Our approach to designing the living room was to take a very awkward space and turn it into something more cohesive. We don’t know when this actually happened, but the front porch of the house was framed in and added to the living room area. While creating a larger space, it also created a very awkward space. So, we used built-ins in three spots to help shape the space, create storage and give the house some character.
We created a floor to ceiling built in bookshelf on one wall where furniture would have created obstacles. After crafting a new fireplace mantle out of cedar beams and travertine tile, we designed a two tiered built-in to house home theater components and to provide more storage. Finally, we installed a bookshelf knee wall to create some separation from the entry way without completely blocking it out, as well as to define the space to allow for better placement of furniture.
Another big aspect of the living room plan was the installation of in the ceiling speakers for the surround sound/whole home audio system. Behind the TV and on the bottom half of the two tiered built-in are hard wired connections for the surround sound/whole home audio system controls.
Lastly, the separation provided by the bookshelf knee wall allowed us to better define the entryway while allowing us to have a reading nook. In this space we added a coat closet that was not there previously, as well as a built in bench and coat rack to give some functionality to otherwise dead space. This area is really highlighted by the extensive use of moulding and features a Southern Yellow Pine tongue and groove ceiling.
Living Room
In the Ceiling Surround Sound/Whole Home Audio
Entryway/Reading Nook
