A Room Divided

Open floor plans: yes we all crave them, love them, need them, but they create unique design challenges. For example our living room, that I'm currently designing, is more like our 'everything' room.  It serves as our main living/tv/hangout room, our dining room, our entertaining room, our office and our main entry.  Phew, that's a lot for one, yes ONE room. My biggest challenges are the structural beam and the closed-in front porch area which has a lower ceiling and different flooring.  I need to make this space into a welcoming entry and a office without putting up walls. Here are my ideas thus far. Send me your ideas!   

HGTV.ca

The obvious choice is to use a shelving unit, such as the one pictured above. I'm just not sure if this would give enough privacy to the office area.  

ThisOldHouse.com

 I love this solution! It gives the office privacy while still being open, and getting extra storage is a bonus.

 



MarleyandLockyer.com

Here are two nice examples from Marley and Lockyer using a curtain and folding screen.

Better Homes & Garden, April 2010

My mom torn this out of last April's BHG Magazine. The room has nearly the identical layout to our living room. Right now, using a curtain in this manner is probably my first choice.  I might also add a folding screen to even further divide the space. I can't seem to figure out what kind of curtain rod they used though. Anyone know?

Mood Board: Our Living Room

Drum roll please....I'm finally done with the inspiration for living room!  I wanted a soft palette with a few pops of colors to keep the eye moving around - it's a small space.  It's also a room that we use everyday as well as for company so it needs to be comfortable and inviting, but also special enough for guests and entertaining. The Chariklia Zarris print I picked up at Homegoods this past weekend was really the piece that brought everything together for me. What do you think?

 Art: Chariklia Zarris Print
Sofa: Crate and Barrel Axis Sofa
Chair: Horchow
Coffee table: Peir One
Rug: Home Decorators Collection
Curtains: JCPennys & West Elm
Pillows: Madeline Weinrib & Jayson Home and Garden

Below are the items from my previous post that I purchased already. All from Homegoods with the execption of the rug which is from JCPennys



Mood Board: Our bedroom

Here's my vision for our master bedroom.  I want the room to have a relaxed, hotel feel.  I selected Cedar Key as a neutral and used Philipsburg Blue as an accent wall behind the bed - both colors are from Benjamin Moore. What do you think?

Here goes nothing...

My first blog post EVER - scary! The reason I'm starting this blog is to have an outlet for all my creative ideas that float around in my head and keep me up at night, but like starting that college essay I am a bit stumped as to where to begin.  So I thought I'd share the current project I'm working - my very own house!

My fiance and I bought our house about a year ago.  It's a cute, little 1940's bungalow that needs some work.  One of our biggest challenges is the main living area.  It has these awful faux wood wrapped beams and a jagged field stone fireplace that is falling apart.  I have always loved the architectural detail of a coffered ceiling and since the beams are structural to the house, I thought this would be a perfect way to bring the room into modern day.

 The real estate listing photo - yuck!

My inspirations:

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Traditional Home



Photo: Country Living Magazine

 Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: House Beautiful



Photo: clearcutcarpentry.com

Unfortunately coffered ceilings can be pricey (depending on labor and the type of materials used), but I found that there are Coffer Ceiling Kits that are available.  Also instead of real wood, MDF or drywall can be used if it's going to be painted, which we are planning to do anyway.