SMALL HOME RENOVATION SERIES - Dining & Living Room
Recently, my husband and I wrapped up a renovation project on a 1400-square-foot home. It was a challenge because the home is a post and beam frame which means structurally, you cannot move, or remove a post or beam. Instead, you work the frame into your design. Every inch needed to be reworked in order to achieve comfort and ease of use. In this series, we will discuss the different areas of our home and how our choices helped to create the functional and charming space we dreamed of.
DINING / LIVING ROOM
Open space concepts can be tricky when trying to define two separate uses. And having that open concept in a smaller footprint makes the project even more challenging. Choosing the wrong lighting fixture or the incorrectly sized furniture could make it feel cramped or lose the intended impression you are trying to make.
When planning multi-use spaces such as this, our suggestion is to first decide what function(s) you want the room(s) to perform. Is it one big living, dining, work, and play area for all the people in the home? Are there defined use spaces just for dining, lounging, or work? If you choose the defined use concept, would you like to have the spaces flow into each other visually or feel more separated? Our goal was to create defined design spaces with a visual flow. Once we decided that we were able to make the following choices to attain that goal.
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We decided on a large, open chandelier hung up high for the dining room which allows light to flow throughout the space without inhibiting sightlines. Having a light fixture that is too bulky or hung too low may weigh down the space and close off the sightlines making the room feel more enclosed.
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A rectangular table set on an area rug is a simple solution to define the dining space from the living area.
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The living area can be defined by one piece of furniture and sometimes if that piece is large it can create the illusion that the whole space is larger, even in a small room. The key is sizing the piece correctly to allow for enough room to move around. For our living room, we chose an L-shaped oversized sofa in a bold color that perfectly fit the space to center the rest of the room around.
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We accented the room with the following pieces to maximize & accessorize the space
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A unique conversation coffee table with open bottom, which creates the illusion of more space
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An area rug defining the room (in the same color palette as the sofa so the two work as one)
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We hung a television of a well-suited size on the wall with an articulating hinge so that it can lay flat when not in use.
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Sourced a smaller sideboard with drawers & cabinet door for use as both the entertainment center and provide added storage.
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A high, open-leg console table by the back door provides a place for decor, books, keys, and more
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Specifically chosen artwork in non-obtrusive frames project our chosen vibe for the home
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We also added an open bottom console table in a unique metal with an open lattice on the sides in the small hallway behind the couch to serve as a bar area. Because of the material chosen, it also ties in the industrial feel of the kitchen, just behind it, into the living area.
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And of course, adding cozy lighting throughout by way of wall sconces as well as floor and table lamps allows our guests to choose their own mood that suits them.
I love the way our Living and Dining rooms came out in this home. We were able to maximize the space while creating the eclectic and vibrant atmosphere of our goals. Follow along in this series for more tips on renovating a small home on Nantucket.
Meet WENDY JANNELLE
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