Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 22, 2011 11:12 am hi, My SILs hope to better utlize her living areas and ask me for ideas. I suggested the following, but stuck with area B. I also wish to hear opinions about my ideas. A bit of background for the occupants in the house. Two sisters, any change would hopefully improve the future selling price. The house is very suitable for family, with very high ceiling. They have a room dedicated to study already. http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp108/nottch/plan-1.jpg Area A: with a TV point and several powerpoints on right hand side wall, there is a strip of timber flooring in front of the sliding door, the left is carpet. What they used as before: the place they hung around most, guests are led to sit there also, TV watching. Dining is by the coffee table there. I suggest: use it as a dining area. Remove the carpet and have timber flooring. Very handy for dishes out the kitchen. also could watch tv during meals. AreaB: Carpeted. There is a powerpoint near the window. The dotted line is open timber balustrade, around 1.1M tall. It looks very like that http://www.precisiontimberworx.com.au/img_ext07.jpg The wall separating the stairs and Area B is a full load bearing wall. You walk down 4 steps from area B to area C. What they used as before: have a dining table there as formal dining area but I only dine there once in many years! I suggest:need H1 help ! Area C: with a TV point on left hand side wall and several powerpoints. Windows all full height looking to front yard. Carpeted. What they used as before: a second lounge, low usage. I suggest: To use it as a family room, primary TV watching. However, i'm unsure if it will be too far for tv watching (5.6M)? Thanks very much. Re: What do you use for these areas? 2Feb 22, 2011 2:49 pm Area A Consider timber thorough out kitchen also to streamline if current kitchen flooring is tired. Best thing about this option is you can easily to tile over if its full timber (ie not floating)just lay some cement sheeting down. Dining table of up to 1.8mt long by up to 1mt wide would suit 4 people. Buffet and wine rack/bar along right hand side wall as shown. Area B Book shelf along lower balustrade Small side table against load wall with flowers and nice small picture/portrait on wall Arm chair in top right corner, with small side table and lamp for reading. angled toward window maybe? Area C TV A big one. 40inch TV is fine for a room that big, I had a room around the same size with 40in TV and it wasn't too faraway. Could also have taken up to a 55in TV(wife said NO) 2.5seater and 2 arm chairs or 2.5+ 3 seat along right wall. nice large but low coffee table. Low line unit along balustrade with photos, books, trinkets etc... IF you think it too far away maybe a custom blanket/toy/storage box? Friends had an 6.5mt living room and decided to build a box with 2 hinged lids and put it behind the couch on the wall.could be accessed from both sides each with lid and their kids kept the toys and things in one side, blanket and extra cushions in the other. Nice stained finish looked very rustic. Looked like this but full timber and didn't have a peak in it. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ended up getting the couch off the wall by about1.5mt (the width of the box and was a great storage unit. Re: What do you use for these areas? 3Feb 23, 2011 8:39 am Is the kitchen being touched? If so, is there a reason the pantry needs to be on the lower right corner? I would look at possibly moving it to the lower left corner or swapping the fridge and pantry. A full wall pantry at the entrance tends to close in a kitchen and I prefer it to be located in an out-of-the-way place so it isn't blocking anything. Totally agree the Area A needs to be the dining, and Area C needs to be the lounge. Not sure if it's an option, but could areas A and B be made into one (you mentioned that the dotted line was a balustrade, but there doesn't appear to be any level change between these 2 areas). It could then be an open plan meals/family room. Failing that, I would make Area B into a library (line at least one wall with built in bookshelves and create a cosy sitting room) or a hobby room (potentially a children's playroom). Second Time 'Round Re: What do you use for these areas? 4Feb 23, 2011 8:53 pm I think they like the kitchen, as the previous owner renovated that before they bought it, so assuming that was less than 3 years old, they probably won't change that. Yes, area A and area B are at the same level, while C is 4 steps lower than C ( so it can be considered a sunken lounge, a popular design in the 80's) Since the balustrades are open, you can still see through each area ( so can that be considered as open plan living?). The balustrades on the two sides of area B, together with the full height wall, make that look a bit enclosed, and that's why i don't have any idea. As I could recall, there seems a post on the balustrade near area A to the ceiling , so I am unsure if that can be pulled down. Lining area B with bookshelf? Do you mean putting plaster to " cover" up the balustrade or building a wall above it? For a children's play area, that sounds a good idea. I guess the toddlers' can't climb up of the balustrade, and parents may keep an eye on them while they are in the kitchen/ lounge/ dining room. If we have kids in the future, they should be very happy to visit aunties' home with a dedicated play area! Thanks for your input Re: What do you use for these areas? 5Feb 24, 2011 7:12 am The post is probably load bearing. I wouldn't consider 3 room divided by 2 balustrades open plan. Book shelves could be low level free standing units that have a top that sit just below or above the balustrade rail. Something like this Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ or this Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Along the balustrade. It will effectively block it out so you can't see through but it would give it a definite use rather than just being a vacant room you look through to check on the kids. OR alternatively you could put one between the window of B andthe balustrade to B/C that would leave it open ish. You mention it being a sunken lounge, which I kind of gathered from the diagram, it might look good to have the low line unit fiinish ubder floor level of B? Re: What do you use for these areas? 6Feb 24, 2011 8:18 am Area C should definately be a home theatre room Re: What do you use for these areas? 7Feb 25, 2011 11:13 am chrisandkate The post is probably load bearing. I wouldn't consider 3 room divided by 2 balustrades open plan. Book shelves could be low level free standing units that have a top that sit just below or above the balustrade rail. Something like this Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ or this Along the balustrade. It will effectively block it out so you can't see through but it would give it a definite use rather than just being a vacant room you look through to check on the kids. OR alternatively you could put one between the window of B andthe balustrade to B/C that would leave it open ish. thanks for explaining the open shelves location You mention it being a sunken lounge, which I kind of gathered from the diagram, it might look good to have the low line unit fiinish ubder floor level of B? If then i guess you mean the sofa would then be placed opposite the tv, so it will block the full height window. Another major problem maybe it will block the hinged door ( opening into the living room). I can't remember if they have powerpoints on the wall under the balustrade. Re: What do you use for these areas? 8Feb 25, 2011 1:31 pm Nott If then i guess you mean the sofa would then be placed opposite the tv, so it will block the full height window. Another major problem maybe it will block the hinged door ( opening into the living room). I can't remember if they have powerpoints on the wall under the balustrade. No not a TV unit. Have the TV on the left hand side wall and then a unit like this below the balustrade with trinkets and things Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Or one of those low cube type units. I think you can get some with open cubes and a couple of doors Re: What do you use for these areas? 9Feb 25, 2011 6:07 pm Why does the TV and other equipment have to go on the floor? Why not mount the TV and the DVD etc on the wall? Hi It came to my attention after the handover that - The facade cladding on the face and the side are not straight. -The face tapers down by 50mm from left to right and… 0 2462 Plasterboard Gyprock is very popular as a reveal liner these days. You need to provide a way of supporting it, we use a modified timber reveal or bracket. You will be… 1 4748 |