Sasee Magazine

Thinking of Redoing Your Family Room? Read This First!

Designer Pat Bates, of Rose Arbor Fabrics, Gives Insider Tips on Bringing the Family Closer Together.

In years past they were called hearth rooms and would usually be a sitting area off the kitchen, with a fireplace, where the family could gather while meals were prepared. Eight foot ceilings were typical and there might be a breakfast table and sometimes a bar with cabinets above that blocked the view from the cooking area to the sitting area, and therefore made conversation somewhat challenging.

The trend today is for homes to be built on a grander scale and for this area to be much more “family friendly” than before. The obstacles to the view, and the conversation, are removed by eliminating the cabinets above, or in the case of a much higher ceiling, just out of the line of sight. These rooms are informal and comfortable and seem to be successful in bringing families closer together.

The design trends for these areas are beginning to include heavy duty fabrics such as solution-dyed acrylics made for indoor or outdoor use, as well as leathers and microfibers which are great for high traffic pieces. Another idea that we use often is to slipcover the furniture in these areas, so that the fabric can be taken off and washed. Another trend in fabrics that we are seeing more often is “green” upholstery and fabrics. Many of the traditional fabric manufacturers are now offering options such as bamboo, which is a sustainable material and is now available in styles and colors that look and feel like the cottons, weaves and synthetics that have always been around.

Flooring in these family areas is likely to be tile, marble or wood and may be covered with somewhat worn antique oriental rugs, or nylon area rugs that are patterned, or bound with an interesting border. We still see many neutral grass and sisal rugs with borders that are patterned or plain.

Often we are required to work these rooms around huge flat screen televisions. There is usually a computer in this area, whether at a desk or cabinet built-in, or on a counter, for the game systems that are so popular with children and adults.

Drop by Rose Arbor Fabrics, located at 6916 N. Kings Hwy. in Myrtle Beach, for more information and assistance in planning your family’s new retreat. Or, give us a call at 843-449-7673.