When last we met to discuss my living room I had pounded my fist on the table declaring I was going to have an English Roll Arm Sofa and ONE chair! End of story. Everyone out of my way while I have at it!
This is a purposely awful picture of my living room. Literally a snapshot, not a "blog" shot.
Heh. I mightta been wrong about that whole English Roll Arm sofa and only one chair thing. But I'm not sure. This is why I haven't started making over my living room yet. This is also why I've had the same haircut since I was 16.
My living room is "the room". The room in my house that feels wrong no matter what I do. Even when I change things around and think I love it, the love is fleeting and within months or even weeks I'm scowling at it again wondering when it'll stop texting me.
Why is my living room such a struggle? Because it's weird. I normally like weird, but weird isn't helping my living room in this case. It's not symmetrical, the windows are off centre and it doesn't have a single full wall.
Plus it's sort of narrow and long. Sort of. The living room measures around 15' x 11' with the fireplace taking up a big portion of one wall. The problem with this is there isn't a lot of space on either side of the fireplace for chairs.
So after declaring this the living room with ONE chair, I'm rethinking that decision. I feel like this room has SO much going on architecturally with 2 windows, a fireplace, 2 bookcases and a big, framed entry that I need something to really anchor and focus everything. Something solid and bold. Like a Snuffleupagus.
Orrrrr two matching chairs. Not even just two chairs. Two MATCHING chairs. I'd like them to be in front of the fireplace, facing each other. The Eames chair in the corner is comfortable, but when winter hits and I'm sitting beside the fireplace, I can't even really see or feel the fire because I'm smushed in the corner. Which is the only place the chair and ottoman will fit at the moment.
I'd also like two chairs in front of the fireplace with the option of being able to see the television from them. Which means that television over the fireplace might get moved. Obviously having your television on your mantel isn't a design lovers dream but honestly, it's where most people put the television because a lot of times there's no other option. Yes. Sometimes even designers put their televisions there because it makes the most sense in terms of having a room be functional.
I may have a bit of a mission on my hands finding two chairs that meet all of my requirements. Seriously. Like, I might not find these chairs until after I've already turned this living room into a bedroom because I can't handle stairs anymore.
My made up, totally unrealistic chair checklist is this:
- VERY small footprint, but feel big and comfortable.
- Down wrapped foam cushions
- Swivel!
- Maybe even recline!
- But not look like a recliner.
- Have a high enough back that your head is supported.
- NO preference for whether they're traditional/timeless or mid century modern. (phew)
NOW what this means is I can't pick out a couch until I find these two magic chairs. IF I happen to find two magical mid century modern chairs that means I'll want a more classic couch. If I find more traditional chairs, I'll be leaning towards more mid century lines for my couch.
Ready for the hitch??? I've been looking around and what I'd really like is an antique couch.
Sometimes I wonder why you people even follow me. I clearly have NO idea what I'm doing ever.
I'm actually thinking of sending my room floor plan to some of my most favourite designers and hoping they send back a completed plan. I'm talking to you Suzanne Dimma (former editor of House & Home magazine), Carol Reed (designer of my kitchen) and Amy Beth Cupp.
I love my foyer ...
I love my dining room ...
I love my kitchen ...
But I cannot, CANNOT get my living room right.
The worst part of all of this is the fact that this 2 chairs by the fireplace thing means there's nowhere for my beloved Eames Chair.
These are a few of the layouts I did up quickly based on the furniture size I would be likely to get and none of them look great. Partly because it's a mockup layout with nothing else in the room.
(made with the West Elm room planner)
(I'd have a long wood or marble table in front of the sofa but it was easiest to use a long upholstered bench to simulate the right size in the planner)
You know looking at these I'd probably be smart to just keep a stupid sectional in the room. ACK!!!!!
I might just turn this into a bedroom right now.
Have a good weekend!
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Margaret
I also need small swivel comfortable armchairs and found these- really comfortable
https://www.potterybarn.com/products/irving-professor-leather-swivel-armchair-nailhead/?pkey=crecliners&isx=0.0.844
judy
very handsome chairs,I think they speak Karen's language. Elegant- compact and hopefully comfortable.
Emma
Ooohhh..love these..and they are on SALE!
Susan
Karen, who lives in your house? You do! You love the Eames chair. You want to watch TV and enjoy the fireplace from that chair. You read in that chair. You actually sit down for more than 5 minutes at a time in that chair. So place the Eames exactly where it needs to be and build your room around it. I suspect you will find that your living room does not need a sofa...
Karen
No, no, it really does need a sofa, lol. :) ~ karen!
Susan
Oh I get it, you couch napper you! I still want to know what was the name of the Canadian company with the perfect English rolled arm sofa. Can you tell us even if you do not go ahead with it? I've wanted one for ever, but our Barrymore couch refuses to die.
