apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm doing the Apartment Therapy Cure and could use advice. I hope this is an okay place to post a question; I haven't quite figured out the procedures around here yet. I've got photos up on FLickr and am also blogging about the entire Cure process at http://cottoncandypink.blogspot.com/search/label/Apartment%20Therapy

My current problem is that we need to rearrange our living room (for better flow and appearance), but despite sitting in a few spots for different vantage points, I haven't been able to come up with a new plan.

We own a lot of furniture, much of it quite large, and it is all fairly new, so we are not willing to part with any of it at this time. We also have no options for storage someplace else at this time. Given those constraints, I'd love to get advice about how to rearrange our living room for better flow and to avoid the bowling alley syndrome (without getting rid of our current furniture: armchair, ottoman, sofa, coffee table, tv table, phone table, bookshelf, side table, and dog bed--whew! Actually the large ottoman may be able to be moved to another room at a later time--after cleaning and throwing things out, but for now we need to keep it in there).

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can suggest a good alternative. Photos are on Flickr at http://flickr.com/photos/msblog/sets/72157600199496858/
There are 5 photos there of the living room. Thanks all!

Best,

M

Can you draw us a plan and add it to your Flickr postings? I'm having trouble visualizing how much space you have to work with.

My first thought is to find a way to angle things, but I'm not sure the room is big enough. Yes, angling's a cliche, but it does wonders to cozy up a room that lacks architectural details.

I posted this to your blog: but just in case it doesn't show up there I'll post my suggestions here too.

Hi! Unfortunately, I can't seem to leave comments at Flickr. Have you rearranged the living room yet? I pulled up a copy of your flickr photo and it's beside me as I type.

You may not have the space for my plan. Measure your furniture and your space. And do a proper floor plan on paper or the computer before you start. It's fun and you get to save your back!

My main thought is to create a small "living room box" inside your existing living room--with an "L" of corridor space from the front door to the kitchen, and then again from the kitchen to the hall way door. For comfort you need about three feet (or the width of your doorways) for each path.

**Looking at your photos again, I notice you have rugs down along these paths. The box I'm thinking about goes "inside" these rugs: and they'll be perfect where they are.

First, as you probably already know, you need to edit the coat rack. You really only need two items on there--one for each of you. It's nasty to have to have a coat rack right in your living room: but I understand! Ours is in the kitchen.

To "separate" the entry from the rest of the room, what about putting the sofa parallel to the window wall, facing the "hallway" wall, about a foot away from the door (when it is opened). Put the side table or a stand up lamp against the wall--not the sofa or you'll feel squished. If there's room, your cabinet, currently beside the TV would look wonderful underneath the windows. (And take up less space). Put the dog's bed where the cabinet used to be.

Then, center the the TV along the wall where the dog's bed was--beside the phone table. (Can the phone table be moved to where it says "wall hanger?hamper?heater?)

You mention you love books: so I imagine you have another bookshelf. If it is similiar to the tall thin one--or not--just as long as it is tall, use each one to flank the TV. That will define the space, and give the room a sort of focal point. A nice print/picture above the TV will also bridge the height from the TV to the cabinets.

Too many different things all the same height jammed together (like the cabinet and the TV) looks disjointed and adds to the cluttered feeling. If you have the budget and/or the time, painting all three pieces the same colour will help unify the group as well.) If you need to leave the phone table where it is, just hang a nice print above it to bring it to the height of the tall bookcase). A lamp there would be lovely too.

The armchair goes perpendicular to the sofa--but not against the "kitchen" wall pull it in to the sofa area--about 3 feet from the wall if you can manage to create the "hallway" I mentioned above. About your table and chairs? I hope they work where they are--cause I don't know where else to put them! Oh and the ottoman goes on the other side of the coffee table (by the wall where the sofa is now). Alternately, you can switch the chair and the ottoman around (they will essentially face each other from either end of the coffee table: the "classic conversation grouping!").

**In fact, looking at the photos again, the chair might be better against the wall where the couch is now....and see if you can switch the round end table with the phone table--and use the phne table as the end table between the couch and the chair. The unfortunate thing about "beefy" furniture" is that it needs beefy tables to balance it. The little round thing just looks spindly and weak between those peices.

If that doesn't work, I hope I've at least given you a few ideas! Can't wait to see your after pics! They'll be impressive. BTW--all those photos that didn't show up on blogger? Just post them to flickr--and provide a link to flickr in the sidebar if you can.

Good luck!
(PS. I'm curing "off-season" too--but haven't done a whole lot yet!)