Family room help please

[scooter028]

I've been a lurker for a while and I figure it's about time I came out of the closet.  I love seeing the PIPs here bc they're so motivating! 
We're moving in about 7 weeks and I'm stumped as to what to do with the family room.  It's totally closed off and has a pocket door.  I'm thinking about making the wall a half wall to open it up the breakfast area/kitchen although DH thinks the doors could come in handy.  For what purpose, I'm not too sure.  We're definitely adding a ceiling fan but I'm hoping to get some other ideas for furniture, wall color, etc.  I'm a pretty neutral person and was thinking dark brown leather sectional and warm creamy walls and leave the trim white.  Seems boring though. Thoughts?  
Houzz is awesome but I never see anything realistic for my middle class house.  Pinterest is OK too, but I don't want to make my furniture out of pallets and stencil the walls so I'm at a loss for where to look for inspiration. 
Suggestions??

[TBM]

In defense of doors, my parents house has a family room with a door, and when we were teenagers we could have friends over and have some fun and a little privacy, and our parents didn't have to be annoyed by our television or music, or our loudness.

[scooter028]

I can't say that I still don't spend a bunch of hours each week browsing the Houzz and Pinterest apps, but it's mostly mindless browsing. Thanks for the idea of focusing a search.
I will definitely find out about that wall. Then I wonder how to transition the tall ceiling in the family room to the regular ceiling in the kitchen but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
If it's load bearing, the french doors is a great idea.
I can't wait to move in. We installed Brazilian walnut floors on the first floor of our current house about 4 years ago and I absolutely adore them, despite the fact that their a PITA to keep clean due to two drool producing four legged friends around here. Even so, I'd love to put the same floors in our new place one day. Oh why can't I have the software they use on "Love it or List it."
Thanks for the tips!

[scooter028]

Jan 29, 2013 17:20:52 GMT -5 TBM said:

In defense of doors, my parents house has a family room with a door, and when we were teenagers we could have friends over and have some fun and a little privacy, and our parents didn't have to be annoyed by our television or music, or our loudness.

Very good point. We don't have any kids yet, but I'm hoping by the time they would be old enough that I'd give them privacy, I'm hoping the basement will be finished.  DH has media room/shuffleboard/pool table plans for that.  Everyone tells him to keep dreaming if he wants kids!  hehe

[scooter028]

Any windows are certainly welcome in a basement. We got lucky on this one for sure. The neighbor's house is the same model, only their basement is completely underground. I have an abnormal fear of tornadoes (not that there are many in SE Penn.) and I was actually looking for a totally submerged basement initially. Totally irrational, I know.

[TBM]

I always forget about basements.....they aren't common here in SoCal or in AZ where I grew up.


We have a very open plan house, and I wish it was a little less open. There is nowhere in our downstairs to get away from the sounds from other spaces. It is really hard to have phone conversations or even just private conversations if there are other people elsewhere downstairs, especially if the tv is on.

[scooter028]

I've noticed the lack of basements in Florida as well. Is that due to the sandy soil? I always figured a basement would be a nice cool space in those hot areas during the summer.