Today has been the day of saying “What was I thinking?”
First, I went downstairs and in the “TV Room”, we had figured out all the furniture placement. That’s pretty much Vince’s room to do with whatever he wants. But as I walked through there this evening, I thought . . one thing we were going to put here isn’t going to work so I called Vince and asked if he was ok with putting it there and he said fine.
Then, I was sitting upstairs and the entire main floor family room plans fell apart. I’m not even sure I can describe it all without confusing all of us.
There’s one more recliner coming “some day”, whenever the furniture Gods deem it time for us to get it. I’m thinking at the rate things are going, as we’re hearing from others, the first recliner may be worn out by the time the mate arrives. But the plan was to put the second recliner, at an angle like the one shown, but next to the sofa (far side in this photo).
We have an entertainment center that we bought in Nevada and it’s been in the Master Bedroom in Texas but I’d kinda like to have it in the main family room here . . not to be used as an entertainment center but more as a store cabinet. I thought I could find pictures of it on the blog but I can’t. It has a center section, then two side sections with doors. I could store quilts in it, put pretty things on the shelves, have a place to put the blankets we use when sitting upstairs. I was going to put it against this wall.
Just sitting there tonight looking at it, I realized . . that spot isn’t big enough. Even if it were, part of the furniture would be o carpet and part would be on the wood floor. Not going to work. Back to the drawing board.
Also, this is by the front door.
I had wanted something there. A place to keep dog leashes, keys, notepads, post-it notes, pens . . things like that. I thought this chest would fit nicely there because I didn’t want something so tall it would be in the way of the light switches.
Then I realized it would be sitting over the air conditioner vent and we don’t want to lose any cold air coming in. The upstairs tends to get warm in the afternoons.
This was my setup in MO.
I love that chest. It’s so good for small knitting projects, knitting gadgets, hand lotion, emery boards, glass cleaning pads, pens, notebooks – the things I use every day.
It isn’t like we can’t change things later but here’s what I think I’m going to do:
I moved my chair over against the wall where the entertainment center was going to be and I’m going to put the colorful chest against that wall.
The other recliner will be over in that corner by the window. One thing this will help: The people who built this house had designed it so you could get to any room without walking across carpet but this opening (where the brown doggie gate is), that’s the quickest path to the master bedroom, really all the main level bedrooms and both main level baths. I kept begging Vince . . “Don’t walk across the carpet a million times a day. You’re going to wear a path.” Deaf ears! Putting the doggie gate up helped but having furniture there, even though it isn’t really blocking the path, with also help.
I know . . this is the same picture I’ve already used at the top of this post. I’ll put the entertainment center from Texas along that long wall. There’s going to be a cabinet (of sorts) in the corner for the stereo equipment that hooks into the surround sound, and the music things – I don’t even know what Vince is doing there.
If there’s room after all that, I have a rocking chair I can put somewhere there. If not, the rocking chair can go in a bedroom or in the downstairs family room.
The loom is not going to stay. I don’t know where it will end up. Once I use up some yarn and fabric and can take down a shelf unit or two in the sewing room, I’d like to have the loom in there. Just not sure there’s going to be room for it with everything else I have in there.
The best I can do at this point is have the movers put things where I think they will work and then have Vince and Chad move them if they look awful where I’ve put them.
Thoughts?? I’m definitely open to suggestions.
One thing I hate giving up is the white table by my chair. I kept my computer and iPad on that but I don’t want it blocking the opening to the breakfast room. It isn’t really what I want in the dining room or in the foyer but I have a place downstairs where I think it will fit perfectly.
There’s definitely going to be some re-arranging. This all works much easier when you buy what you need for the new place instead of making what you have work but I like the pieces I’m bringing and I want them to work so . . where there’s a will, there’s a way and so long as we’re happy with it, that’s about all that matters.
Dottie Newkirk says
You have been SO busy and productive today – you’re AMAZING!! I can only imagine how tired you are after all that’s been going on and I have a feeling tomorrow will be more exhausting. Hope you get a good night’s sleep.
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks!
Heidi Naber says
Whenever we have moved i always tell the movers what room i think I’d like it in and I have to live with it awhile before I decide the best arrangement. They always are amazed because I am not real fussy where they put things.
Judy Laquidara says
I’m never really picky either but I don’t want things half on carpet and half on tile/wood and this is the first time we’ve had rooms that had parts tile/wood and parts carpet. No matter what, we can always re-arrange.
Carol Harper says
Could you raise the back of the cabinet with furniture leg protectors, thereby balancing the difference in elevation between floor and carpet? Or is it the effect of the cabinet on the carpet that concerns you?
Judy Laquidara says
I could but I don’t think it would look right. It wouldn’t really be the back,it would be the right side and I think it would always look like an “oops” furniture placement.
pam dudgeon says
just a thought, but how about taking the carpet up, and just using a patterned area rug to anchor the seating area?
Or if that won’t work, just reducing the size of the existing carpet, to avoid most of the “room to room”, “just passing through” foot traffic patterns?
Judy Laquidara says
No. The carpet is brand new. There’s wood floor next to the carpet on two sides and I’d never match that and I don’t want tile in this room.
wanda jordan says
Save yourself time and got o Better homes and Garden website. Look for the furniture placement stuff there. You put in room measurement and doors, windows etc. They they have pieces of furniture the size or can what size yours are move them around before having to move in person. That what I’ve done many many times. Works like a charm
Nelle Coursey says
It will take a while for things to get in their right places. I have a feeling you will rearrange a lot of the things you had planned. Would the white table fit beside your chair or would it be in the way?
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t know. I’m going to try it. Thanks!
katie peterson says
Would the little white table fit in the hall way under the light switch? Small enough not to block the air?
Judy Laquidara says
If you mean the one with the color drawers, yes. If you mean the little end table thing, no, it’s way too small but you gave me another idea for it. Thanks!
Sherry in NC says
For the area by the door, could you use a table/desk on longer legs over the vent. Something with some drawers to put things in. You could use a small lamp and a pretty basket for catch-all stuff. Maybe hang a pretty mirror above it. Or hang a black metal hook shelf for keys and leashes. I think that would be pretty. I wish I could move so that I could decorate a new place.
Judy Laquidara says
I think the cabinet with the colored drawers is going to work fine there. Not perfect but good enough. I want to buy something tall to sit on it and the drawers will be perfect for keeping things like pens, notepads, keys, leashes, scissors, tape – those things that end up in one of my much needed kitchen drawers.
Amy Makson says
That always happens with a move. Lots of changed ideas. In the entry hall, as long as you have a table on some legs, you can put it over the heat/ac register… We have that here and it works fine… just cant have a flat to the floor piece.
You WILL get it just right before you know it!