The Living Room

So after I remove the wall and build a new kitchen (I'll probably get a full IKEA installation and not do it myself so it's a quick process rather than a slow and potentially frustrating one) the idea is to have the whole first floor as a big open space.

 

This is the view from the steps from the hall. I’m definitely building radiator covers for all the radiators. I may be able to measure and build them before we move and bring the finished product with me.

 

 

Love the parquet flooring and it’s what I intend to lay in the area kitchen too. You can see the kitchen wall and door to the right and that’s the one’s that’s going to create the open plan living area.

 

My much debated bedroom nook is there at the front of the house next to the stair case. I’m thinking bed to the right and closets to the left. One part of me wants to find a cool vintage free standing closet but the practical clutter hater in me is thinking glossy Pax closets from IKEA which match the Abstrakt kitchen cabinet doors and hide a multitude of sins.

 

 

This is the view from my bedroom nook. This is where I still have the option to put a wall up or do double doors down the line if I feel it’s necessary but I’m going to start out with heavy (white velvet?) drapes along the whole inside of this wall which will cover the little window thingy there to the left too when closed. I think it’ll be cool. Please don’t comment any more on the need for me to have my own room, I LIKE this idea. If I didn’t I’d have carved out a spot for my bed elsewhere, there is enough room in the house.

 

Here’s the layout idea:

1. Sofa, coffee table and arm chair. Possibly all new (or second hand if we find something good) since we may use what we have upstairs.
2. We hope to put the TV on this wall so it can swivel out towards the dining area too.
3. Bed and bedside tables. Possibly a smaller bed depending on the actual measurements. The squiggly bit are the drapes…
4. Closets.

So that was the open plan living room. Tomorrow I’ll show you the itty bitty WC. Stay tuned!

Comments

[Helen]

This looks amazing Benita, and I think the bedroom nook will work a treat! I highly recommend the Pax wardrobes, we got them in our old place and I miss them so much. They held an amazing amount of stuff in a fantastically organised way. I would say if you get the Pax drawers, definitely pay for the wooden ones- we returned the wire ones within a week, they felt cheap and nasty. Wood drawers are great. I meant to comment yesterday on the kitchen. Our IKEA kitchen was installed and we loved it. Favorite things, the big drawers (although the drawer dividers were pretty annoying). Whenever we walk through IKEA we stop in the kitchen you like and imagine we live there... good luck on the move!

[Kaisa]

Exciting plans. We are renovating our whole house at the moment (moved temporarily from 180m2 to a studio flat of 30m2...I'm really getting good at organising...) and thinking of getting an Ikea kitchen as well. I've heard they work really well.

I'm really looking forward to your radiator cover building. Hope there will be a post on that somepoint as that's what I want to do in our house...though I guess that at the end it'll be a carpenter who'll build them. :)

Happy renovations!

[Hxx]

I can definitely see what you saw in this place, it is so bright and the flooring is fantastic. That glimpse of the stairs up to Willie's domain looks great - are the stairs up open-tread? - the wooden poles on the right look awesome!

I love your 'nook'!

[Älvan]

This looks really great! And i'm with you on the bedroom thing - after all, it's just where you sleep and with Wille upstairs you'll get enough privacy anyway. It's so exciting to read about all your plans!

[Bungalowonbank.blogspot.com]

Hi Benita! I love your space and especially the bedroom "nook". I think that removing the wall will open it up beautifully. The Pax wardrobes are the way to go in my opinion. Did you consider installing a sliding door with frosted glass in your nook? It would let the light in and afford privacy. I can't wait to see it all come together in your new home. BTW did you think of a name yet?

[Nolwenn]

Looks really nice, sunny and inviting! I like your bedroom too, very cosy (especially with the velvet drapes). And a bedroom doesn't really need to be bigger, usually you only sleep there ;)

[Jo]

I'm much less concerned about your bedroom nook idea now that I've actually seen the space. I confess I thought you were making a huge sacrifice.. but now that I see it, it isn't as bad as I feared.
I don't mind the curtain idea, although I would plump for an ultra-suede rather than a velvet [easier to care for.. they'll wash beautifully].

