First, let’s take care of business. The winner of the Studio Tullia and Our Humble Abode giveaway is…Kimberly R! Congratulations! You’ve got one pillow and two constellation cut outs waiting for you to customize.
Though the family room isn’t finished, I’m still excited to work on decorating. This four-foot wide nook by the fireplace is kind of tough. Right now we’ve got wood storage, an open space (that we’ll eventually fill with a tv), and a thick shelf for books and art.
Originally, I wanted two shelves at the top for a more built-in look, but chickened out when we built it fearing two shelves would look cramped. To be sure, I turned to Photoshop. Adding a second shelf and tv does fill in the space. If we upgrade the tv in the living room, we’ll put that one in here, like this:
But the 42″ tv looks huge here, so maybe we’ll buy a smaller 32 inch-ish one, like this.
Or maybe just a coat of paint is all we’ll need?
One shelf might look less cluttered…
Then again, two shelves could look like a built-in, adding height to the nook. In the event we add a second shelf, books will primarily fill the shelves. What do you think; one shelf or two?
Pesh
/ January 25, 2013Definitely two. And keep the larger tv.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Pesh!
Excellent! I’m definitely leaning that way.
Thanks!
Amanda
kristi@SimplePrettyThings
/ January 25, 2013I like the two shelves of books and I could go either way on the size of the TV. If you get the bigger one you can see it from the kitchen right? That might be a good option.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Kristi!
I agree! Yes, you can see the tv from the family room, breakfast nook, and kitchen.
Thanks!
Amanda
Brie
/ January 25, 2013I’m no decorator, but definitely like the look of two shelves (and the bigger TV isn’t bad either) If you do keep just the one shelf, maybe add some taller “coffee table” books to help fill in the space
BTW I love what you’ve done w/ the fireplace
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Brie!
I agree! I just don’t like the filler look.
And thanks so much for your encouragement!
Thanks!
Amanda
Emily @ The Diligent One
/ January 25, 2013Your dustpan is smiling at us.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Emily!
Isn’t it cute?!
Thanks!
Amanda
Mel
/ January 25, 2013Two shelves and bigger TV!
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Mel!
Thanks for your vote!
Thanks!
Amanda
Karyl
/ January 25, 2013Two shelves and large TV–in Photoshop can you change the back wall color in that nook to a charcoal colored grey, something close to the color your fireplace slate?
It would disguise the TV and allow your wood pile and light books to pop.
Will you have to worry about cable boxes/DVD player, etc?
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Karyl!
I could give it a try.
We won’t have a cable box and we’ll probably use a Play Station for DVD/streaming movies. If we use our current tv in there, it will kind of tuck behind the tv.
Thanks!
Amanda
Sarah (@uglyducklingDIY)
/ January 25, 2013I like the two shelves, but comparing the two sizes from farther back, I like the smaller version. Big fan of white space balancing things out
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Sarah!
I’m not sure what our tv situation will be. If we upgrade our current one and use it in the nook, it will look like the larger one. If we decide to keep it where it is, we might go with a smaller one. Not sure yet, but thanks for your opinion!
Thanks!
Amanda
Karyl
/ January 25, 2013or you could install some horizontal planking that resembles pallet wood (ie, all the boards are slightly different colors of weathered greys/browns)–lots of examples on pinterest, like this:http://www.cape27blog.com/2012/10/20-diy-pallet-wall/
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi again Karyl!
We actually thought the same thing! At least for the wood storage area. We decided to live with it painted white, see how beat up and ugly it gets and then do something if we really want. I love the look though!
Thanks!
Amanda
Kandra
/ January 25, 2013definitely large tv and two shelves
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Kandra!
Thanks for your vote!
Thanks!
Amanda
Angel
/ January 25, 2013I like 1 shelf. I think having books that are almost touching the ceiling makes it look cramped and awkward. It seems more balanced and less top heavy with 1 shelf.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Angel!
That’s exactly the reason we stuck with one. But it’s kind of awkward to decorate a shelf with so much space above it…
Thanks!
Amanda
Erin
/ January 25, 2013I am a big book person who likes having lots of books around, so I would definitely go with 2 shelves. I think it looks more balanced that way. With one shelf, it just looks like it’s missing something.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Erin!
I’ve got tons of books to load on shelves, too! I’m leaning more toward two shelves.
Thanks for your vote!
Thanks!
Amanda
Jane @ the borrowed abode
/ January 29, 2013I’m just catching up and I love how the fireplace turned out. I like the look of the two shelves, and actually storing books on them – like a true built-in bookshelf area. If it were my house I’d probably skip the TV entirely, but then I’m a little weird and think TVs are ugly, so we only have 1 tv, which is in our basement TV room. . . most of my friends think I’m weird about that.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 29, 2013Hey Jane!
Thanks so much for your compliments!
I’m leaning toward two shelves with mostly books, too. If we put a tv in the nook it will be a while. Like you, I don’t like the look, but it would be nice to be able to watch tv while cooking or if Ben wants to watch the weather before work. Or if I just don’t want to watch something Ben does. 
Thanks!
Amanda
jasmimi6
/ January 25, 2013I like the two shelves with the bigger TV. It feels more balanced.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Jasmimi6!
I’m definitely leaning that way, too.
Thanks for your vote!
Thanks!
Amanda
jasmimi6
/ January 25, 2013I would go with two shelves and the bigger TV. It feels more balanced.
MEL
/ January 25, 2013You’re going to be so far from the TV, even 42 inches will seem tiny when you actually try to watch it. Definitely go bigger, it doesn’t look bad at all!
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi MEL!
That’s true, because you can see the tv from the family room, breakfast nook, and kitchen. If or when we upgrade, we’ll figure it out.
Thanks!
Amanda
Kim S.
/ January 25, 2013I like the two shelves and the bigger tv. I also think that if you were to add sides and a top to the shelves, like you have for the wood box, it would look more finished. Just a thought.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey Kim S!
I totally understand what you’re saying. We thought about continuing the sides all the way up, but then we’d have two foot deep shelves, which is too deep to be functional without wasting space at the back.
Hopefully fresh paint will help. 
Thanks!
Amanda
Pam
/ January 25, 2013why not put the TV on the fireplace mantel?
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hi Pam!
Good question! The heat from the fireplace could damage the tv. And we’d have to run cables/wires over for the dvd player.
Thanks!
Amanda
DeNise Tatum
/ January 25, 2013I like two shelves and the larger tv. The smaller tv seems to get lost and something looks off with only one shelf.
Our Humble Abode
/ January 25, 2013Hey DeNise!
I agree! Thanks for sharing your opinions!
Thanks!
Amanda
Jackie
/ January 25, 2013I like one shelf and the larger tv, but I’m way outvoted, ha!
Della
/ January 26, 2013Two!
Abby
/ January 26, 2013I like the two. It looks more finished. I wouldn’t say it is cramped.