too open

[greenoak]

we rehabbed a cottage on the lake last year and have a whole bank of windows on the front ...its about 35 ft wide and a nice big french door in the middle.going to the deck...... one side is all dining room with a white buffet and our shabby pictures and lots of pink rose plates etc and mirrors....
the other side is couch chair desk and tv and big display cupboard...and a nice big round table..couch out in the middle with its back to the dining room...

its too open...i miss nooks and walls.... i can see too much from my chair....i cant change the architecture of the room but the open plan is bugging me...i never lived in such an open concept before.... i cant figure out how to make it feel more closed in and cozy ..


we spend little snatches of time there.....

ann

[zuzus_garden]

Ann,

Here are a few ideas...

Idea 1: Can you move the display cupboard to the center of the room? Put beautiful fabric on the back so the cupboard is pretty from all sides.

Idea 2: Make a screen. Tons of ways to do this. Use hinges to attach 2 or 3 old doors together. Build a screen out of wood and use fabric in the panels.

Idea 3: Build a floor-to-ceiling open shelf system. Fill it with plants, art, books.

Zuzu

[Lisa S]

Ann,
Consider reading Creating the Not So Big House, if you haven't already. I found loads of ideas for my former home. It was a new house with an open plan that I found hard to live in. I was inspired by the amazing pictures. There were unique ideas such as using an English phone booth as a vestibule and reminders of classics such as Frank Lloyd Wright's dining room with the tall backed chairs. The trick that they tried to teach in the book is to bring each living space to a human scale. It was a very good read.

[Lynzee]

I love the shelving idea to divide the room! Or making a room divider out of shutters or doors. I'm guessing you could find any number of things in your store that would be perfect to divide the rooms. I once used lattice for a cheap divider in a rental--used it as a trellis for my plants. Loved the "garden" effect. For a softer look, I have used fabric or curtains to divide a long room. Just hanging them and using tie backs to hold them back to the wall gave the illusion of division or I could let them fall and really create the division.

Good luck--and keep us posted!

:)
Lynz

[greenoak]

thanks...i will be there a lot this summer and might try some things... i cant do anything structural...but there are some cool fool the eye ideas here...


we have a real big opening to the kitchen that could be changed pretty easily...mayber curtains or matching cabinets and plants.....
i never can tell until i do it....i think i have that small house book... it is about 1500 sq ft..it was 700 when we bought it..and its all new now and i cant go nailing walls or stuff from the ceiling......

i picked pale butter walls and white woodwork... its so uplifiting and bright.... and skylights on both sides...there is a little computer and library room ...

last year i put some flowers in and that i like a lot...it really feels like home to go out and putter with the plants...


ann