What should I do with this room?

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Room renovation advice, the room will be used as a second lounge, a place for entertaining guests, etc. Paint ceiling is white with track spot lighting of some description. Polished floor boards, vj-board on one wall, paint stairs sheer curtains. Any ideas or comments welcome.

Featured Answer

lyndagoulden

4 years ago

Golly! In it's present state, I can see why you want to do a make-over.

Definitely agree that the ceiling needs lightening. I wouldn't line it but instead, paint all the beams and the current lining the same color.

I'm not a fan of white paint, but in this case I'd make the exception and paint all the walls and the ceiling in a shade of white and then hang large striking paintings.

The current strip lighting is not doing any favours to the room and nor is the glass door. Both have to be changed.

Consult with a lighting specialist for how best to achieve good lighting. I wouldn't use big lights in the centre of room as this would lower the ceiling even more.

New curtains should be floor to ceiling and I would personally chose a stripe pattern that mirrors the vertical bars on the stairs. I like the idea of using a bold stripe that picks up some of the colours of paintings you might chose. But that's just me and my though is that it would help to give the room a sense of much needed height and add in a fun element.

Is it possible to paint the stairs and the wooden shelf?

You could paint these a shade of the new carpet - which I would opt for a dark shade. Dark Blue, Charcoal or Dark Grey would be my considerations. I don't think I would go for a light shade but then again, it's possible that it could work if you chose carefully.

You say that you want this to be a second entertainers lounge but I'm struggling to see this room being used for this purpose. Can it be opened up to the other areas of the house more? What is on the other side of that door?

It feels like the room is a forgotten corner of the basement and I'm wondering if guests would really want to make the trek down to it.

A floor plan would give a better indication of why you think it would be suitable as the second lounge.

Comments (23)

bigreader
4 years ago
Like your ideas except for track lighting. Some pendants that match your style and lamps would be more conducive to entertaining.
siriuskey
4 years ago
Unlike bigreader I love track lighting (sorry) especially with a ceiling like yours.

What height is the floor to ceiling. Interesting brick pattern. I think you need to add a railing at the bottom stairs from stairs to the wall to make it safer but also work better
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julie herbert
4 years ago
I love track lighting, especially for your ceiling , definitely polish your floors, I think bricks add an interesting look, panel blinds at window,some gorgeous furniture and statement rugs would look great, contemporary artwork would complete the picture
Kate
4 years ago
Definitely paint the ceiling and beams white to lift it. I’m not a fan of the brick colour per so I’d paint or line those too, but that’s a personal preference.
PRO
Lauren Shiels Interior Design
4 years ago
Hi there! What a fun project! Is the room naturally a dark room?

If it is and you want to use the space for entertaining, perhaps consider going for a rich colour on the walls to embrace a darker room and create intimacy. You could do a lovely creamy cool beige or a deep blueish grey. Sometimes if you paint a dark room white, instead of looking light it just looks limp and shadowy. There is so much character here, I feel like it would be a shame to just put white all over it. You can use wall lighting and lamps to switch up the vibe but the track lighting option is cool with it.

I love sheers, great choice! Make sure you bring them right to the ceiling for drama and let them gently flow on to the floor for an opulent look.

I'm excited for you, let me know if you want some help!
Paul N
Original Author
4 years ago
This is an extension on the side of the house it has a loft upstairs(used as a storage room currently)and was originally used as a rumpus room (down stairs)by previous owners. the door and window open to the backyard with a paved area directly outside the door. if you open the curtains it has decent natural light during the day and at night the current lights are not good feels like ur in a shed. the idea for this room is a second place to have guests over bbq social gatherings christmas that kind of thing. we will have a tv and music capabilities on one wall a few lounges that are easy to move around and an extendable dining table. unsure if having a small kitchenette will be a good idea will wait and see. I've attached a few pics of the boards I will use on wall probably on only 1 or 2 of the walls paint colour undecided will be light colour for sure. I've also attached a painted white ceiling.
the sheer curtains will be floor to ceiling. I'm still having trouble figuring out what be the best lighting to light the room the best would be.
C P
4 years ago
hmm of it was me I'd be very frustrated with bottom of stairs and the (what appears to be) narrow step down off bottom ledge. The door makes that really tricky. I'd think seriously about turning windows into sliding doors and blocking existing door to create a better landing for stairs.
But that is way more exxy than what you looking for here and I think all your ideas are great.
siriuskey
4 years ago
great idea CP for sliding doors, it would make the room feel and look much bigger for the uses mentioned

