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Cottage Style Family Room

September 24, 2013

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Family Room Cottage Style

My lovely little home was built during the 1920's in a summer beach neighborhood.  Most of the surrounding homes were used purely as summer vacation residences and while our home was the first year round home built in the area, when we moved in, it was still very small and in need of major renovation to accommodate a modern family.

Our current family room was actually the original dining room of the home, but we decided that we would never entertain that way and would rather have a den or family room space and so the remodel began! Of course, it did not come without challenges.

In our old home, we had an open kitchen/ living room set up, the very popular great room style.  I totally understand the appeal, but we decided that it was not a great room for us.  In the old house, when my husband and I were in the kitchen, we were constantly trying to talk over what the kids were watching in the family room and vice versa.

I love my kids to pieces, but there are times when a little separation of space is desirable ~  endless episodes of bad TV come immediately to mind.  We did not, however, want to completely wall the room off either. I wanted to be able to keep my eyes on the kids and have the option to interact and listen along. So to solve challenge number one, we opted for French glass pocket doors to separate the space.

Glass Paneled Pocket Door

It was the perfect solution. They are space savers, add privacy and quiet when necessary and beyond that, they are quite charming and really add to the architecture of both rooms.  The photo above is from one end of the kitchen looking into the family room.

The picture below shows both doorways from the family room leading into each end of the kitchen. I love how the bars on the doors mirror the bars on the kitchen cabinets and on the windows. The half wall frames the tv area and opens up the tiny room, while allowing access to the basement stairway...and shows off my beautiful flower market sign.

Country Style Family Room

Which leads me to challenge number two...how to satisfy my need for frill and feminine without completely emasculating my husband! 

I think we did a great job compromising. 

I did get a very large floral couch, but we added some fabulous accessories to balance the room; pictures of wildlife and fly fishing lures in straight wooden frames add weight to the walls and compliment the flowers by contrast.  I have to say that this room was the most fun to shop for, as my husband was so involved. 

I have said before that the best decorating comes from filling a space with things you love. When I look at this room, I see the remnants of beautiful days spent together with my husband and kids. What could be better than that?

Floral Cottage Style Sofa

Some of our other treasures ~ a sturdy lamp with a leather shade and a gorgeous decoy that was given to us as a wedding present.  The pretty table was a curbside treasure from the early marriage days. It is still one of my favorite pieces in the house. 


Challenge number three was the most difficult to address ~ the size of the room.  As I said before, the house is not big and this room in particular is really very tiny.  One couch was not going to fit everyone for family movie time and while we do have a (less than) formal living room and a finished basement, for some reason, everyone ends up in this room.  

I did not want to discourage that behavior since this mom loves togetherness.  I needed as much seating as possible.  

Thankfully hubby is ridiculously handy and added this awesome window seat.  It is huge and able to accommodate several people when sitting and it's long enough for an adult (or two) to lay down and really stretch out.  It's an awesome napping space, especially in the winter when the heat is on! I covered a Target body bolster in a bold pattern to add some more contrast to that floral couch.

Window Seat With Bolster Pillow

I think that one of my favorite accessories in this room is the little chair.  Its original purpose was to provide extra seating.  There used to be two of them, presents from grandma, and the kids would sit at the table, eat snack, do homework, play games, do crafts, watch tv for hours at a time.  

No one actually fits (well) into the chair anymore, but I just can't seem to part with it and it's so cute in the room next to my reclaimed wood end table that I use as a coffee table.  The scale is just so much better for this size room.

Kids Play Table And Chair DIY

In the end, I think that the room came together really well.  

All of the challenges were met and successfully addressed. Of course, there are still a few trim pieces that need to be painted from a recent window replacement and I am sure that I will be changing curtains or pillow fabric in the near future, but overall we love the room and spend tons of time in it!  Which is funny, because it is definitely the smallest room in our home, but that is okay, as it's usually jammed packed with the people I love and I don't mind being close to them at all!



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  1. So cute! It just looks so homey! I like the feel of home and not a cold look!

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    1. Thanks so much, Betty, I like a warm, homey space, as well! Comfy is key! :)

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  2. Kim, love it. It is so warm, cozy and inviting.

    Tracy

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  3. I'm already thinking of snoozing on that cozy window seat! Love it, so warm and beautiful!

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    1. Vel, you are always so sweet! It is a really good place to nap~ not that I have a lot of opportunities to do it! ;)

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  4. It looks beautiful - and LOVE that window seat!!!
    What a charming home !
    XOXO

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    1. Thanks so much Suzan! Coming from you, I will take that as a HUGE compliment! :)

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  5. I think it looks wonderfully cozy and inviting, Kim! Very smart to have added the sliding French doors and that wonderful window seat!

