FURNISHING YOUR ODD SHAPED ROOM
Lately, I seem to specialize in what I've come to call “spaghetti rooms.” I recently had a call from my client Erin, who has a gorgeous, expansive home overlooking a spa-like backyard and, of all things, a 22 x 12 foot den. Who designed these homes? Definitely not me. The room also comes with plenty of not-so-handy cased openings, randomly spaced windows, and an awkward, off-center fireplace; i.e., absolutely no wall space or focal points. How do you fit a large family and enough seating to watch the Knicks around the fireplace in a room that spatially makes no sense?
My team and I headed to her home armed with tape measure and CAD design software. When designing an effective, functional layout, I always use a CAD program so we can try various pieces of furniture in exact sizes and in different configurations on a computer before ordering anything. The gorgeous sectional with the chaise looks great in the magazine, but if it overwhelms the space, you will know the meaning of buyer's remorse. My #1 pet peeve is walking into the back of a sofa when you enter a den, and that includes sectionals that are too big for the room. Not inviting. So, we draw everything in CAD first to make sure it is optimal for the room we are designing.
In Erin’s room, the primary entrance is a wide-cased opening from the kitchen. Instead of blocking it, I drew in some very comfy, cushy swivel chairs. They don't block the entrance and they can face the fireplace and turn to face the entrance when desired. Drawing these in CAD always helps me make sure I have the appropriate widths since swivel chair sizes vary greatly.
Another option for a long, skinny room is to face two smaller sofas toward each other so that their backs run in the same direction as the short walls. That provides a nice open walkway in between and plenty of seating for at least six. Then, since it's a long room, there is probably a nice dead space behind one or both sofas where you can place a couple of smaller accent chairs (I love distressed leathers or sumptuous linens), coupled with a demure little table for drinks. This provides a quiet nook where siblings can have an intimate chat. I often add cushy oversized ottomans, which can be tucked in a corner and pulled out for additional seating for larger gatherings. Use a performance fabric on those ottomans so friends can rest their drinks and snacks without worrying about spillage.
Erin is happy that she called her favorite designer to create a floor plan! She now has a well-thought-out, really convenient (and gorgeous, if I do say so) seating arrangement for her entire family…and so can you!