Try and find a Murphy bed and invest in a new mattress. Also, clean and polish the lovely wooden floors.

Using a day bed instead of a sleeper sofa will give you a lot more versatility and opportunities to add your own style with textiles, pillows, etc. Since you're planning to only rent it out for short periods, having a single bed shouldn't be much of a drawback. But it should have a trundle so you can rent out to a couple in town for a few weeks, etc.

I'd leave the bookshelves as they are, but hang some curtain panels over them with tie-backs to kind of frame the space. Then a renter can use the shelves as storage for personal items and close the curtains if they don't want to look at the clutter. Similarly, keep that open armoire/clothing rack piece you have but put some fabric over it (with velcro perhaps) so that your tenants have a place to hang clothes but you don't have to look at it.

Maybe put a couple of funky wing-back chairs and a table in the bay windows, which can be both a reading nook and a dining area.

Not to throw cold water on this idea , but does your lease let you do this? I'd think have a stream of short term sub-lets would be more trouble and wear and tear than the extra cash would be worth.

is your measurement in inches or centimeters? it's important to know this.

agreed on the daybed. or you can get a full-size (double) bed and arrange it as a daybed for your living room. looks like the bed should go on the long wall. one chair and table in the bay window should suffice. and really one large rug. maybe a small one in the bay.

consider the layouts of these two rooms:

this one for layout: it has a full size bed set up like a daybed opposite a sleeper sofa with two chairs in a bay window:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/2434972215/in/set-72157604016326174/

this one for the midcentury furniture/bay window you discuss: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tetman/3466289297/in/pool-westelmstory

I had the same thought as FantasticMrFaux. Will your lease allow having subletters? We just recently signed a lease that forbids this to the nth degree. People in the building don't like strangers coming and going.

I would look at the post on "painting doorframes" which for me was two below this one. It sure looks to me like they have an upholstered mattress on a low frame which is (mostly) covered by movable wooden trays for use as a coffee table. Would something like that work? In the short term you could use floor pillows, especially if the frame was low enough. They key here, whether you use a daybed or somthing like this, is to be sure the mattress is protected enough that it is acceptably clean for whatever use it is being put to.

First, thanks for all the input and comments. I am a fan of Murphy beds but they tend be expensive and may be too hard to fit just right, but I will keep looking. I plan to clean the wood floors and get some large cheap carpets with character to cover up some of the many scratches.

I like the daybed idea - maybe with a trundle as well. I may have to ditch the current armoire b/c it takes up too much space and may not be used too often. I am a fan of wingback chairs and can see one in the bay windows or two across from sofa/daybed.

All in the building use the apartment as two bedroom. The landlords don't wish to be bothrered each time I have a new roommate. I don't plan to rent out that often - use more as living room and as guest bedroom as well.

The measurements are in inches - sorry that wasn't clear. I like the bedding/couching in the picture of the daybed. the key is not to make it look too much like a bed, right?

I couldn't find painting doorframes listing on the site - did search as well.



I just created a new drawing. Hopefully, you can see. What do you think? I'm not sure about the placement of dining tabe and if I should use bookcase divide (EXPEDIT at Ikea) or not. Also, I was thinking I could maybe do an "L" shaped couch - on back wall and looking out through bay windows, though I think I like what is listed on this drawing better. any feedback is appreciated.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a76/telegram-sam/livingroomfurnished-1.jpg

Here's a link.

i missed the measurement up above. sorry. your room is actually bigger than my studio apt (livingroom only). it's that first link and the room is roughly 15' wide by 12' long including the depth of the bay window.

the room is pretty spacious. if you must add a dining table, go for a round one. the room has lots of angles in it. a round table would serve as a relief from that. you can use it for a desk as well.

if you can remove a few of the shelves and add a closet tension rod for clothes that would leave a functioning closet with shelves and hanging space. you could add some simple baskets with towels and a set of guest toiletries. also, a cheap curtain tension rod across the doorway would close it off (fabric of your choice). 18 in is plenty deep enough for a guest closet.

you could put a round dining table (36-42") where the armoire is, plus two chairs.

in addition to a daybed you might consider a futon (but not one of those cheap black metal tube ones). something nice and wooden, more like a couch.

i'm not sure why you want to break up the space with a huge expedit (or is this going to be two squares high?). given the bones of the room, it just ruins the view. consider at least keeping such a unit to hip height so it doesn't block up the flow. there's just no need to block off a dining table from the rest of the room and natural light.

i'll see about making a visual this weekend. so check back. meantime here are links to couple other ideas:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/293451436/in/set-72157622457501821/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/3771113622/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/3526784515/in/set-72157622457501821/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/352422484/in/set-72157622457501821/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63122153@N00/4123037462/in/set-72157622457501821/

I hate to say it, but I have to agree with others.

