Hired an Interior Designer

[Keepitsimple]

Alright here is my opinion. You have way too much furniture. The furniture is overall very heavy and dark. Make the kitchen bigger. Get wooden floors. I like your white walls.

Overall, try to make your furniture fit. You have very random stuff. Like the color of the marble in the kitchen. The kitchen chairs do not match with the sofa at the television set. Why do you have a CRT tv? It doesnt fit.

edit. I think this will be great though. Your house really has potential with all that height.

[Clarkmeister]

Quick thoughts:

Paint we are going to test first. Interestingly, I ran it by a designer I know who has done extensive work in casinos also and he thought it could work pretty well. I was hoping he'd hate it so I could just pass.

The big honking TV is only the size it is because I couldn't get a bigger one. 70 inches of love and it ain't going anywhere. If I could afford a 70 inch LCD, I would. I can't. Sony LCOS FTW.

He's removed several pieces of furniture and all sorts of floor chatchkies. It should open up nicely.

Keep comments coming. This is very helpful.

Part of the paint cost is that the ceilings are extremely high, like 30' in that one room, and he wants to redo them in a less white color to work better with the rest of the room.

[the_scalp]

Your house looks great. Better suggestion: spend ~1000 on paint and then donate $25000 to feed starving children.

[XXXNoahXXX]

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Your house looks great. Better suggestion: spend ~1000 on paint and then donate $25000 to feed starving children.

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also, take no vacations, eat only rice and beans, wear the empty rice bag for clothing, and then donate $50,000.

[James Boston]

Clark,

A few thoughts/questions:

1) Maybe I can't read that sketch, but is there a chair right by the TV? I don't think I like that.

2) Consider cornering the big TV - leave it basically where it is, but have it almost sit in the corner. I really like this look, as it seems to do a better job at making both the TV and fireplace focal points in that room.

3) I really think hardwood will look better in your house. May I ask what cost per square foot you've been quoted for his floor recommendation? Ask him about "cabin grade" flooring. It's the same flooring, but with some minor imperfections in the wood grain, which I think gives wood its character, and also reduces the price. Also, it doesn't hurt the warranty because the finish is all the warranty covers, and the finishes are identical on cabin grade and regular grade.

[Clarkmeister]

Paint: lightest is ceiling, the other two are for walls.

[Clarkmeister]

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Clark,

A few thoughts/questions:

1) Maybe I can't read that sketch, but is there a chair right by the TV? I don't think I like that.

2) Consider cornering the big TV - leave it basically where it is, but have it almost sit in the corner. I really like this look, as it seems to do a better job at making both the TV and fireplace focal points in that room.

3) I really think hardwood will look better in your house. May I ask what cost per square foot you've been quoted for his floor recommendation? Ask him about "cabin grade" flooring. It's the same flooring, but with some minor imperfections in the wood grain, which I think gives wood its character, and also reduces the price. Also, it doesn't hurt the warranty because the finish is all the warranty covers, and the finishes are identical on cabin grade and regular grade.

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1. Yes. It's super easy for me to test though.
2. I'm going to try it. Mostly because I don't want my chair being off center to the TV. I think it might work.
3. I have asked him for a sample and quote based on your post. Thanks!

[Clarkmeister]

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I don't like the massive TV in the room with the fireplace. It's a great room with nice furniture and it's all completely overpowered by that massive TV. It's looks like something a college kid would do. Plus you seem to already have a TV viewing area.

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I also have a 2nd TV in that room. Me likey my TVaments. I'm not saying you're wrong, just that personal desire for massive peen waving TV overpowers all rational decisions on my part.

[Clarkmeister]

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I hope he does the interior designing bit better than he draws....

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I think they are pretty nice. They really do a very good job of conveying the design ideas.

Technically, they are horrible. The vanishing points don’t converge and the perspective is all off. I'm pretty sure all of these were done in only a few hours and probably gratis.

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Yeah, to me at least they do a great job of conveying the look and feel, especially in the foyer.

[Clarkmeister]

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Clark,

I also like the floors, hate the paint stripes.

Overall, I really think the biggest impact is going to be made by just having less stuff.

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He's coming by to do some test painting later this week. That'll help I think. I'm not sold that the stripes are bad yet. However, if they add an incremental $2k in cost to put on the walls, that'll likely tip the scales to no.