I would make a thick simple mantel that would span the entire wall and bookcase. Then I would paint it. For the kitchen, I would try to remove the bulkhead and paint. Cheapest way to make anything look good. I would also then replace all flooring with wood. This is an awesome space with soooo much potential!
Reposhture Studio - Kim
on Mar 16, 2014
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thanks!
Barb
on Mar 18, 2014
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I you are keeping the flooring as is, I would definitely suggest that you paint the fireplace white. The flooring and the brick clash terribly. I painted my own fireplace white and it changed the whole tenor of the room. It is so much more bright and cheerful now.
Anna
on Apr 17, 2014
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Painting the brick and cabinets coordinating colors would make the space flow nicely.
Gib6732847
on Oct 09, 2016
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