HGTV Dream House Great Room

So what can you learn from looking at this great

Great room?

Let's to go through the space and talk about

what design principles you can use from this example.

In the above photo the furniture is gathered around the

center of the room facing the fireplace which

is the focal point of the room.

It creates a wonderful conversation area.

1. Converstion Area (the furniture is balanced in the space)

2.  Three Lamps in a triangle pattern.

3. Similar Patterns and Colors throughout the space.

4. See how the Rug anchors the furniture.

5. Natural Elements

(flowers, apples)

6. Notice the Different Textures on the table...

wicker basket, the wooden boxes

as well as the shiny glass candlesticks. 

And of course books...I love books in a room.

7. Fabric

(the different toss pillows)

8. Staggering the heights of the items on the coffee table

makes it more pleasing to the eye.

See how you can take ideas from this beautifully designed

 Dream Home and use a few in your own home!!

Try at least one in your house today!

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Arrange Your Furniture on an Angle

We gave this living room a little shake up!

BEFORE

AFTER

We turned the couches on an angle and placed them close together

 in a L pattern so you can have a nice conversation

without having someone walk between you.

BEFORE

AFTER

See how welcoming and inviting this arrangement feels.

We have divided the room up into different areas.

The back wall with the keyboard now feels like it has it's own space.

The two couches create a conversation area

as well as tv viewing.

BEFORE

AFTER

On this back wall we arranged a nice reading area

with a lamp and table.

It also works for veiwing the tv.

Notice how we added a lamp and some flowers on the table.

This is a quick easy way to accessorize a tabletop.

The red pillow in the chair is a nice way

 to pull color around the room.

Overall, we created a warm inviting place

to visit, read a book or watch a movie!

Try placing some of your furniture on an angle

 and see what you think. 

You may be surprised!

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How to "Cozy-up" the Living Room

This Living Room just needed a few little tweeks

and it really created a more inviting space.

BEFORE

AFTER

By adding the chairs and the table with the lamp, we created a very nice little conversation area.

One chair came from the office and the other chair and table from the bedroom.

BEFORE  This view is to the left of the previous shot.

AFTER

See how we moved the sofas closer together and on an angle.

The ottoman works so much nicer between the two sofas.

We have now created another conversation area.

BEFORE

The table and the TV seem like two very different objects with nothing tying them together.

AFTER

 After adding some height to the table, it now creates a grouping and is much more comfortable to look at.

The natural element and the odd numbers also really add to the cozy feeling on the table.

Having a bookcase in the room makes it very nice to accessorize and add some of your own personality to the space.

Notice how it is just a few books as well as a few items of interest. 

This makes the bookcase much more pleasing to look at.

Just a different view. 

Remember we are doing this redesign using only items that the homeowner already has.  Usually this means that everything is not just right.  But the homeowner now has an idea of what she needs and some homework for when she is ready to shop!

It would be ideal to have a few blue or green patterned toss pillows for the sofa as well as the chairs.

I would also love a couple of pillows on the other sofa as well. 

A tray would be nice on the ottoman.  The lamp really does warm up the room.

But overall don't you think this space is very inviting!

Now go and try alittle rearrange at your house---and I would love to see the before and afters.

Feel free to send me some photos!

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Create a Conversation Area

Today, I want to show you how to create a conversation area.

This Living Room above, was so fun to do.  The homeowner had the most interesting items, I am going to show you more of this room later in the week.

But for now we will be focusing on what makes a conversation area.

BEFORE

See how the sofa is alone, and if you were to have a visitor

it is more difficult to visit.

AFTER

We brought the two sofas across from each other.  The area rug is a nice anchor--- it visually pulls the two couches together and you feel as if you want to sit down and have a conversation.

BEFORE

These two sofas were near each other but there is a walkway

right between them.

AFTER

It is more ideal to pull the two closer together and have

the walkway behind the loveseat.

Adding the end table between the two helps to make it feel

more like a unit.

BEFORE

The couch is lonely and it does not feel like a place you would want to sit down and have a conversation.

AFTER

With the couch and the loveseat in an L shape with the table,

it feels more inviting.

See how this is working . . .

BEFORE

AFTER

We positioned the furniture in a U pattern and it made it easier

to face each other and visit.

BEFORE

AFTER

By adding the rug and pulling the furniture closer together we created a more inviting space.

BEFORE

This chair seems very far away from the rest of the room.

AFTER

By balancing the room with more weight on the large wall, we were able to move the chair up.  We also arranged the area rug so that it touched the chair and the sofas.   This pulled the seating area together and made for a more inviting and comfortable space.

See how by just moving things around and using a few simple design principles you can create a more Cozy and Comfortable space!

Stay tuned for more photos of this

Living Room Redesign

in my next post.

Happy Re-Arranging!!

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