Double reception room ideas

[fasterthanthewind]

We've got a victorian house with the standard (original) double reception room w double doors (always open). Each 'room' has a door into it. I think the rooms are about 12x14 each so a reasonable size, and lovely high ceilings. Two fireplaces (one working). Tall built-in bookshelves in the chimney recesses.

We've never managed to furnish these rooms to our liking and we've now got some money to spend on new furniture/redecorating/stuff.

Are there any 'ideas places' where I can look at things other people have done? I had a (totally unsuccessful) wander around Pinterest, and then a look at Rightmove (to see what other people in houses like ours have done) and really didn't find anything I liked much.

Room needs to be used for:

• sitting in (comfortable seating for 8, ideally)
  
• probably kids playing in (so we need some decent games storage - snakes and ladders, jigsaws, scalextric sort of stuff)
  
• music practice
  

I just can't really get my head around how to make a long room work attractively. Any brilliant interior designers who can explain to me how to get started??! Please!

[ThePerfectNegroni]

I look at Rightmove at houses for sale near me to get interior design ideas. I also look at sold prices which shows the pictures of houses sold recently. In addition I do the same looking at houses that are built in a similar style but in a wealthier area!

[fasterthanthewind]

Thank you perfectnegroni. I did have a look at RightMove and was quite surprised and disappointed by what I found (nearish-by - I will look further afield too).

[Pipbin]

We have a similar set up but a more modern house and one door is blocked up. We have a fireplace in the sitting room bit but it wasn't working, or pretty so we blocked it up. We have put the TV on the wall in the blocked up fireplace. Really good height and it keeps everything off the floor and saves space. Here is a picture of the cat watching it:

[MillyMollyMama]

Houzz.com is much better in my view. It is American but if you look at photos for living rooms, something suitable will come up. You could look at living room storage too. I love many of these houses and I think it is fun looking. It is like having years and years worth of magazines in one go!
Even if a house it not exactly like yours, you can definitely borrow ideas.

We have a family room which is about 18 x 18 and we have one very long settee and two smaller ones, so easily sits 8. We have cupboards either side of the fireplace that hide stuff (no longer toys as mine are older) and we have bookshelves above but with glazed doors. They don't have to be just for books though.

Do you want to store musical instruments and music stands? Do you need a piano in the room? I would have this area away from the fireplace and seating area, so down the other end of the room. We have a huge hall, so our piano is in the hall! If you have a drum kit...... Ours is in the loft conversion above the garage. Have to draw a line somewhere.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Pipbin - love how your cat is actually watching TV !!
There's a few places you can do a plan online for free too - I think dfs do something and there's the obvious ikea planning tool or The Brick that is more lounge friendly - or just a pencil and paper will do ! Write a list of all the things you need, all you would like and something to make you smile - then try and place them all !! I've done a train track around a room before - and once , scalectrix on a Pulley so it floated over the dining table when not in use ! But the simplest way to store stuff like that semi made is on flat MDF on coasters under the sofas - so you wheel it out and connect it - then zoom it out of the way again when you want it banished !

[fasterthanthewind]

thanks v much for idea all,

no space under sofas for toys, annoyingly (bought pre-DC so less than practical)

will look at Houzz, great recommendation thank you!

[naturalbaby]

Houzz will fill your head with so many ideas you won't know where to begin!
We have a similar set up but the doorway has been blocked up to make 2 separate rooms. One's a grown up sitting room with working fire place and board games, the other is the family t.v room with a few toys and scalextric.

[MissMysticFalls]

Yep, Houzz is fab - with Pinterest for collecting the snippets (and then seeing what people who pin Houzz pics have pinned). Try Real Homes Magazine too.