Lavada
Have you considered a wingback recliner? Some of them don't actually look like a recliner at all OR a standard wingback at all: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/three-posts-gilland-recliner-trpt2482.html
Some swivel; some rock and recline; with legs and look like anything but a recliner -- example: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/three-posts-cupps-manual-rocker-recliner-trpt1662.html
Or for a smaller footprint: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/house-of-hampton-liesel-manual-swivel-glider-hmpt5375.html
Lots to choose from in this line and meet quite a few of your “unrealistic chair” checklist ticks – swivel/recline without look too much like a recliner, definitely head support, don’t know about that wrapped foam cushion. . .but you’ll need a project to do anyway. LOL
Good luck in your endeavor
Karen
They do meet my checklists! However, I don't like the styles for my house, lol. This is a losing battle. ~ karen!
Bijou
No losing battles allowed. How about another Eames chair, sans foot stool opposite the original, sharing foot stool. Don’t cram chairs into corner but put in front of fireplace facing each other. Put TV on wall where blank canvass (?) is, or where two pictures are at end of sofa. That way you can lie down and watch TV, or see it from Ms. Eames just by swiveling her bottom a bit. I like the long bench in front of sofa, upholstered, for extra company seating and conversation with sofa people, or for treat trays. This is a combo of picture No. 1, and the little bit of what I can see in your casual shot at the beginning of your blog. Maybe you can use some of the info.
Cheryl
Wayfair has several similar to your favorite chair, that recline and that each have small ottomans, which altho not matchy, would be very similar in style and then a couch of your choice, facing the fire place, with what ever works as a coffee table/ottoman for the couch. Small tables for lamp/books/drink? If I knew how to put the links up I would, just not that techy! I say play on your love of the favorite, and go that direction.
Kathline
How about the sofa in front of the fireplace and the two chairs with the small table between them behind the fireplace facing the other direction, or slightly turned in toward each other? Hard to tell where the entrances are if that would mess up the flow of the room. It looks like that would put the chairs facing a window. That would give you a chat spot facing a nice view and a snuggle spot facing the fireplace.
Kathline
Oops, I meant the two chairs behind the sofa, not the fireplace.
Kathline
Oops, I meant the two chairs behind the sofa, not behind the fireplace.
Dana Woolliams
We have a pair of mission style leather chairs with wood sides/arms that are gorgeous - and they are recliners! they are La-z-boy, of all things, but you would never know it. Or even suspect that they recline. They are also perfect for napping by the fire.
Nicole
Yeah, I was going to jump in with a recommendation to check out La-z-boy - they don't only make that one shapeless but comfy chair style anymore, and many of their designs don't look like recliners at all. I have a wingback chair by them, and I've actually had people sitting in it not believe me when I say it reclines.
Vicki
No to layout 1 for sure! The 2 chairs opposite each other look like it might be cramped and also doesn’t have that “anchoring” feel you’re looking for.
Why not layout 2 but have the 2 chairs together to balance out the couch opposite? You just need to ensure that you have 12-18” space between chair/couch and coffee table for flllloooow ;)
Kathryn turner
Good luck with finding what works for you. I had the same issue. In the end I ditched the chairs and went for two sofas, because you don't really want to sit by the fire, you want to lie down facing it. More room for dogs and guests and blankets. Mine make a triangle with the fireplace as the hypotenuse so I can watch tv on an adjacent wall and feel the warmth of the fire in repose. But that's just me😀
Vickie
The perfect swivel chair has vexed me for the last year! Can't wait to see what you find!
Tina
First off, I claimed the Eames chair on Facebook when you first posted this. I get first dibs!
But honestly, I’d dump the sofa idea. I’d keep the Eames chair and get a couple of other nice, cushy, swivel chairs and ottoman...ottoman to be converted to coffee table/extra seating, as needed.
Karen
No sofa in the room at all? Just a frenzy of chairs? No, I don't think I can get on board with that no matter how nice the chairs I'm afraid. ~ karen!
Robin
Exactly what I was going to suggest.
Maybe a love seat, but a sofa is just too large for that small space. Chairs can be rearranged so easily, but I'm not sure Karen wants to move things around in her house.
Mindy
Yep. This is my life. Every day I stare at my living room and rearrange. Then I buy new imaginary furniture. And I hate it. So I buy new imaginary furniture. The struggle is real. I do like the idea suggested above of swapping your living and dining room. I mean, it's free to try it out, right?
AlabamaAmy
Look up Bobby Evers in Nashville/Lawrenceburg TN. He can look at a room and see what it needs...really.
Jackie Dooley
Picture number one = definitely, but changes... Turn the chairs to face the fireplace, use the long footstool in between both chairs to elongate that area. Bring the couch closer to the chairs, but not to close, just close enough for conversation. Put a couch table behind the couch closely with two lamps at each end. Place two baskets, if you will, besides each chair for magazines and throws. Maybe a couple of tall floor lamps on each side of the fireplace, to increase reading light. Extra pieces of the sectional could be place to the back of the room in each corner, for extra seating, or to just display more cozy favorite throws or quilts.
