Tricky Spaces Vol. 1
#notmyclientsspace
Friday June 5
Not my client’s space
Let’s tackle a design dilemma together
These are some owner-uploaded photos from a Facebook group I follow with people’s design dilemmas, and I want to start sharing some of them with you so you get a better idea of my process and my approach.
As we look at this space, I’m asking three questions:
What are the physical challenges the space itself presents?
What are the needs for the space functionally?
How can we improve the design?
(We’re really only looking at the living room and entryway, but for context I’ve included all the images.)
Physical challenges
This home has a non-existent entry: You walk in through the door and the same wall ends in an awkward corner fireplace. This makes it challenging to know where to place furniture, because if furniture is centered on the fireplace, it creates an awkward walkway, but if it’s faced away from the fireplace then the fireplace feels redundant
Thoroughfare spaces: There is no hallway, so the only way to continue deeper into the house is to walk through the living room and dining room.
Lack of wall space: because of windows, the fireplace, and entry into other rooms, it’s challenging to know where to place furniture, and it’s hard to know where to place art too.
The needs for the space:
A place to receive guests (at the least, a place a to hang coats)
An entryway table
Places to sit and place a drink
Somewhere for the TV to go
Improving the design
Window treatments
Creating cohesion
Zoning space
The moves we need
Work with the corner fireplace. Corner fireplaces are tricky. The solution is not to build a furniture plan that directly faces the corner fireplace (it blocks off the rest of the room), but instead to build a furniture plan that is open to it—the Swedes are great at this (see the images below). Assuming we are losing the sectional (which I would do in this space as it divides the space too much), I would create a conversation pit style layout that is mostly open—sectionals require you to walk a long way around; loveseats, chaises, and well-placed armchairs give more flexibility and openness)—on the wall to the right of the door and the side open to the dining area. All furniture should be pulled off the wall a good bit so there’s enough space to walk around and the seats feel close enough to have an intimate conversation.
Adjust other furniture styles and placement. Get a lower, sofa-table style table to sit behind a long couch on the window wall; this is a place to leave the keys etc. Optionally a basket could be placed underneath for guest shoes, and right next to the door, I’d include a sleek or statement coat rack. On the wall next to the fireplace, I’d add a large piece of art that occupies much of the room wall, and beneath that, pulled enough away from the wall for a walkway, a low-backed chaise or two low-lying accent chairs with a small table between them.
For the TV, I’m not usually one to opt for frame style TVs but I think in this scenario, that would be something that works to replace the large artwork on the wall adjacent to the fireplace. Another alternative is a TV on wheels (like the 90s! But sleeker), which could be wheeled out for use but stored elsewhere otherwise.
Additional Considerations
Remove the mantle from the fireplace: it will look better (sleeker) without it.
Paint the walls: unify with the rest of the open room by tying in ceiling colour
Add curtains above windows: not directly above, but slightly wider and slightly higher to widen and lengthen the window (great for a tall ceiling)
The Result
Sorry, no AI-generated image here, but I do hope you can picture this in your mind’s eye. The result is a space that 1) allows people to walk through while still having clear zones, 2) involves the fireplace, 3) has space for the homeowner to place keys etc., and 4) has dedicated areas for guests coming in who need a place to kick off their shoes and hang their coats.
Tricky, not impossible. Asking the right questions and having clear objectives always yields a better design result. What did you think?
Signing off for this week! If you’re looking for more, check out the blog, the podcast, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.