Throw Back Thursday - Before & After Living Room

A little #throwbackthursday post highlighting one of the very first jobs I tackled solo. This space was a very large living room, but it had character and the perfect dimensions and felt spacious but cozy.  

Here was the floor plan:

With added notes to assist in the shopping process...

In a perfect world, I would have been able to convince the client to reface the fireplace with a beautiful stone in grays, charcoal and soft creamy whites.  

In an effort to convince her, I made this comparative sketch.  But, you win some you lose some.  

Here is another angle.

The large scale patterned area rug adds so much movement and interest.  

I loved that rug.  Sigh...

Before:

After:

Traded the too-small tv and armoire for a larger piece to ground that side of the room and to better balance the scale of the fireplace and massive ceiling space in the room.  

Before:

 After:

All in all it was an awesome project with a fantastic client!

What do you think about the fireplace?  Would you have left it in the original brick or opted to update it with the stone?  Let me know in the comments below!  

Does anyone else wish that rug wasn't discontinued?  It came in a gorgeous charcoal colorway too.  Sigh...

Floor Plan Friday: - L-Shaped Living Room

Sometimes you just need a doodle to show you what direction you're heading in - design wise anyway. This "raw" floor plan is an example of a simple drawing showing what size furniture will comfortably fit in the room.  This floor plan is actually choice "B" for this space.  The drawing for Choice "A", which was my preference as well as the clients, has gone MIA.  Knowing me, I probably gave the client the original floor plan drawing without copying it, and now it is gone forever.  Oh well.  Choice "A" was similar; however, it had a sofa with a chaise lounge extension along the left wall.  That is the layout they currently have, so all is well that ends well.  Also drawn in on this is a dotted line around the sofa - that represents the possibility of a slightly larger sofa than the one shown, which would also indicate the need for slightly smaller end tables.  

The tricky part of this room wasn't only the L-shape, but also it has a main traffic pattern right through the middle leading from the kitchen - opening in upper right corner - to the french doors that lead to the deck and back yard.  

We treated the space like two separate areas, leaving space for foot traffic through the middle.  There is an area just as you enter the room from the kitchen for a desk space and built-ins or a lovely bench with throw pillows, a mirror, etc.  As you turn the corner, you encounter the sitting area of the Family Room with the TV to your left and the main seating to the right.  

It is an absolutely lovely space in a lovely home with lovely people living there.  Makes the job fun!