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February 22, 2007
Classic Brownstone Question
We have been in our new brownstone for six months and I still can't figure out how to arrange furniture in the main parlor room. The room is narrow and long (11 x 25) with a doorway from the front hall coming in midway. There is also a fireplace opposite the doorway, and pocket doors at the back leading to the kitchen. What does everyone else do? If we put couches, etc. at the front by the front window, there is a big empty space in the middle of the room, yet if we group the couches around the fireplace, there is an empty space at the front. Also, if I put a dining table at the back of the room, it looks as if it's blocking the doorway to the kitchen. Can anyone tell me what works in their long, narrow front parlor? Thanks.
Comments
This is a classic brownstone question. Why not put a narrow table in the middle and break the room into 2 seating areas. You may place it against the back of a couch. If you have a piano you can make it the focus of one seating area. Good luck.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 22, 2007 3:48 PM
This is a classic brownstone question. Why not put a narrow table in the middle and break the room into 2 seating areas. You may place it against the back of a couch. If you have a piano you can make it the focus of one seating area. Good luck.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 22, 2007 3:49 PM
This is indeed a great question--maybe Brownstoner should regularly devote an area to people with interior design dillemas in brownstones. I have one suggestion--buy small furniture. Seriously. I mentioned this last week, here: most American furniture is reidiculously overscaled, overstuffed, and this makes matters worse in small awkward urban spaces. Among places that sell smaller-scaled stuff I really like: Room & Board in Soho (reasonable prices, great fabrics, cool contemporary and traditional pieces). Crate & Barrell isn't too bad. Bo Concepts, Room & Co., Design Within Reach. And, of course, if you're on a budget, Ikea--very urban oriented. My designer boyfriend suggests two chairs and a cocktail table arrayed before the fireplace, and a separate sofa/conversation area on either side, by the window or by the pocket doors. You might also use two little cubes (widely available) instead of any large cocktail table--this way you can walk between them.
Posted by: Bob999 at February 22, 2007 4:15 PM
I 2nd the separate conversation-pits idea Bob999 suggested. That works. As for us, we left an open space in front of the fireplace (our fireplace is in the back of the living room not in the middle as we're in a 2-story limestone). When you entertain, you always need standing-only space for mingling. If it's all furniture there's no place to stand and move around. Also it's good for children to have play space on the floor. No need to be afraid of open floor space!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 22, 2007 4:36 PM
It helps to lay down area rugs to define conversation areas. In a way its the same problem that people who live in loft spaces have. You have to place furnishings, rugs and accessories in such a way as to suggest "invisible" walls. Best of luck.
Posted by: LB at February 22, 2007 5:35 PM
OP here. Thank you all for your great suggestions. I love this site!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 22, 2007 6:14 PM
We have a very similar setup. Right now we have a sofa about 2/3 back, middle of the room facing the front windows. When facing the fireplace the short end of the sofa is to it's right.
Then we have a loveseat on the wall of the doorway at right angles to the other sofa, facing the wall of the fireplace, but to its left. Bookcases on the opposite wall, coffee table in front of the loveseat. Big Persian rug in this seating area.
Right now we have loads of kid stuff, a desk and a big armchair in the area behind the sofa and before the kitchen, but eventually we'll put a narrow table behind the sofa and a couple chairs back there for another seating area.
I second the recommendation for smaller sized furniture - we found very nice apartment sized couches at Macys.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 23, 2007 5:50 AM
Yes, small furniture rules in brownstones! Walk into our parlor and, on the left -- in front of and parallel to the windows -- there's a sofa at a right angle to the fireplace, facing this are two small "pull-up" chairs which can be easily moved for parties etc. Then on the right, there's another sofa against the fireplace wall facing a built in bookcase on the hall wall. Plus a few ocassional tables, all small, light and easy to move. Actually check out the "My Brownstone" feature on this site -- one of the first postings is a very nice Clinton Hill parlor with a great furniture layout.
Posted by: NeoGrec at February 23, 2007 12:31 PM
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