What would you do here

spalko

So our living room is really long and open to the kitchen. So far we have divided the room with the couch but the other half is empty. I need ideas for what we should do with the other half. Please do not mind my messy, going-through-remodel-house

The half we are looking to decorate is in front of the fireplace. And one of our furbabies, Chloe Bear

The view from the kitchen.

Also, what color would you consider painting the fireplace? It needs to be brightened up a bit. We are also getting rid of the ugly T 1-11 paneling and putting drywall up.

mrs.jacinthe

I'm not normally a brick-painter, but I think you're justified here.  There aren't a lot of colors available in heat-safe paint.  I'd probably go with white if you're going to use the fireplace.  If you're not going to use it, the color I'd recommend would depend on what color you're painting the wall.

spalko

I'm undecided if I want to accent that wall or the adjoining wall with the french doors. Either way the color scheme is tans and browns with green accents.

Mrs.G123

Do you have a dining room? I would do barstools at the counted and a seating area with chairs by the fireplace, which I would paint white.

BethaBoo

I would do what Mrs. G suggested and create an extra seating area. Like maybe one half of the room centers on the TV and the other half centers on the fireplace for conversation.

jenuine

I would not paint the fireplace until you put up the drywall and paint the drywall a light color.But then again, I am not a big fan of painted brick. 

I see the area in front of the fireplace as a cozy reading nook. I would put two chairs facing the fireplace with enough room behind them to have a walkway from the french doors to the kitchen. I'd put a small end table between the chairs. I think a bookshelf, potentially built in (like the Ikea Billy that everyone seems to be doing these days), would look great on the wall to the left of the french doors. I'd also put an area rug over the wall to wall to add some color and define the seating area.

brianabrad

jenuine:

I would not paint the fireplace until you put up the drywall and paint the drywall a light color.But then again, I am not a big fan of painted brick. 

I see the area in front of the fireplace as a cozy reading nook. I would put two chairs facing the fireplace with enough room behind them to have a walkway from the french doors to the kitchen. I'd put a small end table between the chairs. I think a bookshelf, potentially built in (like the Ikea Billy that everyone seems to be doing these days), would look great on the wall to the left of the french doors. I'd also put an area rug over the wall to wall to add some color and define the seating area.

This is exactly what I was thinking. I would wait to paint the fireplace until you have done your drywall and painted the room. The fireplace color might not bother you as much once the paneling is gone. 

I can personally see the area being used as a dinning room, assuming you don't already have one in the house. Built-ins around the fireplace are a great idea for added storage as well.