apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm in my second apartment with this same layout (both in Somerville). Of course there are slight differences in the placement of the smaller doorway that can change how you situate things. In my last place we had two couches, so the obvious solution was the place these against the two longer walls, while a chair and side tables went in the bay window area. Our TV went in the corner opposite the smaller doorway. This wasn't really ideal for watching TV from the couch next to the TV, but it was the only layout that worked with two couches as the bay isn't quite wide enough to accommodate couches set up perpendicular to each other.

In my current situation, the smaller doorway is set closer to the middle of that long wall. We placed our TV in that little corner between that door and the larger opening to the dining room. The wire running over the door doesn't look great, but it seemed less awkward to have the TV there than one lonely chair. The couch is against the long wall, and we have two chairs and an end table in the bay, thus utilizing all the floor space, plus all seats have a good view of the TV and some kind of surface to put drinks, etc. on.

Anyone have suggestion for creatively covering the TV cable??

Why I have that very floorplan (complete with alcove in dining room) in Toronto! I call my apartment building a Toronto Tenement. I wondered if the alcove was originally for a Murphy Bed?

I use the alcove for two book cases, which face each other and on the back wall have installed a full length mirror which deepens the appearance of the alcove and sort of tricks the eye that it is a hallway lined with books.

As for furniture placement I have kept it simple in the dining room with a Mennonite harvest table (36 x 72) custom made at a narrower width to maintain the traffic flow (I cannot tolerate impeded flow - jams my Virgo spiny tinglers) and 8 simple mission style chairs. There is a Persian runner that runs longways from the kitchen door to the French doors to the living room. Very little room for art in my dining room - its all windows, doors and alcove - but on the one wall behind the head of the table I have a carved Indonesian mirror with grill doors.

As for the dilemma posed in the living room: I have placed my 3 seater sofa in front of the bay window with a small bookcase the same height as the sofa behind (in the wee space left by the bow of the window) to act as both a bookcase for infrequently used books and a sofa console table to display things on top (I have decorative wooden boxes a buddha head and an elephant foot fern from IKEA that is doing rather well, I must say). I have placed two Wassily chairs in front of the two (closed) french doors opposite the couch. This preserves the floor plan and because of the design of the chairs keeps a sense of openness and flow in front of the French doors. These chairs can be moved to open the doors for a party, etc.

There is a fireplace on the other wall in the living room and a depression era wardrobe made of recycled packing crates opposite the fireplace that holds the TV and stereo. A small Baktiari rug anchors the seating area and I have three small oval danish modern tables/stools acting as sidetables for the sofa and one as an occasional/cofee table. A small 60s ottoman sits in from of the wardrobe media cabinet looking pretty dressed in a folded tartan throw and complimentary Indian embroidered pillow which provides seating when required.

As with any space I have lived in I set my non-negotiables (i.e. nothing can block flow) and then let the space reveal itself to me over time. I hope some of this information helps your space reveal itself to you.

It'll be very helpful if you can measure all your walls and layout your room to scale with the graph paper,then post the drawing here .

Move to Brighton.

Personally, I'm partial to not standing outside in the middle of winter while waiting for the T :-)

I had that same floor plan in Brookline in 2 different condos. We had the sofa be diagonally in the bowfront, aligned with the left hand window. Our TV was diagonally across from the sofa in a corner. It was nice to sit so you could see out the windows or look at the TV. Behind part of the sofa I had a large plant, which LOVED the sun exposure from the windows.
I love the bowfront, but its hard to figure out what to do with it. Good luck!

I've been out of town - so glad to see this was posted and the ideas all around. Hopefully the attachments will get posted here of the floorplan and fun cutouts of furnishings if you wanna get crafty. Thanks for your help.