But as a more permenant solution what about sliding screen doors..

Something like this...
http://www.closetsideas.com/2011/02/01/closet-sliding-doors-2/

or this company's photos show that there are some fantastic options out there..
http://www.hominde.com/timber-sliding-door-plan-dwg

These would give you with the privacy you want, but wouldn't block out the light, both on your side and in the living room.
Plus the industrial look of the rollers could be really cool on the living room side.

Looks like it's all coming together though.. exciting :o)
Jo xx

[Carlos]

They are closed half way to the bathroom and ope the last bit.

[Carlos]

I haven't considered sliding doors, but now I do in case I need to close myself in more :).

I'm keeping Chez Larsson but may still add a little something to the header.

[Jo]

Ooh.. and I meant to say. With that kitchen opened up.. which will look fabulous btw.. what about a lovely big island, something REALLY simple.. with an overhang you could eat at sometimes.
There are some nice examples here..
http://homeklondike.com/2010/10/12/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-get-the-look/
Plus it would give you extra storage on the kitchen side.
xx

[Pauline]

It all looks very lovely and "larssoney" already .. must be all that white everywhere.

What an exciting time for you, you must have sleepless nights wondering about all the possibilities, seems that you'll be a very regular Ikea customers very soon :)

It looks much bigger than I imagined or is that just because of the lack of furniture and low level photography.

[Carlos]

I condiderered that but I think it will look odd with the dining table right next to it.

[Carlos]

It does look big and I was afraid that it would look tiny when we viewed the house but actually it was kind of in between. It's not AS big as it looks here but it's a fairly good size, about the same as our current living room/dining area actually.

[Petra from NL]

What a lovely space to work with! I am sure it will all come together beautifully. I like the PAX as well. Another idea might be the Stolmen with a 2nd drape in front.

How come you are opting for velvet? Is it to block out the light when you are asleep? During daytime, sitting in the livingroom, I feel a sheer curtain would look very nice too. You wouldn't have to close it all the way, just a bit to shield the bedside tables but you would still get light from the bedroom window.

[Carlos]

I don't know, I just saw the nook and instantly thought "white velvet!". It may not happen but it's my starting point.

[Marije from Holland]

Love all your ideas about the house! I love the Pax system, we have some of them and they are easy and work really well with the inside drawers and all. Your blog is a source of inspiration for me. At the moment I am convincing my husband to go for white curtains, but it is hard....I guess I should show him your blog and other scandinavian ones. It is all so bright and airy. Love it!

[April]

If you're a decent sleeper this set up will be grand. But if you're a light sleeper, you might want to have your bed on the other wall... teenagers get the midnight munchies, and Willie's friends may not be very quiet coming down the stairs. ;)

Just a thought. :)

[Robyn]

I'm loving that space and it looks enormous! You mentioned buying a new sofa, but didn't you just get the sofa not so long ago from Ikea?

[Nini Tjäder]

Looks really bright and nice.
White velvet will look stunning. Sliding doors for the bedroom are also good. Saves space and you can close if you want/need to. That's what I have, but I rarely ever close them.
PAX closets is a good choice. I've got three 50 cm wide ones in my bedroom. Oak frames, two glossy white doors and one mirrorglassed. At the time when I bought them they didn't have sliding doors for the 150 cm width, only for 200 cm. Today they have and that's what I'd chosen today. Am not exchanging the ones I have though - I like my doors even though it would have been better with sliding ones in the bedroom I have now (and didn't have when I bought them).

[Peta]

Soooo much potential! And knocking down the kitchen wall will make it even better!
The floor looks great too. What is the ceiling made of?
As far as your nook is concerned, I'd go for the Pax option. Lots of storage and a nice clean look.
You probably already mentioned it a previous post, but I'll ask again... when exactly do you move in / start work etc on it?
:-)

[Nini Tjäder]

By the way. Will you paint the staircase white?

[Carlos]

I did but we're thinking of using it and the armchair upstairs where there will be a TV also for Wille and his gang :). I'm seeing us two watching TV a lot upstairs too and then I can get a sleeker (less comfortable...) sofa which looks nice downstairs.

