After weeks of waiting for three dry days in a row to grout, Mother Nature is finally on our side and John’s finishing up the tile in the sunroom as I type this (while singing “grout, grout, let it all out”). He’ll give you the full tiling rundown tomorrow, and in the meantime, I’m more excited than Jessie Spano about this post (and she’s SO EXCITED).
As we mentioned on Facebook this weekend, thanks to your suggestions during our Blogiversary, we thought it would be fun to share some ideas for folks out there who are stuck with decorating dilemmas. We also knew you guys would have a ton of suggestions to add to the mix, so we hope these posts will turn into great group brainstorming sessions for any homeowners out there who are stumped. So let’s dive right in. Here’s Shannon’s issue:
Hey Sherry and John! We just moved into our house in July, and I am LOST. This photo is taken from our living room, which is very open. The area on the left is our front room, the brightly colored door goes to our garage, then there’s the funky bookshelf area (ARGH), our boring but wide stairway, and our downstairs half-bath.
I LOVE color, NEED color, but need to keep it all cohesive down here (everything opens up to the same space). The thought of one color everywhere makes me want to cry! As you can see, I broke down one day and just painted the door to our garage to get some color, even if it’s temporary. I’m willing to buy paint cans tomorrow and show you afters! I just have no idea what colors to paint. Also, that horrible spot where the bookshelf and TV are currently living is too small for a couch, and nothing seems to make sense in that space. Our TV can go anywhere in the room (so it can move out of that nook). As long as I can keep Eugene, my coral-painted horse head, I’m happy!
We have three kids, so storage and function are always great things, but I also love some pretty, decorative things, too. My husband and father-in-law are my fabulous carpenters (they always seem to figure things out together that I throw at them), so again, I’m all about showing you the afters! Oh and don’t mind the blanket on the carpet–it’s rest time and my three littles are watching the Lorax. Love you guys! (In a non-creepy, even though we’ve never met kinda way!) – Shannon
**********************************
Guys, I stared at that picture for a while without having a clue, and then I realized that the nook between the stairs and the front door would be awesome with a big built-in to add tons of functional storage. Shannon would gain a spot to stash things out of sight (like kid-gear) from the six drawers down below, and she’d have a place to display her decorative stuff (like Eugene) up top. The best thing about adding something built-in right at the edge of that enclave is that the entire wall would have less of that nook-next-to-a-nook-next-to-another-nook feeling since it would break things up and bring that wall forward to create a great little focal point.
As for the execution of those built-ins, Shanon could either have her husband and father-in-law build them from scratch (since she mentioned they’re awesome carpenters in her letter) or she could buy something like these Hemnes ones from Ikea, which would hopefully be pretty simple to frame out for a nice built-in look. They’d also create a great place to add color. Maybe a soft blue tone on the back of the bookcase could be fun (like Valley Mist by Behr). Then the same bold door tone – except a little muddier with more gray in it so it’s not too intense – could end up on the walls of the bathroom to bring more color on that side of the space. Shannon could ask the person at the paint counter to add 15% more gray to the formula of the door color to hopefully end up with something in the right range.
I also photoshopped the walls a soft gray tone (like Silver Drop by Behr) and quickly switched out the light fixture by the door for this guy (I can’t help it, I’m obsessed with these – and the small one would be really cute there). Then I added this rug to the living area, just because that’s another easy way to add some color and interest, while picking up on some of the cheerful items displayed in the built-ins.
And just for fun, I made an alternate version with cooler periwinkle blues mixed with some warm corals and some deep navy tones:
This time I used this rug and photoshopped an abstract painting on the wall going up those stairs to bring in even more coral and periwinkle to that wall, along with darkening the door and the bathroom to a rich navy tone (something close to Myth by Behr). I also made the ceiling a super soft blue tone (Lime Light by Behr) to layer in there with the light gray walls, and for the back of the built-ins, a sea glass green could be pretty too (Palm Breeze by Behr).
So there are two thoughts I had for Shannon’s space. Do you prefer the Option 1 (emerald and copper with hits of sky blue) or Option 2 (coral, periwinkle and navy with some sea glass green)? Or do you have a completely new idea to add to the pot? We’d love to hear what you guys would do, and I’m sure there will a ton of awesome ideas in the comments, so… fire away! And a big thanks to Shannon for sharing her problem area. We’re crossing our fingers for after photos to share with you guys!
