Yes - just not sure what yet. Likely some fabric shades on the windows. Not sure about the sliders. I don’t like those vertical sliding shade thingys that you pull a string and they slide across, so I’m not sure what to do there. Maybe a fabric shade above the sliders that we can roll down to block the afternoon sun when we’re not there. I’m not a window covering fan, except in rooms where privacy is an issue.
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There will be three eating spaces. There is a formal dining room next to the kitchen (you can see a bit of the door frame in the first kitchen photo). We have an oblong dining room table that will go in there. We have a round table that we’ll use in the eating area of the kitchen (pictured in the first kitchen photo under the half-round window). A new breakfast bar with stools will go along the area of the kitchen, behind where the sink is. That will jut out into the morning room (I’m picturing that the breakfast bar will mostly be used by future grandkids). I am leaning toward having a casual sitting area in there (in front of the fireplace) so people who aren’t eating or using the kitchen, can still interact with those who are.
Yeah, the wet bar is coming out. Not our style, and the inspection came back with it leaking under there, so it would have to come out to fix the damage anyway. Part of that space will go toward a pantry in the kitchen where the double oven currently is.
There are 3 entrances to the kitchen, in addition to the big opening to the morning room space (the one you can see in the second kitchen photo, the entrance from the dining room, and another entrance on the other side of the fridge/cabinets that isn’t pictured.) We’re closing off that one in order to move the cooktop & double oven and gain a row of additional uppers and lowers along that wall. With the big open access to the morning room still intact (and further enhanced by removing the pass-through wall), I think the kitchen can maintain its status as a hub. This is a 1980’s built contemporary house with multi-levels, back then they weren’t really focused on convenient traffic patterns, like new homes are today. The garage is not conveniently located to the kitchen anyway, and we’ll have to come from the garage, up a small set of interior stairs and walk down a hallway to get to the kitchen. Not an ideal traffic pattern but compromises we have to make when considering an older home. The bedrooms are located on a completely opposite wing from the kitchen, and there are two upper-level bonus room areas with full baths (one we will make into a guest suite with a kitchenette).
We are looking into both hardwood & LVT flooring and will definitely add area rugs. We currently live in an open concept house with high ceilings and are familiar with sound issues.
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I agree, your windows and view are too gorgeous to cover up!!! Makes sense to have a shade (maybe an automatic one) that you can raise or lower when you leave or when the sun is too intense.
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My inlaws have a type of automatic retractable shades over their sliders that are still see through when they are down from the inside, but provide privacy and sun protection.
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You said you wanted to remove the mullions in the windows but aren’t they between the glass? It seems you’d have to actually replace the windows?
Friends of ours have rollup shades that disappear into a valence over their sliders. Took two because of the width and weight limits. They are very inobtrusive and look really nice.
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It looks like the morning room has great views, I’d probably use it all the time. I think it’s nice to have an “away” room which can house noisy stuff you don’t want to listen to. (Football games, grandchildren) or an “away” room where you can do quiet stuff. Read a book for example. Would a pool table or ping pong table get used in that space or do you have another room for that sort of thing?
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They are snap in. Easily removable.
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There are two bonus room areas upstairs that are perfect for game tables.
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Remove them now. It’ll give a whole different feel to the spaces.
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I’m adding automated shades that roll up behind an upholstered valance. They’ve been delivered but not installed so I can’t send a photo. It’s a clean look that may work in your space, especially if the fabric and wall color match so it “disappears” and doesn’t detract from those amazing windows/views.
Your space is great and love the changes you have planned. I look forward to following this. I’m especially looking forward to the kitchen and keeping room/morning room transformation.
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If you find you need sound dampening after you get the hard floors in, you could consider using cork as a wall treatment somewhere in the room. We have cork floors and love the softness underfoot. It’s easy to clean, looks brand-new after 13 years, and doesn’t bounce sound around.
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