[Carlos]

The ceiling is some type of rectangular boards. Not what I'd choose myself but it's original as far as I know so it's staying.

We're getting access to the house April 29 and hope to get some work done before moving in mid May.

[Carlos]

I don't think so, at least not right away. It's quite nice as it is and I love that there's parquet flooring on that half level upstairs.

[Pauline]

An idea to consider separating this are from the kitchen is to knock down just the top half of the wall and create what we call here in France a « Cuisine Americain »

The advantage being that you have extra work space (and storage underneath) and the 2 area are distinctly separated. (Think about vegging out on the sofa after eating, you’ll have a full view of the dirty dishes if there isn’t some sort of barrier )

This gives you this sort of thing, not chez more or your style but you'll know whati mean

http://www.linternaute.com/temoignage/image_temoignage/400/cuisine-americaine-ferme-renovee-avez-installe-fait-installer-cuisine-equipee_148889.jpg

http://www.casanaute.com/components/com_datsogallery/img_originals/E3EF2081550D-6.jpg

[Carlos]

I habe considered this and I'm going to start by taking down the upper bit to see what it feels like but I'm kind of thinking it will not look good with the dining table that far out in the room.

[Anna]

Love the white velvet-drapes idea! We had it covering a wall with stuff behind it(I think it was teh stereo equipment) in an architectoffice I worked in, a big heavy white velvet thing and the walls were all white. It looked awsome but still not too much. It's definatly an idea I would reuse!

[Siri]

It looks great! LOVE the flooring! And the bedroom nook - I thought that was just a bed in the corner of the room. This is almost a room in itself. Did you see the IKEA hacker flips?
Where they used PAX doors to divide the nook from the living room? You could do something like that??

http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/10/turn-your-studio-apartment-into-1.html

I`m SO excited about your project! I wish I could have a project like that!

[Juliette R.]

I was also thinking sliding doors would be cool for the bedroom nook, but white velvet is certainly sounding awesome in it's own right!

We have the PAX wardrobe system and love it. I can't imagine ever having a home without PAX (or something just like it). Our wooden drawer bins have been wonderful -smooth and sturdy despite having been dismantled and moved once.

Yep, can't wait to see what you do! =)

[maj]

Hi Banita, I will look what the feng shui says for your bedroom. In my opinion it will be better to make there a reading area with an armchair and suitable light.

[Annika]

The light is great! And the wood floor is beautiful too.
Seeing the nook for your bedroom really makes all the difference compared to the floor plan. The only inconvenience I see is the lack of a full bath in that area.

Thank you so much for sharing all this!
Your blog has been a constant inspiration for me.

[Annika]

"... in that area" was supposed to mean that floor.

[montse]

I thinks it all looks very good! And I really like the idea you have for your bedroom. It would work great for me because I spend so little time in there and 99% of it I'm sleeping....

[Carlos]

I'm afraid I don't believe in Feng Shui...

[Leslie]

Hi Benita!
How exciting! The space is gorgeous.
How about making these felt doors - they seem very "Benita" to me - DIY, functional, clean, and white!!!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/how-to/how-to-build-felt-sliding-doors-016848

Can't wait to see what you come up with - I'm sure that it will be fabulous like everything else that you touch.

[jja]

"building radiator covers for all the radiators"

Dou you get much less heat with this solution?

I imagined your nook like something what is less then 2 meter long and 1.5 wide just for bed. This is half room ;-)
I would not use velvet, although I would love too. Velvet loves cats hair.
Suede curtains just let it fall down on the floor. Great place with lot of light :-)

[Monica]

I just had myself a good chuckle, "Please don’t comment any more on the need for me to have my own room...". I guess some people have had some strong opinions on the matter. Anyway. The living room space looks amazing. Such great light. Love the wood floor and I don't believe that I have ever seen that pattern before. Super excited for you.

[Sarah]

Det är så himla kul att följa dina planer! Jag tycker du gör helt rätt i att följa ditt eget hjärta. Folk tycker så himla mycket. Vårt sovrum är till exempel en gammal kallvind med snedtak. Vi tycker det är hur mysigt som helst. Det kändes betydligt viktigare att småkillarna fick riktiga rum med mycket plats för lek. Hoppas allt är bra annars!

