My home redesign project

The Space:
A huge, nine-metre room with windows on one side only (small side), an open fireplace and built-in library.

Desired Functionality:
A living room for entertaining friends, a formal dining room and a place to curl up in a comfy chair to read & relax.

Challenge:
How to partition the room without using dividers that block natural light.

Solution:
Creation of separate areas within one big space.

The fireplace is the focal point for the living area; a group of seats form a circle around it, resulting in a cozy, protected atmosphere. As the living area is mostly used in the evenings, I decided the sunny part of the room should be dedicated for a different function.

The bay windows at the end of the room spend lots of light, making it a perfect spot for a dining and paperwork table.

A nearby hall provides easy access to the kitchen. Dishware is conveniently stored in the kitchen near the dishwasher, because regular dining occurs there. This allows me to keep the dining area free of storage space, which suits the atmosphere of the connected living area.

I separated the living and dining spaces, and integrated the built-in library by placing our comfy chairs opposite each other, which allows for chatting or reading. Traffic flow was also important; there are three rooms next to this room, so the placement of furniture allows easy access to both spaces, and to each adjacent room.

To keep things flexible, I prefer functional and movable furnishings (e.g., lamps, side tables, chairs). If you move a lot, you will love this concept. I also like to mix traditional with modern style, and to integrate art into everyday living. I avoid placing furnishings parallel to walls as it looks rigid and lacks energy.

To keep this large room clutter-free, I put things back after I use them, or – at the latest – once a day (morning or evening – no strict regimen). And I keep only those items I truly love and need; when we moved here, we parted with two-thirds of our belongings because we found that we never touched most of it twice. We don’t miss a thing, and our eyes can rest on and enjoy what we have more intimately. Plus, there is less work when cleaning.