Hi, I really need help designing my living/dining room from scratch! Design, color, everything. The rooms now are a dumping ground while we are renovating other areas of the house, but here are three pictures:

http://fjell.no.com/houseimages/

As you see, the space is a little odd. We have a simple black marble fireplace, and I especially do not know what to do with the fireplace wall so that it is not so bare. We are going to remove most of the wall between the dining area and the front door, but we need to keep a couple pillars for support. I probably prefer a warm and inviting look.

Help please!

Welcome, t1218! I have no advice for you right now, but I wanted to say that I feel your p a i n! My LR and DR have been a dumping ground for over a year now. I like to call it *the staging area for greatness*, Sounds better somehow, but it's making me crazy!

I can suggest that you repost on the General Decorating board. There are some talented, knowledgeable folks over there who will be happy to help you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: meldin,

Yeah, I've been living with the living/dining room like that for 8 months and it is getting old. Time for something nice.

Thanks for the tip. I've reposted it to the other category.

What kind of a budget are you working with? That would be a GREAT place to start. If it is anything goes, the carpet and the fireplace would be a great place to lay some money down. then either mimic the wall unit on the other side of the fireplace or tear the exsisting one out. OR you could build a little cozy corner around it that could be sort of a reading "ME TIME" area. I don't know if I am really explaining it very well and I certainly don't have the lovely graphic ability that you have shown in your pics. but I am just throwing things out off of the top of my head.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Newbie Amanda in Tx,

Hi and welcome to the boards. You have a lovely space to work with, especially the built-in next to the fireplace. I agree with Newbie and think your best bet would be to add a second built-in unit on the other side of the fireplace to add balance to the wall. Then you could beef up the fireplace and mount a television above it. Another significantly less costly plan would be to add a desk on the diagonal in the corner facing into the room and turn it into a small study. A library table or small elegant dining room table facing into the room paired with a chair would look great and also offer a spot to glance at a lap top or do some reading. The book case behind could be staged with some great accessories and hard bound books. If the desk idea doesn't do it for you, how about a chaise with a throw for those cold winter nights next to a cheerful fire. Your computer skills allow you to do some virtual decorating, I only wish I could match!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mseadog23,

I agree with the other posters, the room is off balance, you need to either mimic the bookcase on the other side of the fire place or take out the existing one. Other than that, you have a great blank slate to work with. What color is your furniture?

I also have a strange living room. I have a gas fireplace with the tv nook above. I have a black couch, sofa and chair. The living room connects to kitchen. How do I separate the two rooms. I also have a vaulted ceiling in the living room.

I just looked at your pics before reading the posts and they said what I was going to say about adding another built-in for balance on the other side of the FP. That would help for sure.

Loved your graphics that you used. Very cool. I'm not sure how big your DR area is but maybe you could place a large cool mirror against that wall behind the DR table to also balance the scale of all the shelves/FP in the LR on the opposite side. Then, just unify the rooms with similar elements (color, wood tone, metal finish) like Karen says.

Good luck!!