Decorating and Design - Family room doubled as Playroom/Biz
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amazonwhinny
11-25-06, 01:37 PM
Hello, I am a SAHM of two girls. I am also running a Home daycare part time. We all love to hang out in the familyroom. this room in turn looks BORING! I dont have enough storage for toys and I can not find a spot I like the furnature to make it roomy enough but also close enough for the hubby to watch his some what small TV, as well as well as when we have company this holiday season enough room for conversation. So many things I want, is it doable?? I have a Chair and a half and a couch as well as a small childs chair in all in denim
The room is a large square right off the open kitchen and the house is not even a year old it has a recest area where I guess you would build shelfing for home entertainment?? a HUGE slider that needs drapes BAD but is to tall I have to custom order them. and a bar area from the kitchen in my eyes could double as more seating I I have a large amount of ppl over.
I do not have much cash to spend just want to get that great flow before the flow of people coming over for the hoildays increases ;)
TIA anyone who thinks they can help!!!
The room is a large square right off the open kitchen and the house is not even a year old it has a recest area where I guess you would build shelfing for home entertainment?? a HUGE slider that needs drapes BAD but is to tall I have to custom order them. and a bar area from the kitchen in my eyes could double as more seating I I have a large amount of ppl over.
I do not have much cash to spend just want to get that great flow before the flow of people coming over for the hoildays increases ;)
TIA anyone who thinks they can help!!!
JMC's Mommy
11-25-06, 02:30 PM
Can you snap a few digital photos, so we can see? That helps a ton to get more specific advice, I have found.
Do you have a great room floor plan? Is there only one living space?
Ikea makes lots of great products for multi-purpose rooms. If you have an Ikea near you, walking through the showroom might give you a great idea.
We have playstands for our kids, which double as a play space, like a house and also toy storage. They are beautiful, instead of intrusive and ugly too and warn, because they are wood. Our kids love them. Here is a picture of ours:
http://picasaweb.google.com/seiza.mokuso/PlayStandsWithSilk
We bought ours on ebay two years ago. Magic Cabin also sells them, and you can search online for other places as well. I think they would be a good investment.
Also, have you seen those huge, padded, square ottomans, with storage inside? One of those could serve many purposes.
I'm sure you'll get some great advice from others on here too! This board is great!
JMC
Do you have a great room floor plan? Is there only one living space?
Ikea makes lots of great products for multi-purpose rooms. If you have an Ikea near you, walking through the showroom might give you a great idea.
We have playstands for our kids, which double as a play space, like a house and also toy storage. They are beautiful, instead of intrusive and ugly too and warn, because they are wood. Our kids love them. Here is a picture of ours:
http://picasaweb.google.com/seiza.mokuso/PlayStandsWithSilk
We bought ours on ebay two years ago. Magic Cabin also sells them, and you can search online for other places as well. I think they would be a good investment.
Also, have you seen those huge, padded, square ottomans, with storage inside? One of those could serve many purposes.
I'm sure you'll get some great advice from others on here too! This board is great!
JMC
amazonwhinny
11-25-06, 02:47 PM
Yes pics!! I do have those!! here is how it looks now and then another of whatis conected (kitchen) This is the Do all room because it is right off the kitchen where everyone likes to be ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Wrightgirls/Drabfamily.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Wrightgirls/Whiteasskitchen.jpg
the house is huge and beautiful I hate to take away from it with this cluttery unfunctional room I have to be in 4 days of the week and evening ;) for work!!
I live in Arizona.
thank you!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Wrightgirls/Drabfamily.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Wrightgirls/Whiteasskitchen.jpg
the house is huge and beautiful I hate to take away from it with this cluttery unfunctional room I have to be in 4 days of the week and evening ;) for work!!
I live in Arizona.
thank you!
JMC's Mommy
11-26-06, 10:19 AM
I have a couple of ideas, while you wait for the pros. ;-)
If you aren't afraid of having it look like kids live there (some are not open to this, weird IMO, b/c they do!), I'd put that plastic kitchen right into that dining area w/ the table, because then they can "cook" when you do, and have a little table to have tea parties and such at (is that a kiddie table your girls are at?). I'd put it under the opening going to the office(?). I'm assuming you have a family dining table else where. If not, you can put the kitchen where the little unused table is, next to the carpet/kitchen flooring transition.
I'd totally get bar stools for along the bar. You have way to much wasted space in the dining area and you should try to get the most out of what you have.