Can you do a drawing showing dimensions showing doors and windows and height of room as previously asked for
Kim
4 years ago
I agree with CP about the stairs. I suggest you go for a fin look and they go right to the floor all the way along, kind of creating a wall. I like the idea of a dark look for the wood, or paint. Yes to light ceiling. Decide on the Brick once ceiling done and stairs better. Darken the wood to match between the two floor levels to match the "fin" look.
Two other alternatives, put some screens along the stairs, floor to ceiling or alternative a glass or acrylic panel across the stairs. Tr to make the stairs more of a design feature.
Kim
4 years ago
Ideas
Paul N
Original Author
4 years ago
Hi guys thanks for all the great input so far.

Room dimensions
Length 5.55m
Width 4.55m

Ceiling height bottom of beam 2.45m

Window
Width 2.9m
Height 1.5m

I do like the idea of the timber slat wall next to the stairs. I'll attach a few more pics of the room and some light ideas.
C P
4 years ago
oh what a relief! could you change the angle of lower set by 90 degrees?
C P
4 years ago
can you show a floor plan and some photos from outside? Thanks
Paul N
Original Author
4 years ago
Cant really move the stairs would be pretty costly perhaps another time.
floor plan below.
Kate
4 years ago
I love the last example. As with that I would keep one brick wall only a your feature. Nice back say for tv or music syStem on shelves
Kate
4 years ago
How do you get into the room. Is it just the external door?
Paul N
Original Author
4 years ago
Yes you go out the back door and in a separate door.
Kim
4 years ago
Stairs. As a cheap alternative you could put smaller slats between the wider ones taking them to the floor and making them with more depth so you also have a slight textured look. You will still see the diagonal line of the original stairs though. You would also be defining the spaces more. Perhaps paint the walls a soft warm white like Dulux Quarter opononi (colours of NZ) with the ceiling either Resene alabaster or black white (possibly better coverage with black white). Good luck.
yvn1511
4 years ago
I would paint the ceiling and beams a vivid white. The stairs railing black or dark grey. The door needs to be changed either to cottage pane or solid depending what is on the other side and paint the same shade as the railings.The lighting depends on what mood you wish to create: pendants to make it cosier or recessed for more air and space. Window dressing depends on your view and whether you would keep them open or close them..The shelf under the stairs I would replace with cupboard storage or a wine rack painted a vivid white. This provides a neutral and spacious feel ready for pops of colour.
User
4 years ago
No-one seems to have talked budget .

Where I'd start is actually leave the actual room as it is for a start . Eh ? Yep .

Take down the nothing curtains . Go for bright colour curtains , depending on the rest of your house . Personally , I'd go for red , or white . Or red and white vertical striped . But yellow , orange , blue , green would all work .

A leather lounge suite in white or red , or possibly black .

A leafy pot plant in a colourful pot .

And then -- a big abstract picture in complimentary colours on the brick wall -- around 1.8mtr x 1.2mtr or similar .

Lighting -- stainless designer 12volt spotlights , 3 or 4 on each light . You can point and position to suit , highlight and hide features , and thge lights themselves look good without being instrusive or knocking your head .

Basics done for $2k plus furniture !
Sophie C.
4 years ago
Hi Paul, you could work with the brick wall & bag it. My parents did that with their internal brick walls that were a similar colour to yours. it's now a modern grey colour & looks fab. You definitely need some new window furnishings that fall all the way to the floor, not just cover the windows. There are lots great options & you'll be surprised how affordable made to measure can be. The beamed ceiling could be a feature, especially if repainted or sanded & stained.
Sophie C.
4 years ago
Check out this photo from Houzz - https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/loft-les-corts-industrial-living-room-phvw-vp~38443339
Check out this photo from Houzz - https://www.houzz.com.au/photos/old-bilbao-apartments-industrial-living-room-bilbao-phvw-vp~26083963 <-- Some ideas from Houzz for you that use bagged bricks in living areas. One even includes a painted beam ceiling.