tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post2138693837002757207..comments2024-03-28T10:32:35.496-04:00Comments on Thrifty Decor Chick | Thrifty DIY, Decor and Organizing: Dream project, plan BThrifty Decor Chickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08387609050626968143noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-23668391895290130132014-07-14T11:03:21.494-04:002014-07-14T11:03:21.494-04:00I love the paneling on your walls. I would love to...I love the paneling on your walls. I would love to have that in my living room.Nicolehttp://www.mylightingsource.com/Exteriors_By_Craftmade_s/3311.htmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-78426120949724868372014-06-17T10:18:44.324-04:002014-06-17T10:18:44.324-04:00I also have a TV over the fireplace because it was...I also have a TV over the fireplace because it was the only choice at the time. I too wish we had made our family room a few feet deeper but live and learn! Our components are in a built-in cabinet in the corner of the room. 2 HDMI cables are run through the walls between the components and TV. I wish we had installed conduit to make running new cables easier! <br />http://www.houseography.net/2012/07/summer-mantle.htmlMelissa at HOUSEographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540947655101366391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-73749053186663203102014-06-15T17:44:43.894-04:002014-06-15T17:44:43.894-04:00Wow, so exciting to be planning such a big project...Wow, so exciting to be planning such a big project. You may want to consult a designer before you pull the trigger. I don't doubt your killer skills but there is no substitute for their knowledge base and experience that will save you headaches and money down the line (and no I'm not one).<br /><br />As for the TV over the fireplace- think long and hard on this one. I do not understand WHY this has become popular. Do you like to sit on the front row at the movie theater? We are currently looking at houses and if the only place for the TV is above the fireplace it is a complete deal breaker for me. Melhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02404700870490945364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-76410632155740164772014-06-15T11:58:24.916-04:002014-06-15T11:58:24.916-04:00I just pinned this from Pinterest that I think it ...I just pinned this from Pinterest that I think it a great way to have the TV above the fireplace, yet have it out of sight when not being used. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/268879040228197978/<br />We have our TV above the fireplace. I fought it for a long time….hubs wanted it there. We have a very large room and our furniture is pretty far back from the TV, so it works, comfortable for viewing. May not work if your furniture arrangement is up close to the fireplace. We had our contractor install wiring behind the wall and all the equipment sits on the build-ins beside the mantel. Wish I could hide all that….but alas, we have to change the channel with the remote! :) Here is the link to my blog showing how we changed our fireplace/built-ins into a media wall.<br />http://shantyinsanity.blogspot.com/2010/09/tv-over-mantelhubby-wins_26.html<br />~CindyCindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02294019395396099815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-26814817687467521662014-06-14T21:52:20.630-04:002014-06-14T21:52:20.630-04:00Go with Plan B! We recently took out a bank of cup...Go with Plan B! We recently took out a bank of cupboards over the peninsula in our kitchen -- WORLD of difference!! We're in the hearth business, so I will echo Denise's comment earlier ... just be sure you know about your fireplace's clearances, and especially for your mantel height and depth. You can probably look up your model online, many manufacturers have their owners manuals available on their websites. Good luck!Marilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04390857014603746389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-33628528287735845402014-06-14T07:39:02.401-04:002014-06-14T07:39:02.401-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anwar Fazilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04342640946805733049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-13594185520643547822014-06-13T16:09:41.860-04:002014-06-13T16:09:41.860-04:00Hope it works out for you! I hate how no one will...Hope it works out for you! I hate how no one will call back. I feel like yelling, "I'm trying to give you money!" I'll take your mirror over the fireplace! ;) I redid my corner fireplace like yours and I am still in search for a mirror as beautiful as yours!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406517740443540396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-49335645983974103802014-06-13T13:25:52.499-04:002014-06-13T13:25:52.499-04:00Hi,
I am one of those that feel like it may be bet...Hi,<br />I am one of those that feel like it may be better to put a kitchen table in front of the french doors and push your family room far left into the old office. It's hard for us to imagine this, but it looks great! Congrats and good luck!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-7724985713005223092014-06-13T11:00:28.148-04:002014-06-13T11:00:28.148-04:00Yay! I was thinking this would be a great idea (an...Yay! I was thinking this would be a great idea (and less expensive) when I saw your initial plans. It's going to look amazing! I haven't taken down a wall, but I've added walls when I turned our formal living room into an office. I'm thinking taking down a wall should be cheaper. Should is the key word!Jennifer@ClassicStyleHomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13266593067076004418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-82339443796044969882014-06-13T10:53:07.070-04:002014-06-13T10:53:07.070-04:00I just put my TV over our fireplace last year and ...I just put my TV over our fireplace last year and I love love love it!! Go for it I stressed way too much over that!