You say your landlord doesn't want to be bothered, but what happens when other neighbors begin to complain? Do you live in a popular tourist area or a neighborhood that commands a very high premium? I don't understand why you'd want the hassle of subletting to new people so often - especially since you live there, too.

1) It's a lot of trouble to go to maintain a certain aesthetic when the people you're attracting are honestly just looking for a place to lay their head (which is often the case with short-term renters).

2) Are you sure you're not going to resent the people renting the space? One month you're throwing a fabulous party and your girlfriend has a reading area, while the next, the rest of your space feels cramped without the extra square feet. Even if it's only every so often, it's stressful to have a house guest for a few weeks or months once you've gotten used to living alone. After just a few days with them in my home, I find myself contemplating ways to cover up the sudden, "accidental" deaths of friends and family whom I otherwise love dearly. Just a few things to think about...

That said, I like the daybed trundle idea. They're more compact, easier to move, and easier to work around if your tastes change later. I'd convert the Murphy bed nook back to a closet, but leave the two bottom shelves intact (and maybe even add a couple more shelves at the bottom) and add a curtain. Unless your sublessees are very tall or your ceilings aren't as tall as they appear to be, that should be adequate space to hang clothes. Add a table ( chairs) large and tall enough to serve as a side table, dining table, and workspace. Lastly, if your bay window is deep enough, an ideal reading nook would be a window seat (look for "temporary" or "freestanding" plans if your landlord won't allow a built-in).

Scott & Becky:
GREAT SPACE. I encourage you to appreciate the "negative space" and not fill up the room too much.

I am much surprised by so many comments/judgements about your renting of the room...you are adults, no?

Daybed a great idea. Twin mattress cheaper but would have to be against a wall to be comfy as a sofa.

Consider your style Bohemian Shabby-chic (or Funky S-C if you are a little more retro than Urban Ethnic).

Specific suggestions: If using a room divider as in your floorplan, shelving is great for this. Can be used (not stuffed, but judiciously used) for storage on the dining side. Hang curtain/fabric on bed side pulled back when using as living room, released for privacy as bedroom. Alternatively, you could use a slim Ikea wardrobe as a divider and that gives you the closet as well.

Rotate dining table to be perdendicular to the wall...chairs on sides. Alternative is to hinge a rectangular (or oval) piece of wood/finished plywood on the wall (use cleat and piano hinge). Leave it up when not in use (attach art to exposed surface), when down, support with pedestal that when not in use can be for a plant, object d'art, (idea from old HGTV show now off air...great show: Home to go).

Angle the lounge chair and the two wingbacks/club chairs..better echoes the space.

If using fabric on windows, room divider, closet/shelf area, use the same fabric for rhythm. If a print, find a complementary solid fabric and alternate solid/print in different areas to keep it from being too matchy matchy. (trim the print with solid as a border or base and vise/versa by triming the solid with print).

Don't forget the lighting. So many fun options. Need light by bed/sofa, all chairs, closet. Maybe even chandelier/candelier in bay window.

I respectfully disagree with Mitbos about having an aesthetic for your renters. If you are truly seeking 1-3 night guests, their word of mouth about the fun environment will bring you many additional leads. People willing to stay in someone's home (vs the cheap hotel alternative) are open to experience and love the distinctive. Plus, you want to enjoy the space when not rented, true?

I look forward to seeing the results. Cheers, Moni

I like everyone’s ideas and appreciate all of your input. Lady J, I never really thought about getting a round dining table, but I like idea. What do you think about drop leaf – maybe round/oval on two sides and square on the other two side? I suppose I could put it in the corner of the walls (armoire now resides) or I could pull it out a bit. I might also look into getting a round coffee table across from the sofa as well.

I also wanted to let everyone know that I have decided to not rent out the room, so this will change things up a bit - title no longer valid of this thread. We will still host and house guest from time to time, but we can use inflatable mattress, which I already have ;) I will definitely get rid of the armoire now. I’m not sure about the bookshelves. My girlfriend and I could use some more closet space and we are not so keen on how the bookshelves look – shoddy job when installed.

At this point, we will no longer need a daybed or sofa-bed as a result of this significant change. We now need to figure out what sofa to purchase. I am fond of the chesterfield leather sofas at the moment, but I wonder if they may be too bulky.
https://www.chesterfields1780.com/

Another option is to go with something more lean and mid-century modern like Jasper like at Room and Board - http://search.roomandboard.com/exec/?search=jasper

I already have the Corona in my other living room - http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=251335&CategoryID=30249
other more Victoria sofas. I have thought about swapping it out for a small sectional, then placing the Corona sofa in the new living room. Also, I’m not completely crazy about sectionals, though some seem to work.

I think Lady J was right about the wall unit and how it would break up the flow of the space if too tall. Maybe a smaller one or none at all.

Thanks again to everyone, especially Lady J for her insights and perspective.

I can also be reached at whiskeytorch@gmail.com