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My wife and I are in a bit of a conundrum. We are mid-20's and just bought our home in May. It's a 50 year old home and we have been working hard on bringing things up to date(refinished 1500 sq ft of hardwood, replaced deck with patio, painting, lots of landscaping, etc...). Now that it is almost winter and we are done outside til spring, we are started on the remaining rooms.
Our downstairs layout consists of a bathroom, laundry room, large kitchen with seating area and island, dining room, family room which is done and then...the living room. We need to do something with this space where we will actually use it. Currently we have 4 of these chairs from ikea to use for the room: TULLSTA Chair - Ransta dark gray - IKEA
Our family room has a fireplace, couch, loveseat and a 60 inch tv with surround sound and wire from there running out to our patio for a zone 2 for music.
We are completely lost with what to do with the other room to actually make us use it. We like to have guests over and drink, play poker and cards, etc...
Some ideas we have so far is a seating area with a table for card games. Then building a bar area at the other end with a kegerator and a wine fridge(already have this). But that still leaves one end of the room completely empty.
Any one have any other ideas as what we can do with this room?
Are you planning on building the bar near the window end? I think it can be fine to leave one end open (the room will seem less cluttered) and maybe put up some cool artwork.
We really weren't sure on placement of anything yet. Both ends of the rooms for a bar had their merits but it really depended on what else was going on with the room.
That room looks like it was originally a dining room, maybe not. Where is the "family room" in relation to this room? If you want to use that as a "game room", put your poker table at one end and the seating at the other, maybe with a round coffee table in the middle of the chairs for more of a conversation area. I would really hesitate to build a bar in that room. Maybe get a portable something at Ikea or where ever. I realize it is your house but building a bar in that room would kill your resale.
I personally like to have a quiet area away from the TV to read so that would work well in that room with those chairs set up like I suggested above.
That room looks so confining. I would open up the space by knocking out the wall (if possible). And don't build a bar area; they are usually tacky and are not great for resells.
Does the family room work well for entertaining? If the living room is better for entertaining, especially if it is close to the dining area, perhaps it is better used that way.
Will you put your media center in the family room? If that is the case, then I'd entertain there.
Can you use the living room as a combination office/library? You could each have a desk, if you desire. you could also have comfy seating around a bookcase. A nice sound system would also be a plus.
I like the crown molding and chair rail. Floors look great, congrats!
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