For your TV placement...two thoughts. We have a TV wall mount stand (Wal-mart or Lowes-$30-$50) that attaches to the wall, up high, which is sooooo nice, b/c the kids can't stand too close, touch it, or worse yet, pull it down and get hurt and they don’t block the view of others while they are playing. The furniture layout then becomes more flexible too. Say you put your TV on the wall, between the two windows. Then you could make an “L” shaped conversation area with the sofa and love seat and add the chair in on the opposite side, all around a coffee table. Because I personally am not a huge TV fan, I prefer TV to be an after thought, not a focal point in the room, and therefore would not be concerned about having every single seat I in the house have a perfect view of it. This promotes TV watching-NOT conversation. This is what you have going on right now. That is just more in line with my own family values though, you have to do what works for you.
If you don't want to go the wall mounted TV route, at least get one of those armoires, with doors, so you have more storage and can close it up when you aren't using it. We bought a cute one at Target for about $200.
We have used a living room for dual purpose once with our playroom, and it worked for us by using the back of the couch as a room divider. You may be able to do this by tucking the toys area between the sofa and the slider, if you can leave enough room over there and use the other 2/3rds of the room for the sitting area/TV.
As far as the nook which is recessed, I can’t imagine that that is for an entertainments center, b/c is isn’t centered in the room. I’ve seen those before and they usually are centered. How deep is this area? Shelving is always nice, but without doors, you would be better off using baskets, so it doesn’t look like ea big mess.
I can’t wait to hear what twelvepole and Annette have to say. They are great.
JMC
If you aren't afraid of having it look like kids live there (some are not open to this, weird IMO, b/c they do!), I'd put that plastic kitchen right into that dining area w/ the table, because then they can "cook" when you do, and have a little table to have tea parties and such at (is that a kiddie table your girls are at?). I'd put it under the opening going to the office(?). I'm assuming you have a family dining table else where. If not, you can put the kitchen where the little unused table is, next to the carpet/kitchen flooring transition.
I'd totally get bar stools for along the bar. You have way to much wasted space in the dining area and you should try to get the most out of what you have.
For your TV placement...two thoughts. We have a TV wall mount stand (Wal-mart or Lowes-$30-$50) that attaches to the wall, up high, which is sooooo nice, b/c the kids can't stand too close, touch it, or worse yet, pull it down and get hurt and they don’t block the view of others while they are playing. The furniture layout then becomes more flexible too. Say you put your TV on the wall, between the two windows. Then you could make an “L” shaped conversation area with the sofa and love seat and add the chair in on the opposite side, all around a coffee table. Because I personally am not a huge TV fan, I prefer TV to be an after thought, not a focal point in the room, and therefore would not be concerned about having every single seat I in the house have a perfect view of it. This promotes TV watching-NOT conversation. This is what you have going on right now. That is just more in line with my own family values though, you have to do what works for you.
If you don't want to go the wall mounted TV route, at least get one of those armoires, with doors, so you have more storage and can close it up when you aren't using it. We bought a cute one at Target for about $200.
We have used a living room for dual purpose once with our playroom, and it worked for us by using the back of the couch as a room divider. You may be able to do this by tucking the toys area between the sofa and the slider, if you can leave enough room over there and use the other 2/3rds of the room for the sitting area/TV.
As far as the nook which is recessed, I can’t imagine that that is for an entertainments center, b/c is isn’t centered in the room. I’ve seen those before and they usually are centered. How deep is this area? Shelving is always nice, but without doors, you would be better off using baskets, so it doesn’t look like ea big mess.
I can’t wait to hear what twelvepole and Annette have to say. They are great.
JMC
twelvepole
11-27-06, 12:08 PM
If entertaining, perhaps it would be possible to move the kidstuff to the garage or another area in the home. This will allow you to eliminate the clutter and set the home up for adults for entertaining. Another thought is to place all kidstuff into storage containers that can be brought out as needed for activities. This would help eliminate clutter and keep the room looking like a family room when it is not a day care. The children's dining table could be moved to the dining area.
The familyroom is not very large. The one chair beneath the window appears to be too large in scale for the room. Perhaps it could be swapped out with a smaller chair from another room. The ottoman could serve as a coffee table in front of the couch with a tray on top.
You can experiment with moving the furniture around. After removing clutter at end of couch and moving the smaller chair out of the way, you could angle the couch around closer to the edge of the carpet. The two chairs angled toward each other in front of the sliding glass doors would provide a more intimate seating arrangement. The children's dining table could serve as a temporary table between them if not moving to the kitchen nook. Perhaps turning the table in the kitchen nook would allow room for the play kitchen. A limited budget may not allow for an entertainment center or built-ins in the entertainment wall at this time. Perhaps the larger piece that is visible in the room beyond the kitchen could be moved into the familyroom to better fill the recessed area and accommodate the TV.
Decluttering and removing the kidstuff will provide you with an adult room for holiday entertaining. Storage of toys and other kidstuff in containers stored in a closet or other area of the home, would allow you the opportunity to have an adult room when the room is not being used as a daycare.
