Dark, Closed-Off Lounge – info from structural engineer!
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Comments (69)we're building in Childers Qld (Zone 2) on top of a hill 120m above sea level with no chance of being built-in as we are on a 69 acre block. Quite windy all the time predominately from the SE. All outside doors will be security. Roof has vents in the gables on all four sides so I can leave open to purge heat during summer and close off in winter. Bed 2&3 doors used to be adjacent bathroom door for cross breezes but a layout change in the bathroom meant having its door on the east now. Not ideal but necessary. Dark colour unfortunately is dictated by our very red soil that will stain any light colour so had to go dark, would of preferred light. So I should make my eaves 1200mm all around?...See MoreOutdated sunken lounge help
Comments (4)I don't agree closing them in would make your from feel small, as they are not part of the floor area, and rather they delineate a walkway separating your entry from your living area. if you are wanting a more modern country, like a hamptons or provincial style, then I would suggest the following. i would stud frame between those posts, obviously removing the balustrade to do so, and plaster up this wall, I would leave a open shadow box in the centre, and then clad the who,e wall, front and back with horizontal lining boards, or even engineered flooring planks, for a timber feature wall, which will introduce the texture and colour to your interior. Timber is almost always used in country styles, provincial, hamptons, even classic interiors use it to soften and help add interest with warm timber tones, I would then square off the floor, as in join the angled areas and reptile this entry, the splayed angles is very outdated. Perhaps, remove the tile, and then have a handyman, builder do the stud Walland the floor, then install floorboards, so a platform is created. With the shadowing made,hang art on the rear hall wall visible through it, and the spotlight is already there to create a nice feature from your lounge. it will help define your areas seperate the living from noise and interference of arriving people through your entry, and yet still feel open and welcoming. i would dare say, also lose the heavy dark sofa, that adds nothing to your space,but creates blocky heavy blob in your lounge. Move furniture off the wall, rather build a room around the features, and face the sofas inward....See MoreRedesign dark living room
Comments (15)We removed one wall of our kitchen and love the effect. But it did require an expensive combination of 2 steel beams (ground floor of 2 storey house). This means we have beams encased in plasterboard now, one we made into a light box sort of thing by including down lights and centering it over the bench. We have high ceilings so the beams are not an issue for us but be aware of this possibility. Also was not cheap and required an engineer to design and sign off. But for us, well worth the effort. In your scenario I am assuming you have no option to include a window or 2 in the wall where the stairs are. The original plan seemed to include windows there (I think), suggesting it's possible??? That may be a very good option if it's possible, also allowing cross breezes to be captured; precious things indeed! I agree with others that the dark leather chairs - which look enormous - are a huge part of the problem you have. I would get those out of the room while you consider what to do, otherwise you'll be spending a lot of money just to overcome your furniture choice. A smaller, light coloured suite and a coat of paint to the walls could give an entirely different feel to the room....See MoreHow do we bring natural light into a dark 1960s house?
Comments (37)m_walker5, just from the 2 photos so far it seems to me the main first improvement to that space would be to remove the wall to the kitchen, so you need to find out if this is loadbearing or not. Stick your head up through the ceiling manhole to see how the structure is framed. If it is fully framed (rafters, ceiling joists, struts bearing down on internal walls) chances are that that wall is loadbearing. On the other hand if it is gangnail trusses (triangular frames with W braces held together with metal nail-plates) you are in luck. These typically span between outside walls and internal walls can usually be changed or removed easily. This is your staring point for deciding how far you want to go with this depending on budget, and is the point where you should involve an architect/designer to work out a comprehensive renovation plan. I have just completed a very similar project where the renovation was urgent (kitchen cabinets were falling off the walls!) but the budget was greatly reduced as the owner unexpectedly lost one source of income. We managed to do a full kitchen renovation, remove walls to create larger open-plan spaces, full re-sand and polish of floors, full internal repaint, all for about $80,000....See MoreMylongtermhome
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