Psst – Got a particularly tricky spot or a dilemma in a certain area of your house? Submit a photo (or two) along with a few sentences about what bugs you or has you stumped to [email protected].
Laura & the Shell says
I have two votes! First for the built-ins, and 2nd vote for the mud room idea someone had. :)
Laura says
Two thoughts:
First, Sherry: getting her dad or husband to build shelves? NO! She can do it! Just a pet peeve of mine that it’s assumed the men use the power tools (in my house they are given to me as Christmas gifts and my husband has no clue how to use them or build anything).
Second: I wonder if the walls framing the steps are load bearing, and if not, I would like to tear those out and open that space up!
YoungHouseLove says
In her letter she mentioned they’re builders, that’s why I said that. You know I’m all about chicks with power saws :)
xo
s
Lynn says
I absolutely thought built-ins too. I would also pain lt the walks a neutral grey with maybe some undertones and accessorize with colors since colors are so fun to play with. Since this poster loves the idea of color I would paint the back of the built-ins to give it interest and a pop of color where it in contained and makes sense.
HK says
Welcome to your new home! When I saw the photo, I envisioned a wall of curtains all the way across the garage doorway, bookcase nook and stairwell. You could keep the bookcase behind the curtain (and move the coral pony and tv) and use as storage (perhaps for the 3 kiddos) or move the bookcase and use as storage. You could keep the curtain to the stairwell pulled back to easily access the stairs. You could use one solid color of curtains or different colors. Just an idea. Good luck!
Gillianne says
Built-ins are the way to go here–whether combinations of open and closed storage, mudroom, command center, or other.
I don’t want to hijack this thread, but I did want to show Sherry that, like her recent craft venture, the mighty Martha has put lace on white pumpkins :)
https://blu177.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855#n=2065716659&fid=1&mid=2bfd97fb-40a9-11e3-af3d-002264c20aaa&fv=1
Cali says
My first thought was wall to wall- front to back built ins! Fill that whole space! You can paint it a bright color OR if you want to use some pattern or colorful design on the back you can find some great wallpaper or fabric to line the back! I love the idea of drawers underneath to hide things and then shelves all around to display and if you want to keep the tv in that spot you can make the middle a tv nook! If you are extra handy you can figure out how to make a slide out piece that slides out from under the tv and clicks to lock it in and covers the tv when not in use so when its closed it looks just like a drawer :)
cant wait to see the after!!
Nancy Pants says
When I saw that space I immediately thought built-in’s too! I was thinking something more along the lines of a built in desk with slightly recessed shelving or cabinets but I’m not sure if that would work with the depth of the space. Of the two options, I like one better. I think given their love of color, it’s the more cheerful alternative.
HeatherM says
We had a similar dilemma in our house. Our living room has one short wall (opposite the only reasonable place to put a couch in the room). The wall is too short for a couch, and was too long for the entryway cabinet we had there. We ended up doing something like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=floating+shelves+around+tv&client=safari&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=odpvUo2AOMb4yAGo74HQBw&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=320&bih=416&dpr=2#biv=i%7C23%3Bd%7CbX8dlW5WlruJBM%3A
We put nice Besta cabinets down on the floor with a door/3-drawer/door combo (talk to the guy at the Ikea Besta design station, they were incredibly helpful). Put the TV accessories in the cabinet using an IR extender. Then we put floating shelves to the left of the tv and above the tv. You can bring in a lot of color with knick knacks and colored books on the shelves. In fact you already have some nice colorful objects in that bookcase, but they are all too clumped together to have much effect. Spread things out on shelves or in a bookcase to let each color have a bigger impact. (My husband is extremely picky about shelf sturdiness and very suspicious of floating shelves, so we researched them everywhere, and found the design of the ikea floating shelves was much sturdier than anything else we could find on the market).
I really like the idea of storage in that hallway. Ikea makes some nice narrow storage for shoes, add some breadboard to the wall with some hooks, a spot for backpacks/purses, and a shelf above the coat hooks with baskets for spare seasonal gear. Garage doors are usually made of metal so they are a great spot to get some magnet clips and showcase artwork. The one big drawback of stainless steel appliances is kids can’t put their art/ report cards/ etc on the fridge for all to see anymore. This is a great alternative.
Built ins are nice too, but they are often a lot more work- I would say they are a kind of “phase 2” project and my suggestion here is probably more of a “phase 1” project.