The familyroom is not very large. The one chair beneath the window appears to be too large in scale for the room. Perhaps it could be swapped out with a smaller chair from another room. The ottoman could serve as a coffee table in front of the couch with a tray on top.
You can experiment with moving the furniture around. After removing clutter at end of couch and moving the smaller chair out of the way, you could angle the couch around closer to the edge of the carpet. The two chairs angled toward each other in front of the sliding glass doors would provide a more intimate seating arrangement. The children's dining table could serve as a temporary table between them if not moving to the kitchen nook. Perhaps turning the table in the kitchen nook would allow room for the play kitchen. A limited budget may not allow for an entertainment center or built-ins in the entertainment wall at this time. Perhaps the larger piece that is visible in the room beyond the kitchen could be moved into the familyroom to better fill the recessed area and accommodate the TV.
Decluttering and removing the kidstuff will provide you with an adult room for holiday entertaining. Storage of toys and other kidstuff in containers stored in a closet or other area of the home, would allow you the opportunity to have an adult room when the room is not being used as a daycare.
Annette
11-27-06, 01:51 PM
you've gotten great advice so far. i don't have much to add, except if you don't have a lot of money to spend, you'll get the biggest bang for your buck by painting. you need COLOR more than anything else. the 2nd thing i'd do is simply rearrange your furniture. the chair-and-a-half would be better on the other side of the sofa so you have more of an L-shaped arrangement. right now, it looks smashed into the corner, which makes it look too big (as mentioned by 12pole). but placed on the other side, it'll help define that seating area. when you have some money to spend, spend it on closed storage, like an armoire or a large tv entertainment unit with 3 sections and lots of storage behind cabinet doors to reduce visual clutter.
for now, another idea would be to move the sofa forward, more out into the room, and hide large storage bins behind it, where kids can go & get stuff, but the stuff will be basically hidden. you can further camouflage it under a sofa table. this also puts hubby closer to his little tv. (maybe hubby needs glasses?) and you don't need to buy expensive custom draperies for your sliding door. just get regular ones & add a contrasting fabric to the top or bottom 18" or so.
and definitely get some barstools for that counter. you can get basic barstools (with no backs, that don't swivel) for very little money.
also look into a larger dining table. you can fit a nice sized one in that bay window area. one with at least 6 chairs. then consider an area rug to accent that eating area. maybe make or buy some inexpensive simple valances for the bay window. if you don't want to paint the whole kitchen, at least paint the bay window walls.
it's a good space with a good layout. you just need to add color & accessories & rearrange the furniture.
for now, another idea would be to move the sofa forward, more out into the room, and hide large storage bins behind it, where kids can go & get stuff, but the stuff will be basically hidden. you can further camouflage it under a sofa table. this also puts hubby closer to his little tv. (maybe hubby needs glasses?) and you don't need to buy expensive custom draperies for your sliding door. just get regular ones & add a contrasting fabric to the top or bottom 18" or so.
and definitely get some barstools for that counter. you can get basic barstools (with no backs, that don't swivel) for very little money.
also look into a larger dining table. you can fit a nice sized one in that bay window area. one with at least 6 chairs. then consider an area rug to accent that eating area. maybe make or buy some inexpensive simple valances for the bay window. if you don't want to paint the whole kitchen, at least paint the bay window walls.
it's a good space with a good layout. you just need to add color & accessories & rearrange the furniture.
amazonwhinny
11-27-06, 04:34 PM
Thank you all SO much!
What the TV (which is a 30 inch so cant go up on the walls) is on is an amoire, I just happen to have the top on it so ill put that back up there!
Heres are few other ways I have tried, I moved the dinning table (yes I SO need a new one :P) out into the formal since we dont use it often I sit with my children at the childs table most the time LOL!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1932.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1930.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1928.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/Familyroom.jpg
I seem to like all the lil girls stuff in the "nook" area. Seems to look more orginized in there just needs some paint and bar stools! I am saving up for those I have a certain few in mind it can 5 but I was thinking of only getting 3 to go along the larges part only.
Paint I HOPE to do this coming weekend. I really do not have much we JUST moved into a 2500sq ft house and came from a 800 sq/ft house so quitw the change for us here!! IMO the Living area is rather large but like I said lol where I came from TINY the slider is like 10ft by 8ft. and I have 12ft ceilings.
Thanks all for the help I WISH I had more funds :P
Jess
What the TV (which is a 30 inch so cant go up on the walls) is on is an amoire, I just happen to have the top on it so ill put that back up there!
Heres are few other ways I have tried, I moved the dinning table (yes I SO need a new one :P) out into the formal since we dont use it often I sit with my children at the childs table most the time LOL!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1932.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1930.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1928.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/Familyroom.jpg
I seem to like all the lil girls stuff in the "nook" area. Seems to look more orginized in there just needs some paint and bar stools! I am saving up for those I have a certain few in mind it can 5 but I was thinking of only getting 3 to go along the larges part only.
