Posted by
Elana Safronsky, Managing Editor
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 12:39 PM EDT
Aaaand we're right back at it! Design Dilemma with Sam Pynn, our quick and chic (ok, not my best work) maven of decor featured in our snappy online original series, The Switch, continues! Today, Sam tackles a floor plan spoiled by an awkwardly placed front door. Why those awkwardly placed doors? Ah well... Sam will fix!
From Mel:
"I do hope you are still taking design dilemmas because try as I might, I haven't been able to solve this one myself. Our front door opens directly into our only eating space in the house. It's a dining/living room combo and there is no space in our kitchen to sit and eat. I've attached a bare bones floor plan of the room as we have it now but I really don't like the idea of opening our door to see the table and don't want to separate our eating area from our kitchen - it's detached enough as it is! We could add walls, etc but I haven't been able to find a proper place for them that will solve the problem and allow our furniture to get out of the house if we move. Can someone please HELP? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!! "
Sam suggests: Mel, You do have a little bit of a tricky space. But the living and dining room are a good size. Here are a couple of options:
You can extend the wall along the kitchen so that you have a more narrow opening (36-inches) to the kitchen. To create a front entry that will block your view to the dining table, add another wall parallel to the front door as I’ve done to your original floor plan. You will have enough room to move furniture in and out of your condo. The new entry will be about the same size as an elevator.
The second option is to embrace the idea of seeing the dining table when you walk thru the front door, but make it a gorgeous focal point. Perhaps invest in a good looking table and chairs that work with the furniture in the living area. Hang a great pendant fixture and may be even some fabulous art to make that area mesh with rest of your living space.
I like seeing a dining table when I walk into a room; and, I have to confess, I like seeing a dining table in the front window of a house!
--Sam
Let's help Mel by taking a Poll!