Rearranged seating helps large-scale family room
Jim Buchta, Star Tribune
Project: A family room in Eden Prairie.
Positives: High ceilings, natural light and a fireplace.
Negatives: Bad furniture arrangement, an offset fireplace and oversize windows.
The family room of this Eden Prairie home is off the main foyer, but furniture blocked potential buyers from entering it.
And to top it off, the room had an overbearing focal point: a massive wall with an odd-shaped fireplace and large windows.
The problem? Buyers might have a hard time envisioning how to fit comfortably into the space.
"This room had a lot of positive features, but they were all so massive, it almost felt intimidating," said Lori
Matzke of Centerstagehome.com. "We wanted to help the features feel more proportionate to the design of the
actual space."
Color: Matzke swapped a moss green loveseat and sofa for a printed, more colorful upholstered sofa and club chair from
the formal living room. By doing so, she was able to calm the brighter green walls and forest green carpet of the formal living room while
incorporating some of the gold in the upholstery with gold on the family room's accent wall.
Layout: The furniture was arranged to direct the buyer's eye into the room without blocking the entrance. Positioning the
chair at an angle on the accent wall created an inviting feel and helped balance the fireplace. The hassock from the moss green set was used
in lieu of a coffee table to create continuity between the formal living room and family room. An extra chair from the dining room and a
side table created a conversational area, making the entire room feel fully utilized.
The windows: To soften the oversize windows, Matzke made a screen from window grid inserts she found in the garage. The
grids block some of the stark white light streaming through the windows without blocking it, while adding architectural interest.
Decorations: Family photos and artwork over the sofa drew negative attention to the high ceiling and makes the room feel
imposing. Matzke replaced it with a mirror that downplays the room's huge proportions.
The fireplace: Smaller mantel accessories were replaced by a few bolder pieces more proportionate to the space. A large
silk plant added bulk and balance, while a picture that had been leaning on the hearth was hung under the mantel for balance.
Lighting: A floor lamp and table lamp on opposite sides of the room now give the space ample light and help to soften
the huge amounts of natural light coming into the space.
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