Paint I HOPE to do this coming weekend. I really do not have much we JUST moved into a 2500sq ft house and came from a 800 sq/ft house so quitw the change for us here!! IMO the Living area is rather large but like I said lol where I came from TINY the slider is like 10ft by 8ft. and I have 12ft ceilings.
Thanks all for the help I WISH I had more funds :P
Jess
JMC's Mommy
11-29-06, 08:57 PM
They all look cute! What do you like best?
JMC
JMC
twelvepole
11-29-06, 09:27 PM
Photo #1: Very good for conversation, but people in chairs can not see the TV. Of course, they say it is very polite to turn off the TV when company arrives so you can visit. If it's Super Bowl Sunday, then everyone needs to see the TV.
Photo #2: Very good for the children and on a childproof floor. It gets the kidstuff out of the livingroom! But, where will company eat? Diningroom!
Photo #3: Too scrunched up and couch too far from wall. I wanted to kick the couch back at an angle, leaving space behind for kids to hide some of their things and drag them out and put them back as needed and angle chairs so that all could see the TV. Could not make out what the large thing was in the alcove beside the TV.
Photo #4: Getting better. Couch could come back to leave more room for traffic flow to the patio door. Could not see where the other chair went & what else, if anything, is in the alcove. I believe you have begun to get into the swing of things in this photo.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association recommends that you allow 24" of bar for each stool for comfortable seating. The length of the bar will determine the appropriate number of stools.
As Annette indicates, adding color and accessories that tie your color scheme together will give you lots of visual flow. When you get ready to discuss your color scheme post back. Annette has an awesome eye for color and is a professional. In the meantime, watch HGTV and look at lots of pictures in magazines and catalogs to begin training your eye for color and design and to gain the confidence you need to create a home with its own distinctive color scheme, design, and theme. Much can be done for little money, especially when it comes to color.
Photo #2: Very good for the children and on a childproof floor. It gets the kidstuff out of the livingroom! But, where will company eat? Diningroom!
Photo #3: Too scrunched up and couch too far from wall. I wanted to kick the couch back at an angle, leaving space behind for kids to hide some of their things and drag them out and put them back as needed and angle chairs so that all could see the TV. Could not make out what the large thing was in the alcove beside the TV.
Photo #4: Getting better. Couch could come back to leave more room for traffic flow to the patio door. Could not see where the other chair went & what else, if anything, is in the alcove. I believe you have begun to get into the swing of things in this photo.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association recommends that you allow 24" of bar for each stool for comfortable seating. The length of the bar will determine the appropriate number of stools.
As Annette indicates, adding color and accessories that tie your color scheme together will give you lots of visual flow. When you get ready to discuss your color scheme post back. Annette has an awesome eye for color and is a professional. In the meantime, watch HGTV and look at lots of pictures in magazines and catalogs to begin training your eye for color and design and to gain the confidence you need to create a home with its own distinctive color scheme, design, and theme. Much can be done for little money, especially when it comes to color.
amazonwhinny
12-05-06, 04:08 PM
Well!...
Thanks ALL!!!
I think I may have got a begining!! Now comes the fun part of painting (choosing colors) Curtains and little things here and there.
heres what I have so far...
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1934.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1935.jpg
remember I moved from a very small house with not much :P
The kids are is like this....
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1930.jpg
MY nook is HUGE I kinda hate that the space is all used for them but its Okay too. They LOVE the vinal floors to play on. I think that the barstools will help too.
I moved my Dinning table into my so called "formal" dinning room thats TINY lol but it works!
thanks again SO much!
Jess
Thanks ALL!!!
I think I may have got a begining!! Now comes the fun part of painting (choosing colors) Curtains and little things here and there.
heres what I have so far...
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1934.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1935.jpg
remember I moved from a very small house with not much :P
The kids are is like this....
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g79/RPStables/100_1930.jpg
MY nook is HUGE I kinda hate that the space is all used for them but its Okay too. They LOVE the vinal floors to play on. I think that the barstools will help too.
I moved my Dinning table into my so called "formal" dinning room thats TINY lol but it works!
thanks again SO much!
Jess
Annette
12-06-06, 12:23 PM
i think that's a definite improvement. and when you get barstools, it'll be quite functional. a good compromise for now, while you're still watching kids in your home.
twelvepole
12-06-06, 05:47 PM
Congratulations! Looks like you are on a roll. Now, we will look forward to your window treatments and accessories.
Bar stools will be great. Depending on ages of children, you may want to postpone those if you have climbers on your hands. Barstools can tip over. Then, you have to deal with the boo boos!
Bar stools will be great. Depending on ages of children, you may want to postpone those if you have climbers on your hands. Barstools can tip over. Then, you have to deal with the boo boos!