Kram Sarah

[Carlos]

You don't really. We have readiator covers everywhere in the house and the idea is to "cover" the radiator by screening it not to cover and block it. I'll probably build a frame with a window sill and add some tipe of mesh at the front.

Good point about the velvet. I can actually see Mini swinging from it :). Will look into ultrasuede and if it comes in pure white.

[Carlos]

Men herregud, inte kan ni väl bo i en gammal kallvind. Där kan ni väl stuva undan era barn :).

[Zosia]

I'll be buying a PAX wardrobe soon as well. So I concur. :-)
Now, when I saw your sleeping nook, I like it. Looks big enough, yet cosy. Looking forward to seeing the finished space.

[nicolezh]

Love this livingroom, seems to to floated with sun und lots of light! I like the idea of the sleeping nook, I would try maybe some thick white felt instead of velvet. Maxwell from Apartment Therapy did something like this in his uber small pad some years ago, it is also featured in his first book: http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/031407maxwellhousetour/item/56341

[squirrel]

What a lovely big sunny space.

[enannanhelena]

Hi! I haven't updated myself in a while, so I have a lot of catching up to do, but I want to congratulate! The house looks like it's going to be perfect for you, suitable for your clean and neat style. Lots of LIGHT! By the way; I would also like to have cabinets that are able to "hide a multitude of sins". Love those words! :)
/helena

[norma]

Lovely light and great ideas!!! I love the bedroom nook idea. With the curtains closed, how quiet and cozy it will be. Just what a bedroom should be. I like the idea of the island/bar that some are talking about but I see your concern with a round table. If your dining table was square or rectangular, you could just put it flush when its just you two and pull it out when you have guests. Whatever you do, it will be great!!!

[Melissa Lewis - Midwest Magnolia]

It does look bright and inviting. The floors are fabulous! I wish I could implement a bedroom nook, how wonderful and luxurious that would be. How great that you have the space to do that! Can't wait to see it all take place.

[Danielle]

The space looks great! I love the idea of a little bedroom nook - very cozy. And I second the idea of the heavy white felt 'door', as seen on Apartment Therapy. Can't wait to see the end results!

[terribush@hotmail.com]

It looks so open and airy! Personally I think large master bedrooms are over rated. I really don't spend that much time in ours and would love to have had an option for a small bedroom! I love the idea of the bedroom nook. Perfect.

[Kari]

Beautiful space--and the nook is much different than I expected. I think the idea of it as your room with drapes (and that can always be modified later) is a great idea. I have always loved small cozy bedrooms. Ours now is a ridiculous 19X12 and although I have gotten used to it, we certainly don't need that much space in there.

[Erin Frost]

We have a loft and turned the exact same space in our home into a bedroom for my little guy, with a play space directly outside so we can see him and all be together. We love it, it has been great. We have not discovered any downsides to the layout. We stacked two expedit book cases on top of each other and backed it with a wood panel and open wardrobe to create a wall (9' tall) and a doorway. Eventually we will put a sliding barn door up but for now it is open. We love the storage and the double use of the wall, maybe fitting in a desk area in that space will be a good use of that area for you. I am certain you have ideas! Can send pics from our place if you want some inspiration, congrats and we wish you the best of luck. We find most of the bedrooms we see at our friends houses to be excessive, under used spaces. Frankly, people are a bit rigid in their ideas about a home. We get a variety of reactions to our loft.

[Kari]

Oh, and regarding white velvet--since both of your cats are dark, it may be tough to keep clean. Velvet tends to really hold onto cat hair. We have three black cats (and one brown tabby) and try to avoid "sticky" fabrics like velvet for that reason.

Just a thought.

[Lisa Flaherty]

As always, so inspiring! What fun to work with a blank canvas and create your new home. While I'm not wanting to move, I feel compelled to empty everything out of my livingroom and diningroom and start over with paint, drapes, rearranging!! Enjoy!