<br />This N Thathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04731289697224342984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-26966720452650239802014-06-13T09:53:14.101-04:002014-06-13T09:53:14.101-04:00Can I just say that I have always thought your off...Can I just say that I have always thought your office was upstairs? Obviously I need to pay more attention...Katie Onoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-42306740836035788042014-06-13T02:29:23.722-04:002014-06-13T02:29:23.722-04:00I knocked down (well, not I, really) the wall betw...I knocked down (well, not I, really) the wall between the kitchen and a bedroom to make the bedroom a dining-room open on the kitchen and it's one of the best decision I made so far about the cottage. Good luck with your project... and expect some dust ;)Magali@TheLittleWhiteHousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13787605249681670341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-34322389402196094632014-06-13T00:18:50.060-04:002014-06-13T00:18:50.060-04:00I am SO excited about this turn of events, Sarah! ...I am SO excited about this turn of events, Sarah! I think this may just all have been part of The Grand Plan. ;-) I can't wait to see how it all comes out!Katherine @ Grass Stainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01258123193553569060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-37120732749099813682014-06-12T20:00:25.042-04:002014-06-12T20:00:25.042-04:00This is a very usable plan and makes great use of ...This is a very usable plan and makes great use of your space. We do not have our TV over the fireplace, I don't mind, hubby hates it, so... We have taken down walls, lots of them. We have been renovating and reselling homes in the Indianapolis area since 2008. Our current project is our personal home which has undergone major wall moves, changing the location of the furnace and AC, tripling the size of the kitchen and more. The next big project will be completely changing the configurations of the master and hall baths to accommodate a sauna.I have been reading you for a long time, and have used so many of your creative touches. You are a constant source of inspiration! Best of wishes on this project :)LindaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05818748746986347511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-53146215094807181472014-06-12T16:09:35.640-04:002014-06-12T16:09:35.640-04:00First, thanks for a great blog - you are so talent...First, thanks for a great blog - you are so talented! Second, we cut WAY back on our expansion plans and couldn't be happier - simpler and smaller is better! Some quick thoughts: I agree with others that maybe you don't even need to expand the bay window - make it a gorgeous deep window seat and spend the money you save to lengthen your island; put the table behind the island next to the French doors out to deck. Then put the desk where the TV is now and push sectional, etc into the old office space with fireplace on the far wall; big window to look out; TV above fireplace cleverly hidden - so many great ways to do this, see this post: http://theinspiredroom.net/2012/07/10/hiding-and-disguising-a-tv/ Good luck, it's going to be great - thanks for taking us along with you!!<br /><br />MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-69999178166344979562014-06-12T15:49:22.105-04:002014-06-12T15:49:22.105-04:00I love the plan, seems way more cost efficient tha...I love the plan, seems way more cost efficient than doing an addition. Sometimes moving makes more sense than spending the money to put on an addition. If you would like some help, I would love to put together a 3d sketchup model for you of the space, to better help you visualize the room and how it will look with removing the existing wall. Email me at(jstdesign.jill@gmail.com) if you would like me to draw up a plan for you, I would love to help you out, after all you have shared so much wisdon and inspiration with me over the past few months. I have even started my very own blog, whcih is still a work in progress but it has been a lot of fun having an outlet for my very busy creative mind! :)<br />www.jstdesigns.blogspot.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11306812005528032592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-61798518362150168852014-06-12T14:01:00.482-04:002014-06-12T14:01:00.482-04:00Isn't it amazing how hard it is to find a good...Isn't it amazing how hard it is to find a good contractor? I'm guessing the few quotes you got were high simply because of supply and demand! But it seems that good sub-contractors abound, so I think you're smart to think of acting as your own general contractor for this job. Adding that bump-out to your kitchen shouldn't be horrifyingly expensive, and I imagine it'll make a big difference in your kitchen! And I think that taking down that interior wall is a great idea. You'll gain a large, light-filled family room and get rid of your nemesis corner fireplace in one fell swoop!<br /><br />Two suggestions I'd make. <br /><br />1. Consider just taking the kitchen straight back rather than indenting. That would make the additional space wide enough to do a table with chairs or benches rather than a banquette. My experience is that people love the way banquettes LOOK, but they're a little less happy with living with them. Turns out that they're not particularly comfortable seating and while it seems easy for people to pile onto the benches, it's actually hard to scoot around and especially hard if someone needs to get up from the table. Of course, you may be looking at a design that would in fact be comfortable seating, but I'd suggest asking people who actually own banquettes whether they like them. <br />2. It's fine to have the TV over the fireplace if and ONLY if you have the screen mounted in a way that tilts it downward. The position over the fireplace is too high for comfortable viewing from a seated position. Of course, if you're playing around with windows and doors anyway, you could always design built-ins for either side of the fireplace and use some of those for the TV and components. Flat-screen TV's have eliminated the need for extra-deep built-ins!