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    1. Thanks Carol! I've had to get really good at using every inch of space in this tiny home...French doors and window seats are super helpful space savers! Thank goodness they are cute, too! :)

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  6. Kim, your cottage style family room is both pretty and practical! I think that maybe, you and I have the ONLY floral sofas in blog land! That's okay, wouldn't trade them in the world!
    When we built our home, I purposely wanted a great room, for all the reasons we know, and I got it, but did not think about the noise/echo factor! Thus, hearing my husband in the kitchen, stirring his coffee every morning at exactly 5:30 AM, from our bedroom UPSTAIRS, sounds like church bells ringing in my ears! Needless to say, I have been after him to install folding French doors, as my preference, pocketed, is no longer an option, structurally. You are a smart cookie for all your well-thought out design strategies!

    Poppy

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    1. Poppy, you made me laugh and you are so right, it is a white, slipcovered world out there! I just love color, contrast and flowers, so I'm sticking! I do love my doors and I highly recommend them, but we did not put one between our kitchen and the hallway and now that the wall is closed up, a pocket door is no longer an option for us either. That leaves me listening to those same "church bells" as my husband gets ready, as well! Maybe in the next house! ;)

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  7. Your home is so lovely. I had to pin it- there are several decorating ideas I would love to use. Will you come to my home and decorate it for me? LOL I’m bopping over from the VMC DIY Sunday Showcase. So glad you shared your link! I’d love to have you visit me sometime at http://www.kneadedcreations.com. Happy crafting! Deb @ Kneaded Creations

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    1. Deborah, I am so very flattered! :) I am sure that your home is lovely! Going to pop on over to check you out right now!

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  8. Love the pocket doors...we renovated my sons bedroom to make it accessible for him and used pocket doors..now I want them every where in the house..One beautiful room...I love it!

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    1. I agree, pocket doors are fabulous...should've added them in another place or two before we closed up the walls around here! Ah...maybe next renovation! ;)

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  9. Hmmm...maybe I should make our bow window into a seat...yours is wonderful! For now though it's featuring our fall wheel barrow display!

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    1. It was nice to have a place to display my Christmas village, but the window seat just made the room so much for functional, JP. I do miss the display space sometimes though! Your display looks lovely! I just adore that rooster charger!

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  10. What a warm and lovely living room.... Love the red...and the window seat is my all time favorite, it looks big enough to nap in!

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    1. It is big enough to nap in, Christina...not that I ever seem to be the one napping! ;)

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  11. It looks very cozy and I'm not surprised that everyone wants to gather in this room!

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    1. Thanks Roshni. Cozy seems to be the definitive word...and I'll take it! :)

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  12. I have always wanted a window seat! Looks very inviting!

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    1. Thanks Shelly! It makes a really big difference in the room~ we can actually all sit down!

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  13. Love that windowseat and this is such a lovely and inviting room. Fabulous. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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    1. The window seat is a big hit for sure, Marty! Thanks so much for popping by to check it out! :)

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  14. It looks very cozy and reminds me of Cape Cod in the fall! I love that window seat!

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    1. It is a very cozy room, Elena, thanks! :)

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  15. You have a lovely home. I love the pocket door and the window seat...great additions. It sounds like the TV room is the perfect size for you and your family. Thanks for sharing, D@TheShadyPorch

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    1. It's small, but you're right D, it gets the job done! :) Thanks so much for your kind words and for stopping by.

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  16. What an adorable home filled with charm. Love the little beach houses!
    Sherry

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    1. There is definitely something special about a house by the sea! :)

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  17. Such a lovely room! I LOVE your pocket door! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays. x

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    1. Thanks Danielle! The pocket doors save a lot of space and in these tiny beach cottages, every inch counts.

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  18. Take it from this many times over grand/greatgrandmother....you will LOVE having that chair and table in your family room. It will become (as it has in our home) the favored place for puzzles, games and coloring, and when turned to face the nearest easy chair, you will find a cute face propped on a pudgy sweet hand...listening as you read a favored book!!! We have a slightly longer table with a sweet antique chair at each end...so I get two "residents" at the table..................priceless!!

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    1. It sounds priceless...nothing is better than a little one! You have just made me miss the past, when my kids were tiny, and look forward to the future, when their kids will be tiny, all in one sentence! You truly have a gift! How come you don't have a blog?

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