[Nancy]

As long as the table isn't crammed right up against the island, it would be fine. The key is having the correct proportions and enough room around everything. I guess it doesn't seem too weird to many of us as it is fairly common in North America.

[Nancy]

Perhaps you could change it out to white linen for the summer.

[Jennifer S.]

I like the light in this space. I also like the natural-finished wood steps. Are you planning on painting them?

[Celia]

What a great space! I hope you don't mind a contrary opinion/question.(Not about the bedroom) Now that you've shown us how airy the space is already, and given us a glimpse of the kitchen wall with the shelves and cool sliding cabinet from the living room side, I'm wondering if it would work for you to keep that wall up. Open kitchens are great if you spend a lot of time cooking or need to keep an eye on young kids while you work. But since that doesn't apply, do you think you might actually like having kitchen stuff hidden behind a wall?

[Celia]

PS: I'd also say go for the cool vintage closet if that's what you love. Pax is great but YOU could make any cabinet work.

[Carlos]

The kitchen is really tiny when you're in it and I'd rather have an open space than a closed in one. It's actually a bit claustrophobic in there...

[Carlos]

I'm not. The landing also has parquet floor so I'd like to keep that intact.

[vsm]

I like the idea of the lower part too, but I'm american - I guess this is really an american thing - we need as much storage as we can get :-) But then again, your table will make a nice division between the spaces too, and feel more open. A rectangular table would do the trick nicely, I think. (but I do love your white round table!)

Love the house. Can't wait to have one of our own! Sort of a pipe dream though.... NYC living!

[Blake @ Salt, Teak & Fog]

Love, love the white velvet curtain idea. Stunning floors! Lucky you.

[Jillian]

I decided with my bedroom nook to use drapes instead of any kind of hard surface. For me it was too hard sounding and echo-y with a solid surface, even with bed linens and window drapes. My wall-dividing drapes are washable type ultrasuede (matches windows) and I love them. I also lined mine with light-darkening fabric liners for even more sound and light control. Don't know if you have them in Sweden, but this is what they are like:
http://www.bedbathstore.com/haunblcudrli.html?id=45x5haunblcu

[Brandi]

I too am a single mom, to a 14 yr. old boy :)
I find your dedication and strength as a single mom inspiring, and I too would settle for a smaller space to be sure my son has the space, and privacy he needs to stick around as long as he wants ;) and have his pals over. You're a great example for Willie. Congrats on the new house, it's beautiful!

[devil]

I love the floors in your new place too, Benita. Clean yet warm. You could decorate any way you want with them - they go with everything.

That nook will work wonderfully as a bedroom. I like the heavy curtain idea because it seems more cozy than doors and will absorb sound better. The only way to make it better would be to have a full bath next to it.

[Golla]

You said about the white drapes: "I can actually see Mini swinging from it"; ha ha ha, so can I, Benita, so can I! As a cat lover, I'm speaking from personal experience here :-). Kidding aside, I am so excited for you! Can't wait to see what you decide on. You a

[Golla]

oops, published a bit too fast there. What I was going to add, is that you are so good at presenting you ideas and you know what you like. It is very inspiring to read your blog!

[Nichole@40daysof]

Benita,
I am loving your new house plans. And I'm sorry people are butting in about your bedroom. :)

[Mig]

Hi Benita,

This house is so much "you"! This new house looks like the big sister of the other one. It will be a blast to see you doing your magic on it!

This is so much fun because I'm also in the process of selling my house to buy another one. So I'm double thrilled with your moving because I'm also envisioning mine.

I wish it were as quick as yours but here in Portugal the market is so slow I will be happy if I can sell in a year or so.

All the best to you!

[Ali]

I love your new home! I love those big windows and all the natural light! I love the wood floors! They are beautiful! I can totally see why you chose this home! I'm loving these sneak peeks your are giving us for your house plans when you move in! So fun to read about! You are so talented! I love all your plans!