Lacey says
Try picking a color for the area around the side door, stairs and alcove. The stairs and door areas could be solid color while the middle alcove could be that color along with another shade or even white or another neutral color to create some bold horizontal stripes. This could end up being a wonderful space! Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Caitlyn says
Love the built-ins idea.But instead of having four doors on top, I’d only build the outer two and connect them with some fancy crown molding at the top. In the open space between the two outer shelves, I’d hang some artwork, or a mirror or a few open shelves with some lighting. sort of like this http://www.pinterest.com/pin/218565388139518078/
As far as colors go, I like the combo of coral, navy and tan Like these! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/249809110553906081/
Good Luck!
Hanna says
If this was my space I would probably have to break out the sledge hammer and take out the left-most wall, the little jutting out wall to the left of the shelves, and the wall to the right of the shelves – converting it to some kind of open spindle railing for the stairs.
When all the weird walls were gone, I’d put a long storage credenza on the wall where the shelves are now. Maybe something like this:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/177258935306668395/
…but painted a happy color like yellow or turquoise. I’d hang either the TV or artwork above it.
For the staircase I’d add some kind of board-and-batten treatment like this:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/321303754636281740/
so that it would pull the eye up and around the staircase, so it looks more like an actual staircase than a dark and scary nook. :)
Last but not least, some kind of hooks/ mini-mudroom accessories added to one of the walls next to the door. Since the left-most wall would be gone it would either be on the same wall the door is on, or the remaining part of the wall to the right of the door.
If all of this wasn’t quite drastic enough, my second choice would be to take down that entire wall enclosing the stairs and convert them to stairs with an open railing (like in John and Sherry’s house). Then you could add some pretty under-the-stairs storage, board-and-batten along the back wall of the stairs, and hang art above it.
Whatever Shannon decides, I hope we get to see after pictures!
Kendall says
I think there could be some major potential for those stairs if you’re wanting to go bold. Not sure if this is in your comfort zone (not even sure it’s in mine), but if you’re wanting more color, you could take off the carpet and maybe add a pop of color there. Like this?
http://lovermother.blogspot.com/2010/02/stairs-are-done.html
Pam C says
The first color option looks best with the carpet. I would build a system to accommodate the TV (since they have a custom build option) and storage
Michelle Z says
I am loving option 2 (but then im a sea glass color palette kind of girl) :).
As for this new type/series of post – LOOOVE IT! Though really, I pretty much like all of your posts (literally, even though kids are still a ways off I pinned the potty training post for some time in the future and there’s nothing cooler than watching yall transform your home.) Love the new addition to the repertoire!
jody says
totally color story #1. but it needs some dark to make it a little more real.
Love the built in idea!
xo
Pam C says
Can those walls come out or are they load-bearing? I’d take them out if I could. Open up the staircase and that whole wall.
shannon says
I am nearly positive the walls are load-bearing! That is right in the center of our home, and there are honestly no other indoor walls downstairs other than those! I love the idea of an open staircase, though!! –shannon
Meghan says
I love the bookshelves, but why not add a little more functionality? I live in a 600 sq ft apartment, so I’m always looking for things to double up on purpose! I’d take the bottom half of one side and make it a desk with a chair that can roll out of the way, but keep shelves higher up so we’re keeping storage.
Liz says
I like the idea for built-ins! My first instinct would be to put a built in desk there, maybe with a cute mirror on the wall and a funky chair. Maybe have a fun pin-board leaning against the wall too, with some baskets under the desk.
I agree it would be helpful in the future to see a few more pictures of the overall room to see how items would work together!
Jill says
option 2! I like the built-ins to the ceiling and the art in the stairway
Cara says
I was thinking built in bookshelf, one that fills the while nook. I like your drawers on the bottom better, but not the doors. She indicates having pretty little kids, and I think open shelving and pretty baskets works better. The most practical space in my house is a large bookshelf. The lower shelves are for baskets and spots were toys can be found AND PUT AWAY independently by my 3 year old. Then her books where she can still reach. On the highest shelves are my decorative items and our books. It works really well, and because of the decorative baskets and items looks pretty, too. Oh – and my shelves are open on the back, letting my pretty wall color peek through. Maybe she could paint hers like you did in your last house?
I agrees with the pretty rug, but I’d add a stair runner that coordinates. The stairwell needs some color…. Though, on second thought it might be too much with art and I think art (or a gallery wall?) would be great.
Ok – stopping now.
Misi says
Love this feature! And love the bookshelf idea. I agree with others that there should be some open shelves. Painting or wallpapering the back of the shelves would look awesome too, kinda like you had in your former house Sherry. Great ideas!
