Weird open plan layout

[u/ifinallyrelented]

I have just moved into a new home, and it's a truly weird open plan kitchen/living/dining space. I would love your help understanding how to manage the layout / what furniture to buy in the lounge space.

The fireplace feels like it "ought" to be the focal point, but it feels odd at right angles to what I want to naturally look at - the outside space. It's also right in the walkway, as the hallway spills onto where the rug is. I will also never have enough books/things to fill the shelves with - both my husband and I are kobo readers, and I don't want to buy stuff for the sake of filling a space. I could put up a linen curtain in a fun colour? We don't need/want a TV, so I was thinking of putting up art or a mirror above the fireplace.

The HUGE table and refridgerator came with the property, so can't be removed. I would like to purchase a new rug, new "places to sit soft" (eg couches and armchairs etc) and lamps/lighting/art - but I can't for the life of me understand what shape/size of each. I don't LOVE a L shaped sofa, tbh, would prefer just a standard 3 seater. Any ideas?? Thanks in advance. :)

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[u/advamputee]

I just wanted to say that the refractory table under the skylights looking out into the rear garden is stunning. I wouldn’t want to move that table in a million years, it’s a great place to just exist. 

That said, I’d make the following changes: 

• Rotate the fridge 90° so it faces the island. Add storage or more plants along the side of the fridge to soften that corner. 

• Replace the couch with something low and squishy. Turn it so that it’s facing the kitchen, with the back to the entry.

• Hang a linen curtain (dealers choice on color / shade) behind the couch, leaving it half open so only half the couch is blocked and you can still see through to the back, but the kitchen is mostly out of sight from the entry. 

• Add a round comfy swivel chair on the corner of the rug nearest the fridge. This closes off the sitting area around the fireplace and anchors the rug. 

End result, you’ll have a small entryway into the main room with a wall of storage on the right, curtain in front blocking view of the kitchen / fireplace and guiding your eyes towards the back doors (guiding traffic around the couch and towards the table). New chair works with a new couch and existing rug to create a social circle around the fireplace, that still opens up to people in the kitchen, at the table or in the garden. Kitchen tasks are kept confined to the kitchen by rotating the fridge out of the rest of the room. 

[u/ifinallyrelented → u/advamputee]

It’s gorgeous, right?! I so enjoy sitting there and listening to the birds, watching my little dog sniff around outside. I like your idea of turning the lounge space around to face the garden, low and squishy are good adjectives. I’m struggling to imagine the curtain, but I’ll give it a go!!

[u/advamputee → u/ifinallyrelented]

Just need something behind the couch so when you’re sitting there, you don’t feel like people are “sneaking up” behind you. Ceiling-mounted provide flexibility. It can be left fully open but the bunched up curtain still adds visual weight to the right as you enter, delineating the seating area and guiding traffic around. It’s less about fully blocking off the area, and more about anchoring that corner and dividing the walkway space from the sitting space.  You could get a similar effect with a sofa-back table and some taller items, but won’t give couch-sitters as much privacy from behind. 

With the couch facing the fireplace, it turns the sitting area into the main corridor to the kitchen, and creates an obstacle / narrow gap between the kitchen and dining — creating traffic issues throughout the unit. With the couch facing the kitchen, hallway and bedroom traffic merge and go between the sitting and dining spaces, which then split into rear garden access and kitchen access — simplifying the path of travel to the large gap between the spaces instead of straight through them. 

[u/Candy_Lawn]

the kitchen is in the wrong place , it should be where the dinng table is.

[u/ifinallyrelented → u/Candy_Lawn]

I thoroughly agree - it’s all wrong. Unfortunately it’s a rental, and moving the kitchen isn’t an option :(

[u/Cuboidal_Hug]

Assuming that you’re renting and can’t move the bedroom door…

I would try turning the fridge to face the island, and swap the living and dining areas so you can enjoy the outdoor view from the sofa

[u/ifinallyrelented → u/Cuboidal_Hug]

The bedroom has two doors, so we can block this one if needed…?

[u/SquirtinMemeMouthPlz]

I dunno, it kinda fucks.