~ Ali

[ann]

i didn't read the other comments to see if anyone had mentioned the white velvet curtains, but i have to put in my 2 cents...with 2 cats, are you not worried about cat hair? i had a cat the loved to sleep in the sun between our curtains and the window and in no time at all, it was covered in dark hair. i had to vacuum over and over again. i would think that maybe a more neutral colored curtain made of something washable would be easier to maintain.

anyway, just had to comment. won't worry if you don't like the idea.

[Messy]

Ha, the bedroom nook is much nicer and more closed off than I thought (not that you should care, it's your house and your life, like you already hinted). Can totally imagine something like this http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/small-cool-2010/small-cool-2010-natalies-alcove-studio-teeny-tiny-division-2-113343. There are many more on AT.
Just the Google search alone made me drool: http://www.google.nl/images?hl=nl&rlz=&=&q=alcove+bed+site:apartmenttherapy.com&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=615
But I'm sure you have a plan already.

[Rebecca @ beautiful square feet]

This is all really exciting! I think it's cool that you're sticking to your plan of having your bed where you want it - it's your new space, use it exactly how you want! Looking forward to seeing the rest of the house!

[Nicola]

I think the bed nook is a lovely idea: really cozy too, it reminds me of the built-in-beds in traditional Swedish houses (and some of those are in the kitchen!!) Have you thought about shoji panels across the opening? They are sliding fabric panels on a light timber frame. Would give you the option of changing the fabric with the seasons too. Love seeing your plans: thank you for sharing! x

[jeannette]

i like the nook space. somehow i was imagining it in the entry to the left of the stairs, which i did think was a little abstemious. but your living room space is so light and gorgeous and high up. i'm so excited for you. and, do go for the installed kitchen, there's plenty of $$$ to be saved elsewhere and kitchens are a true pain in the *** to install yourself. nice to have it all lovely fast, and that handleless white kitchen you posted the other day just looks gorgeous. still dreaming about the integral corian sinks, i hope you can get them.

[Helena]

Hi, Benita!
I´m so excited to read that you have just found your new home. It seems very airy and with lots of light and a beautiful wood floor. To me, your ideas are gorgeous but in what concerns your bedroom, I would go for two sliding doors for more privacy, although the idea of the white "felt door" is good, at least by now.
Wish you the best and a good moove and I´m already looking forward to see your photos :) on your always simple but very beautiful decos.

[r8chel]

I'm happy to see that your new home gets so much light!

Also, I'm glad to hear you defend your choice about the bedroom nook. I haven't been reading the comments on other posts, but I'm amazed at how many commenters on blogs think they know better than the blogger!

[ecanderson21@comcast.net]

Kari, I couldn't agree with more! I don't understand American's obsession with huge bedrooms and bathrooms. My sister-in-law has a bedroom the size of my entire first floor. I love tiny sleeping nooks. I would much rather use floorspace for living. Benita have you considered having a sort of daybed in that area so it just looks like an extension of the living room?

[Sandye]

I like the idea of a heavier white curtain in the winter months and a lighter, more sheer one in the summer. Just an idea.

[Lindsey]

I love that staircase. The white walls really make the light finish on the wood look gorgeous.

I agree with removing the kitchen wall. It's a shame to lose the storage, but opening up the space will be both aesthetically pleasing and give you some much needed space to move around. You can always store less frequently used stuff in the basement (that's what I do).

I second what was said about velvet and cat hair, they do not mix.

I like the idea of frosted glass doors for the bedroom area, Pax doors would be OK, but I like the rippled effect of frosted corrugated plastic, which sounds completely crazy, but I know I've seen it used in interior design, somewhere ...

[Robyn :)]

Looks like a cool place for a bedroom to me!!

[Rhonda]

I love the house. It has a lot of room, but then, I live in Tokyo where space is a premium. I like the bedroom area. In Japan, it is common to find beds with drawers underneath. Since this is a small, bedroom area, that would increase your storage, without taking up additional floor space. Sliding inside doors are common here also, and I like that idea for your bedroom area, as it would allow light but provide privacy. Kitchens also use each centimeter of space. It might be interesting to research Japanese homes on the internet for space saving ideas.
Best Wishes to you and Wille

[Janet]

I believe in "feng Chez" ;) Following this process is so fun!

