Question: I live in a 1920s Montclair "storybook'' cottage with a massive corner fireplace and dark wood-beam ceilings and doors. The floor is of irregular, handmade tiles. The walls are white stucco that have been textured to give an uneven, bumpy effect. There are three doors and a stairway leading up to the kitchen and bedrooms. It seems that doors keep getting in the way. In addition, the stairway is open, which creates a large, empty space that I do not know what to do with.

Everyone is charmed by this beautiful room, but it has never been comfortable. I desperately need help with furniture and arrangement in the living room.

Rande Webster,
Oakland

Answer: Your living room sounds intriguing; there's traffic flow to take into consideration and a wonderful opportunity to incorporate something interesting under the staircase.

Let's first look at the door that leads to the deck. A door that swings into a room requires floor space over which it operates, as well as additional floor space to step around it so you can go in and out.

Change this door to an out-swing door. You'll immediately have more room in which to arrange your furniture without needing "swing and step around" space.

Place a small (6-foot) sofa on the diagonal to the room. Putting the sofa here and on the diagonal allows for a seating arrangement that uses the fireplace as a focal point and gives you room to put other furniture in place without impeding the flow of traffic to the deck and study. The arms of the sofa can either be low to keep the space flowing visually, or they can be as high as the sofa's back for a more intimate feeling when you're seated. Opposite the sofa is a club chair with arms, but because the room is getting smaller with each piece of furniture added, the second chair in this area is smaller. You now have comfortable seating for four people. In front of the large window that faces the front of the house, place a long console table. It helps feature the window and gives you a place to put keys, mail and small packages when you come in the front door. Under the console table, put two small ottoman-type seats (I call them "sit-upons"). These can be brought into the seating area when you have more guests, but are out of the way when not needed. An area rug under the seating area will help define the space. Place it on the diagonal to reinforce the effect of the furniture being on the diagonal to the room.

For added drama, put drapes in front of both windows. These can be shears with panels of heavier fabric on either side, or roll-up, designer-style shades, again with fabric panels on the sides. Add a standing reading lamp between the two chairs to illuminate this area, and a pair of floor lamps that arc over the ends of the sofa.

A plant in the corner near the study door with an up-light on the floor below it fills this corner nicely and adds drama at night. Because the walls are rough stucco, there's lots of rough wood in the architecture and the floors are handmade tiles, I suggest using fabrics that are heavier and have texture of their own to keep the room going in the more rustic direction. Stay with an earthy colored palette; either light browns, sage greens or terra- cotta reds, so the room feels warm.

Now for the really creative part of this room: the space under the staircase. Depending on your needs, there are lots of ways to make this space both functional and attractive.

In no particular order of my preference, ideas include 1) a built-in bookcase that includes a sound system, 2) a wet bar for serving refreshments, 3) a small desk area with computer hookup, 4) a coat closet.

The bookcase with sound system adds storage space and brings music into the room. And having books and music where you spend time are pleasing elements for a more comfortable life.

If you have the budget to plumb this area, you can make this space a beverage serving area. A bar-size refrigerator or wine refrigerator adds elegance to your lifestyle. You can have bifold doors put on the front if you don't want to see the area when it's not being used. Another effective use of this space is to add a small built-in desk with shelving above and drawers below. Make sure the knee hole is wide enough to be comfortable for you, or use a pullout keyboard shelf.

If you put doors over the area when it's not in use, the desk chair can be placed in the corner of the room.

And of course, if extra closet space sounds good to you, this area makes a perfect place for coat and umbrella storage since it's close to the front door. Make sure its door is a left-hand door (meaning you open it with your left hand) so you don't have to step around it to open it when you approach it from the entry.

Make sure the quality of the workmanship is good, as this feature will become a permanent part of the structure.

 

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