Mary W
My sentiments exactly and the foot stool could be used when sitting at the couch. But I would put a long table behind the couch with lamps. Everything close and cozy by the fire but the chairs should swivel for multipurpose use. I saw this layout in a very small bedroom where the bed played the space of the couch and it was the most inviting room I've ever seen - remember it even though I saw it years ago. They had wall filling book shelves on the fireplace wall but the recliner would have to go and that leaves the back wall. Where in the world would the recliner go? Maybe Karen needs to DIY a bump out wall in her home so her recliner could go in front of a curved outward wall window. Cat would love that. Eames has it's very own space and the world can begin turning again.
Susan F
Oh my, someone else remembers snuffleupagus. I had the whole series of invented animal books earlier in my life. I loved the snuffleupagus best (as I remember, a sort of friendly dinosaur). Who can resist that name!
Layout 3, but ditch the coffee table. Put your Eames chair toward the fireplace for when you are solo, so you can enjoy your fire. Pull it toward the seating area for an extra chair for company (leaving its ottoman out of the way). Use small occasional tables for supporting drinks (purpose made or funky re-purposed things). Could you use a tray placed on your Eames ottoman when you want to bring in snacks?
There! I wish I could be a fraction of that decisive for my own decorating issues, most of which are still pending.
Patricia O
That is my living room. Except I have four entrances! Don’t take this as a challenge but I don’t think that room can handle two chairs.
Wendi
You know how in the movies you always see two chairs, with a small table in between them, facing a fireplace? I mean, granted, those are usually in huge ass elegant rooms. But what if you could find a set of swivel chairs? Then, when you want to have a nice read next to the fire you could have the chairs facing the fire, and if you have guests over you can swivel them to face the room.
Heather
I was thinking the same thing! And the big sectional sofa has gotta go! I've got one in my family room, and there's nothing can be done with it. It dominates the room and sends everything off kilter. All we want from our family room is lots of seating for our big family, so it works. But it'll be the first piece of furniture to go once we downsize.
Ramona
It is the minivan of furniture:)
Robin
Well, clearly buying the Eames chair was a total mistake; I will be happy to relocate it to Nashville! Just say the word👍😉
Karen
Ha! Yes, I seem to be getting a lot of those messages, lol! ~ karen
Sarah
layout #1: YES! (even better with swivels)
layouts #2 and #3: OMG, NO!
layout #4: no.
(no carpets/rugs to define spaces, anchor the room, enhance coziness?)
Cheverly
Hahaha, “OMG, NO!” Totally agree with you there, but a carpet/rug to anchor the space? Thereby covering those beautiful floors? HAVE YOU GONE MAD, WOMAN?? 😉
Kiplena
Amy Beth Cupp has a great Instagram account with photos of her gorgeous home and her fabulously handsome standard poodle Tauren. One of our very favorites.
I like Alrac’s room switch idea! Would the Eames ensemble fit in your bedroom?
Karen
No, not enough room for either. :/ ~ karen!
MrsChrisSA
Ok, you almost lost me in reading the rest of the story with the same haircut since 16. You are kidding right? I think I had 16 different hairstyles just last year!!!
And then, what the frikkie frikadel (South Africanism which basically means what the heck) is a Snuffleupagus from a furniture perspective? A wooly mammoth type chair?
Finally, my 2c worth..... I like layouts 1 and 4 but 1 is my favourite !
Elizabeth Brakebill
Can I get a pronunciation guide for “frikkie frikadel”? That could become such a part of my vocabulary! And I am with you on the “same hairstyle since 16”!
And Karen, I follow you because you tell, no, show me, that it is ok to change ones mind upon completion of a project (says the woman that lived with bare plaster, 50 year old walls, for 10 years because the choices of paint were too overwhelming). And I thank you!
MrsChrisSa
Hi Elizabeth
The best way to give you a pronunciation guide is:
Frik - the "i" is like a when one would say Brit and the "kie" is an eeee sound (like donkey)
Frikkadel the Frik is the same as above and the adel is said the same way as the singer Adele.
Jacquie Gariano
I noticed a picture of me on om Mom's wall that is my graduation picture from high school and it is the same one I have now. LOL
Alrac
Can you switch your living and dining room? Your dining room looks big enough for seating.
And a dining room with a cozy fireplace could be nice, and maybe still fit the Eames chair? I can't tell if this would make any sense by looking at your photos. However, if you need someone to look after that Eames chair if you don't have room, I would be happy to :)
Karen
The dining room is actually smaller. Ack! I would like to have my living room in the back of the house but it wouldn't work. Also I'd miss my nightly fires! ~ karen