Sunday, September 6, 2009

Flipping It Around

For the last year, I've debated flipping the living room with the dining room. The current layout, which is L-shaped, isn't very efficient. There's a LOT of wasted space in some areas and very tight quarters in others.

Current layout:



(Click to enlarge)

Layout via floorplanner.com.

See that space behind the loveseat? It needs to be somewhat open to access the built-in. I couldn't push the furniture against the adjoining wall due to TV placement. Overall, the current set-up was making the best use of the space. I even tried moving things around via Floorplanner and even the graph paper method.

After we had some new (smaller) living room furniture delivered last week, I decided to try the living room/dining room switch. Perfecto!



Here's a sneak peak of things to come (in its initial stages):





There's still a lot to do...
  1. Change ceiling light fixture.
  2. Purchase white coffee table, end table, and paint entertainment unit.
  3. Decor for end table and back wall.
  4. Add texture and lighten up the area via throws and rug.
No pictures of the dining room yet until I get my new dining room light. I found the perfect one for us, considering that the electrician won't be coming out any time soon. (It can be easily converted to hardwire.) So purty, isn't it?



I was unsure of entering into the house into the dining room. But it doesn't feel that way at all. And it's soooo much more open and airy with ample space to walk around. Much more entertainment-friendly!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

The new layout looks like a great use of your space.

I love your new furniture too!

Darija said...

huge improvement! I like the look of your new furniture too. ::off to check out floorplanner:: looks like fun.

Mrs.CFH2 said...

I love the change! I've noticed a lot of houses have the dining room as the entry room- I think so long as it is still near the kitchen it works great! Nice job!

Meredith said...

That's great! I'm totally impressed with your ability to visualize it! Once I have something in my mind, I sometimes have a hard time picturing anything else!

Sharon said...

Brilliant change. It makes your space seem so much bigger..

Jenny @ DIY Newlyweds said...

Wow, that looks great! I love the green you used against the black furniture and white curtains. It looks very clean, but inviting.

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

I think you've come up with a great solution. And you can fit a six person table? Perfect!

Anonymous said...

Excellent work! What a great eye you have to see the potential.

Fawn said...

I love moving furniture around in my house! I don't know if I've ever exchanged whole rooms before, but it looks like it's going to work for you!
I gave you an Honest Scrap Award today... you can check out my blog for details!

Katie @ makingthishome.com said...

Oh shoot. No updates since I was here last week when I was eyeing your floor plan. So I hope things are busy and well and happy - so much that it's why you have been MIA here. Always love your ideas.
Katie

Megs said...

I know. I've been slacking, Katie. There's a reason and it's not home or baby related. lol I'll post about it soon. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi there ... I just came across your blog as I was googling paint colors and was hoping to ask you a question about your living room paint color. I currently have ralph lauren chocolate souffle in my dining room (as I think you do to) and I just purchase ralph lauren natural grey last night to do our living room (which you have too!) I started googling the two colors today to get an idea of what the finished product would look like and to make sure they match when I cam across your blog. I am wondering if you can tell me if the natural grey turns out a lighter version of the chocolate souffle because that is what I am going for. I am concerned it will look a bit green ... thanks for your help! (oh and btw - love your house - we have about 100 of the same things going on from your chairs to your lamps it's crazy! I guess we both just have good taste!) Thanks again for any help,
Jennifer

Megs said...

That's too funny about all the similarities, Jennifer! :)

I think the colors go well together but I wouldn't say the Natural Gray is a lighter version. The base is somewhat different. (I can't tell you exactly how since I'm definitely no color expert. lol

I think the Chocolate Souffle is a somewhat neutral brown, not very warm or too cool. Natural Gray has a lot of warmth to it. My only complaint about the two shades next to each other is that sometimes there isn't *enough* difference between them. That could be just me obsessing about it, though! ;)

FYI-with regular light bulbs, it does look more on the tan side. (Most CFL's make the NG look greenish.) I like to use GE's Reveal bulbs because it makes it look more taupe than tan. Perhaps this is why I wouldn't picture them being grouped together on the same swatch like when other paint brands do so.

Let me know if you have any more questions and good luck! It's one of my favorite shades. You won't regret it. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi again ... thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Well you hit the nail right on the head when you said you wern't sure it was different enough .. that is EXACTLY what I was worried about. And I already have the paint purchased. Too bad - I guess I will have to just put it up and see how it works out. I will use the lightbulbs you suggested and see if that makes a difference. I am planning on hanging white curtains too and using lots of chocolate brown and black in the room, so hopefully it takes on the feel I am looking for. Thanks again :)
p.s. Please tell me the curtains you have hanging are not the extra long Loft curtains from the George line at Walmart. If they are apparently we are living in the same house ... HAHA
Jennifer

Megs said...

LOL No, they are the Merete (sp?) curtains from Ikea. However, I need another similar set for the third bedroom so I might have to check out those George curtains! lol Ikea is too far of a drive just for curtains.

Please let me know when you get the paint up and what you think of it!

Anonymous said...

Hi Again Megs .. just wanted to let you know that I FINALLY got the Ralph Lauren natural grey up on the walls and you are right - it's the cosiest! It is definitley not wildly different than the chocolate souffle but our living room is brighter than our diniing room so that seems to help in making the two paints stand out from each other. I am very happy with the color though. Even my husband commented on how nice it looked and he could care less about paint colors! Thanks again for your replies,
Jennifer

Megs said...

Yea! I'm glad it turned out well! It's funny but whenever we have friends over, it's always the guys that are complimenting the paint color. lol