Laura H. says
Love the built-ins! So pretty.
In a different direction, it seems like a good spot for maybe a built in desk/homework/command station with an elaborate built in hutch to the ceiling for added storage.
Erin says
That space is just begging for built-in’s! And you’ve got a handy husband- come on, it’s just not fair!! I personally like option #1 for some fun color, and this is one space where bringing in color is easy and a no brainer. And that light fixture, as pretty in person as it is in the catalogue. My blog partner just installed them in her laundry room: http:/www.suburbanbitches.com/week-4-glam-a-laundry-o/
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, they’re so pretty in those pictures! I’m swooning over here. It’s ridiculous.
xo
s
mary says
The Lorax would look great on a 50″ flat screen in that spot.
My first thought was wall to wall shelves, with a big TV on one. No doors, no vertical pieces, just chunky white shelves with big, pretty storage boxes on the bottom. Not a ton of little knick knacks or books. There’s a lot going on over there. I think I’d like something simpler and less crowded. And the money saved on Ikea furniture could be put toward a bigger TV. lol
Stacia says
I don’t know if they need one, but I would make this a computer/desk area. It would be a built In With a counter and storage below, and above a mix of open (for display) and closed for more storage. I think it’s important to have the family computer in a public space when the kids are going to use it. The great thing about built ins is they can be so many things. So figure out what you want the function to be and then design the different components.
Cate says
While I think shelves are a great idea there, I think something more modern would suit the stile of the house better than the white built-in look. I’d either do open chunky wood with pipe shelving like The Brick House http://www.the-brick-house.com/2009/09/shelving-unit/ or I’d put in a long, low credenza for storage and some big, colorful art.
Cate says
and of course, I meant style, not stile, though that would be an unexpected option.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
renee fishburn says
what software do you use to photoshop ideas into a room? so cool!
YoungHouseLove says
Just regular old Adobe Photoshop. I bring in the images (drag and drop) and just skew or distort or scale them to fit. It’s not perfect, but if you squint you get the idea! Haha!
xo
s
jeannette says
i like these solutions but she might need to have the tv in the bookcase space, as she does now.
my major cohesion move would be to pick a hue, any hue, and ombre it over the spaces, with the front room wall and the powder room wall being the same (lightest or darkest) shade. then a shade up or down for the door and stairwell walls, then third shade for the book case wall. art and objets to coordinate.
Jane says
Instead of art , I would go for a big chunky long mirror in the stairway instead of art. The mirror would bring in more light and make that area seem bigger and open.
Margie says
I actually was most drawn to the long hallway going into the garage. I have no “launch pad” space at my house, so it’s my personal obsession. I would put a double row of shaker pegs down one side (low for kids coats and backpacks and high for mom and dad and purses) and a kid’s art gallery on the opposite wall.
Bailey says
I love seeing your ideas for this space! I can’t wait for more and more and more of these types of posts – great idea for a series!
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Tara says
Option 2 (really digging the lilacish color)! Love the idea of soft walls and bringing color to the ceiling and rug. Built-ins no brainer, once again add color. Maybe use that faux grass cloth and paint it like Jenny just did from The Little Green Notebook on the back of her built ins? Bring on some big bad art on that staircase and funky light fixture – perfection!
Karen says
I heart Eugene.
LMG says
My grandmother did something like this and was SO happy with the results. I noticed there is something electrical near the top of the space (as well as a light switch)? Is that an alarm sensor?
Anyway, what she learned which I hope helps here is to meet with a trusted electrician to work in concert with the (family) carpenters–together they resolved some design dilemmas so she could get the right lighting and set up for her tv and sound system.
Miranda says
If I had the resources, I’d make the wall between the stairs and the nook area (that juts out) a half wall and cut everything else back. (I like the idea of being able to poke my head into the space without having to come all the way down the stairs.) I’d widen that half wall enough so that I could display a plant or something else on the top, with some display shelving below. I think it would eliminate some of the shadows in the space, too.
In the space that creates the nook, I’d build a desk / computer area with colorful artwork up top. No TV or cabinets. Maybe with a different, very bright wall color as an accent (back wall only, not the sides that jut out).
Margie says
And one more comment, that weirdly short handrail on the staircase does nothing to avoid the chopped up wall look. I’d put in something chunkier and wrap it up through the turn. Especially if I had a handyman/carpenter or two on hand.
