Anyone wanna help with living space layout?

[Carrie12345]

I go in spurts between agonizing and ignoring the issue all together.
I’m including a photo of the “same” house in progress, except mine will not have windows on the long wall, and my ceilings will be a foot higher.  Also, we’ll have two ceiling fan lights, not cans, but that’s less relevant.

We will eventually add a wood burning stove, but haven’t chosen a location. I’ve been assuming either the front or back corner (preferably the back <right in photo> for carrying in wood.)

I’ve always been envisioning a single, coherent space here, that can fit lots of people together, as opposed to two separate-but-open areas. However, I didn’t initially read the drawings completely accurately, overlooking the fact that there is a support beam right down the center of the ceiling. I WAS aware of the post, and was figuring on centering a couch or sectional there, with a narrow DIY console table (well, two) straddling the post behind the couch.  But now I’m wondering if placing a television and stand centered on that back wall is going to look ridiculous with a beam coming right over it.  Is it going to scream “Hey, dummy, this is the meeting point of two different rooms!”?

Total dimensions are 11’8” (plus 8” post) x 26’2.5”, or 12’8”+ 13’6.5” (so not precisely middle.)

FYI, framing is, and I quote verbatim, “more or less scheduled” to begin this week. Sigh.

[prairiewindmomma]

Are you this far out in framing? Is there a reason you can’t just put an I-beam in there instead and not have that post?

 

[Carrie12345]

4 minutes ago, prairiewindmomma said:

Are you this far out in framing? Is there a reason you can’t just put an I-beam in there instead and not have that post?

 

Literally starting framing this week, fingers crossed. But permits are based on our original engineering specs, and there was/is no way we’re backtracking!!!

[Scarlett]

I think your idea is still fine.  I think your furniture will define it as much if not more than the beam.

As a side point in the above picture (which I understand is not yours) why are the windows on the short wall paned and the other windows are not?  

[Carrie12345]

11 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

I think your idea is still fine.  I think your furniture will define it as much if not more than the beam.

As a side point in the above picture (which I understand is not yours) why are the windows on the short wall paned and the other windows are not?  

That seems to be the builder’s grade standard. We were supposed to only have the cross hatch (not actual individual panes) only on the front, but we’re getting all of them due to supply issues. 

[prairiewindmomma]

As large as that room is, you're going to have to break it up into little sub-seating areas anyway, even though it will be one big open room.  I think you can totally use larger rugs and placement to make it work.  Is this all lounge space or is it also dining or tiny office nook also? I ask because I'd be hesitant to place stuff against the beam, especially since that beam is just off of your staircase. 

[Tap]

9 hours ago, Scarlett said:

I think your idea is still fine.  I think your furniture will define it as much if not more than the beam.

As a side point in the above picture (which I understand is not yours) why are the windows on the short wall paned and the other windows are not?  

It is common here to have a mix of both. Paned windows on the front and the rest are plain. The paned windows are a bit more expensive, and since the inner ribs are just for looks, most builders just put them on focal point windows. Here, this usually means windows that are in front of fences have the ribs, and those behind the fence do not. 

[Tap]

If you know the name of your floor plan, sometimes you can google pictures of how other people have decorated. Houzz is a great place for image ideas on great room concept houses. 

We have a cross beam between our living and dining room, but without a pole. The beam does suggest rooms, but people with our floor plan usually ignore and do what they want. 

[Carrie12345]

1 hour ago, prairiewindmomma said:

As large as that room is, you're going to have to break it up into little sub-seating areas anyway, even though it will be one big open room.  I think you can totally use larger rugs and placement to make it work.  Is this all lounge space or is it also dining or tiny office nook also? I ask because I'd be hesitant to place stuff against the beam, especially since that beam is just off of your staircase. 

The square footage I listed is just the living space.  Picture below is looking toward the back, where the breakfast area and kitchen will be.
I’m not really worried about the spacing from the stairs, but I will think about it some more.

I do figure that it’ll be *sort of broken up, with the wood stove in a corner with a nice chair and end table. Probably a love seat on the other end with a small bookcase or something. But all still relatively aimed toward the center for a lot of people to be together. 

 

[Carrie12345]

8 minutes ago, Tap said:

If you know the name of your floor plan, sometimes you can google pictures of how other people have decorated. Houzz is a great place for image ideas on great room concept houses. 

We have a cross beam between our living and dining room, but without a pole. The beam does suggest rooms, but people with our floor plan usually ignore and do what they want. 

Dang! I tried to give it a go with Google, but the name brings up a wide variety of designs that are not mine, lol.