Going from formal to more casual design?

[Anonymous]

We just bought a new home. The previous owners were older and had very formal tastes - lots of artwork, very formal draperies, wing backed chairs.

The house has a big living room (20x15) with a federal style fireplace, big crown moulding and cherry wood floors. I love the room, it has so much potential...but I'm coming from a small house and need to pretty much start this room from scratch. Our previous home was pretty casual/cottage like in design. Our new house also has a family room that will be more casual with a sectional and TV.

Our style is traditional but contemporary. What would you do with this room? Keep it a more formal space? A sofa and some arm chairs? Put another sectional in there? Maybe something more traditional?

When we have guests over we will likely hang out in this space so we want it to be comfortable. Our friends and family are pretty casual so I don't want to end up recreating the stiff style that was here before.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

OP- Can you provide details on what color scheme (or neutrals) you are considering for your new home?

As far as a layout goes- you might consider:
4 large over stuffed chairs with a round ottoman in the center. Center this grouping in front of the large fireplace- This will provide your family with a place to hang out and read and also, sit with another couple, have cocktails and chat in an intimate setting.

Then, on one end of the room, preferably by the front window, center an elegant wooden card table against the wall (centered under the window), and two chairs facing each other. This will be a place where you can play cards, games, or set up a puzzle that you don't have to rush to finish. You can pull the table out from the wall and add chairs when you have more than two using it. You could also designate this as a homework table for the children. Additionally, you can use these smaller chairs to pull into the center seating area when you have more than a couple over.

Make the fabrics a bit formal but soft (linen or mohair chairs-not leather) because this is your living room. Simple but elegant panel drapes will give the room a finished look.

[Anonymous]

Right now the room is painted a very soft yellow, with white trim, cherry floors.

I haven't yet thought through if we will change it. The color is really nice, I might keep it. The room is very cheery and lots of light.

Our children are toddler age, so I might have to keep that in mind when picking the furniture...

[Anonymous]

Browse houzz. Personally, I think the four chairs with a table is very, very hard to pull off.

[Anonymous]

Op here.

I don't think the 4 chairs thing will work for us. We need more seating than that. We often have more than one couple over at a time.