Chase says
Like everyone else, I’m now singing “Grout Grout, Let it all out…” Love it :) I love the idea of the built-in. So functional and pretty. I like the first color scheme better! I could also see it as a half built-in (bottom only) and put some pretty plants and Eugene and art on top but that’s far less functional.
Cassidy says
Can’t find my first comment, but here’s the picture of adding the faux fireplace with mantle and bold mirror. http://www.flickr.com/photos/107035622@N04/
YoungHouseLove says
LOVE this! Thanks so much for sharing such a fun little photoshopped mock-up Cassidy!
xo
s
Andrea says
OOoooo… I like option 1 but I’m a sucker for that rusty orange color.
Both options are amazing, and I hope she submits after photos.
Also, this is SUCH a good idea! I am submitting my biggest design dilemma for sure — it’s had me stumped for 5 years plus!
Thanks YHL. You guys are the best.
sarah says
someone may have said this already, but why not knock that little piece of wall down by the garage and make it feel more open….then you could even turn the corner with your built in and make the mud room feel more on the garage hallway, and the family room feel on the nook wall with built ins. Also, potentially (depending on load bearing walls, etc) just knock the nook out and create an awesome open staircase with a railing headed up….and then cubbies underneath the steps that face the room.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing so many awesome ideas! I had a little bit of fear when I hit publish this morning that no one else would weigh in but you all have blown me away with all of the amazing suggestions!
xo
s
jenna says
Built ins were my first thought. I love option 2.
My second thought was a closet since it seemed like a natural place when you come in through the garage to put your coat, etc.
sarina says
Another idea that might not be as great since they do have small kids.. is a bar area. It wouldn’t necessarily have to have a sink (though if it was possible, it would be cool). But you could have wine rack, glass storage and liquor storage as well as a small fridge. Maybe for the more “adult” home?
Leila says
What a fun challenge! Love the built-ins. Wish I had an idea of what was happening in the rest of the space (i.e. – is it open to the kitchen or dining area? What kind of couch or other furniture are you working with?) because one other thought I had was to create a seating are in the nook, like a window seat, but not in a window, obviously. It could be a bench (with hidden storage!) with built-ins around and/or above it, depending on how big the nook actually is.
Also, I’m intrigued by the little corner of the stairs (the wall with that railing and then the wall where you photoshopped a picture in option 2)… maybe a good place for a cool arrangement of frames and art? Or what about a color or beadboard or wainscoting on the bottom half of the wall going all the way up the stairs for some architectural interest?
Finally, I really like in the two photoshopped versions the way shades of color repeats on the garage door and the bathroom wall!
Toria Davis says
When I first saw the space and read the dilemma I immediately thought of some form of built in. It could either be used as an entertainment unit with the TV hidden in the cabinet or as you described used more for storage and decor. I personally like the first color option and I think it’s great that it incorporates Shannon’s original color idea for the door.
alicia says
You could also build in a desk and make it a command center.
Christina Jones says
What about shelving across the top portion or placing the television on the wall, and then adding a pop of color on the wall or awesome wallpaper/stencil…?? Then a base cabinet to store things away and a wood counter for some warmth and texture??
Sort of like this….
http://www.houzz.com/photos/5695216/California-Cottage-beach-style–los-angeles
Susan S says
Love the ideas you guys came up with but as another option, a desk/drop off station would also be a great idea! It’s not as weighty visually as a full build in and still offers plenty of function and places to put pops of colour such as the pretty coral pony!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/211317407488537353/
Cassidy says
OMG. I am so excited that you’re actually doing this feature!! Like an updated version of moodboards…which I’m addicted to. Can’t wait to send in a pic of our Master Bedroom in our old/new house and get some advice!
Build-ins are my weakness. I think they are awesome in any and every room, so I love your ideas about Shannon’s space, as usual.
Alice says
I love the built-ins!! I’d go for #2 so the coral horse head fits right in.
Oh, and I heard a lady say on House Hunters last night on HGTV that she just hates built-ins. Who in the heck hates built-ins???
Mariah says
Option 2 for the color scheme. However, if I’ve ever seen a space more suited for a Murphy Bed, I don’t remember when. Throw some narrow bookshelves on either side (to keep the horse head on) and Murphy Bed that thing! Storage and functional, yes please!
Shannon says
World. Rocked. Wow, Mariah! That’s insanely genius!! We do need an area for guests when they come to stay! I may need to think a little on that one! Thanks!! –shannon