<br /><br />Good luck, Sarah! Have fun with your sledge hammer! :)Richella Parhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04353214472648623583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-83809046527499294742014-06-12T11:56:35.173-04:002014-06-12T11:56:35.173-04:00And to add, if I were you in that space? I think I...And to add, if I were you in that space? I think I'd remove the fireplace all together and hang the TV on the end wall (where you have the desk shown) and slide everything down. If you did that, you wouldn't need to do that 6ft extension off the kitchen. You could add a large table or put in a very nice-sized island :)jersey girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090676473523673964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-15169009645318235072014-06-12T11:51:50.390-04:002014-06-12T11:51:50.390-04:00I have a gas fireplace in our family room and I ha...I have a gas fireplace in our family room and I hate it - we never use it. I'd prefer a real one! So for me, putting the TV above the fireplace wasn't a big deal and we really like it. My kitchen and family room are one giant room so the TV can be seen from anywhere. The cords are hidden in the wall and in the fireplace mantle ... my husband is rather handy in that way. We have 2 side cabinets that sit on either side of the fireplace, one for the DirecTV box/DVD player and the other holds some movies, ipod cords, etc. Built-ins would probably look nicer but I also have 2 windows on the fireplace wall and A/C vents under the windows ... it's never easy, is it?!jersey girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090676473523673964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-8758976471302377352014-06-12T11:07:49.878-04:002014-06-12T11:07:49.878-04:00I'm not a fan of the TV over the fireplace.......I'm not a fan of the TV over the fireplace.... I think it takes away from the fireplace. But, that's just my opinion ~ and to each their own. ;) Reeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17516885315219959524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-25812883871622331072014-06-12T10:52:32.779-04:002014-06-12T10:52:32.779-04:00I love the idea of opening your family room up and...I love the idea of opening your family room up and making bigger! I do wonder though if you thought about just moving that wall back a few feet and having a smaller type office. Alot of new build homes have "media centers", where it is a smaller room with counters running along the walls instead of a big desk. I mention this because looking from your kitchen to a beautiful family room, then seeing a desk just kind out there and behind it would be odd (to me at least). It would seem more like loft living, which obviously is not what your house is designed or built like. It also would scream (to me anyways) "lack of space". Again, just my opinion. Jodinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-41624140378694396132014-06-12T09:23:01.161-04:002014-06-12T09:23:01.161-04:00Hi Sarah, Thought I would chime in. I have a TV ov...Hi Sarah, Thought I would chime in. I have a TV over a vent free fireplace so no clearance issues to worry about, but it does limit what decorating I can do with the mantel. You will need to check the owner's manual for your fireplace to see what kind of clearance is safe for your TV. If you don't have it, let me know. I work for a company that manufactures direct vent fireplaces and I could probably help you out. :)Denise Fusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09179755563389618854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-5862442591102350912014-06-12T09:04:31.893-04:002014-06-12T09:04:31.893-04:00Sarah this sounds so much better financially and I...Sarah this sounds so much better financially and I agree with another person who commented about not doing the additional footage for the table extension area. Is it really needed? ConnieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17019903176889527478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-84002051878965418112014-06-12T01:19:41.476-04:002014-06-12T01:19:41.476-04:00My TV is above my fireplace, only because I have a...My TV is above my fireplace, only because I have a really small living room and that was the best option. I don't hate it, but it's a tad bit high since it's not at eye level. Also - cords! It's really hard to hide the cords (although, I'm thinking to build a wood mantel and I might be able to figure out a way to the hide the cords that way). Anyways, this all sounds like a great back up plan - good luck!Chrissy @ Adventures in DIYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14545659482502816536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781670590071996754.post-88187183348837639852014-06-11T21:56:44.809-04:002014-06-11T21:56:44.809-04:00We have a fireplace with a built-in niche for the ...We have a fireplace with a built-in niche for the TV, and I hated it so much that I don't even have the TV up there anymore. It is not optimal viewing height at all, and I hated having the TV and all its components on display over the mantel. But I know lots of people don't have a problem with it, so you know, different strokes!Sarahnoreply@blogger.com