[katie]

i laughed out loud when i read "hides a multitude of sins" in reference to a closet or cabinet doors. HA! WHAT multitude of sins do YOU possess, benita? your house is so organized I could even move in it and find everything! i love how sunny and bright everything is! and the flooring will be mighty familiar, eh? how exciting!!! =)

[Carlos]

I have but don't like the idea of having to "build a bed" every night. I'll probably just use a nice simple bedspread to cover it but we'll see once I get there.

[Isabella Golightly]

You could always convert your round dining table into one with two leafs (leaves?) - that way you could open out one leaf when it's just you two, leave it butted up against the kitchen wall when it's closed & open it right out when you've got lots of guests...

I love the nook idea, especially with those very clever glass sliding doors, but I think suede or felt would be warmer...

[Jurgita]

Yes, the house looks much better from inside. With more potention, as you said. I like the floor very much. I know you will turn it in to cozy and great looking home. Good luck! Good choice!

[Sarah]

Hahaha! Där sa du allt ett sanningens ord! Ska genast återställa ordningen.

[jja]

Thanks for heating answer! I always wanted those covers, but was not sure if I will be cold with it.

Fot kitchen, maybe something like this, as a solution to connect kitchen and living room?

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s17/dingac72/3c9e41f5.jpg
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7898/kp1tq5.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6609/bh01031107940x626.jpg
http://www.kitchencabinet.org.cn/contemporary-modern-kitchen.jpg
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/4618/collectorsloftbypoteeta.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2912/25387ww200908034jpg.png
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8858/mel2h.jpg
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/3760/mel5.jpg
http://www.spaced.com.au/spaced/images/photos/spaced_104313194bl1194396581.jpg
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1876/amieweitzmaninteriordes.jpg

[Martha]

I'm sure it's been said already... I love the staircase!

[YSC]

How about white felt curtains? I saw some on a website -- they are supposed to be more noise absorbing. But I don't know whether they would attract pet hair more! I also love the idea of sliding doors. Or how about shoji doors? You can do a modern take on them so they don't look so traditional.

[Andrea]

Hi Benita! I too love the idea of a cozy sleeping nook. This comment and your reply reminded me of this: http://www.ikeahackers.net/2010/10/turn-your-studio-apartment-into-1.html. Maybe you're seen it already, but I think it looks really great!

Also, we just got an Ikea kitchen over the summer and we love it! Bright white flat panel cabinets. Good luck with all your new projects!

[Andrea]

Sorry, don't know why that link won't work. Maybe this one?

www.ikeahackers.net/2010/10/turn-your-studio-apartment-into-1.html

[misa]

i love it--i absolutely love it! it's so bright and clean and lovely. i'm so excited to see what you do with it.

[Jane]

Hi Benita, the house looks lovely and a perfect fit for your family. I love the bedroom nook and I am sorry that you have obviously had so much opposition to it. I think that many people in developed countries have very large houses and I really do not think that we need so much space. Here in Sydney people are building larger and larger houses and leaving tiny yards and in this climate it really should be the other way around. Enjoy all your planning! :)

[Natalie]

WOW those floors are gorgeous, and I can't get over all of that natural light coming in from the windows! Can't wait to see it filled with your beautiful furniture and accessories! :)

[Nicole]

Your bedroom size is fine; a huge master bedroom is a waste of space as it is one of the most under-used rooms in a house. My parents' home had a "double parlor". Their bedroom was in one of the parlo rooms and visible from the entire downstairs. The room always looked nice and the bed was neatly made. As we children grew older, the parlor returned to its original function and my parents moved to an upstairs bedroom. But with small children (there was a tiny room suitable for an infant near the double parlor) it was a perfect solution and there was never a curtain there. In your situation, I would hang a curtain but it would be of a lightweight fabric, or, if a heavier fabric, it would be several panels so the curtain could be easily washed - no worries about drying as it could be hung back up while still damp. Perhaps a nice linen which grows softer with each wash?

[Nicole]

I should explain I recently found this blog and decided to read it from the first post. That is why my comment is long after you have made your decision. I'll have to read faster and get to 2012 so I can see all the changes in the new house!