What to put in a bay window

[plasticpigeon]

Hello

In my front room, I have a square bay. It is about 2ft deep and maybe 7 ft wide. At the moment I just have a large palm in one corner. It looks a little bare, and I'm not sure what to put there. Anyone know what was traditional or what would be nice. I was thinking perhaps a low bench/footstool. I did have a nest of tables that I could put a plant on in the window, but the sun beats down on whatever is in the window and it warped the top of the little nest, so any furniture would need some kind of fabric on top to stop the effect of direct sunlight. A plant stand side table would be ok, but perhaps there is another option that I haven't considered.

 

[mims&pip]

I guess an aspidistra in a period-appropriate jardiniere placed in the centre of your bay is the obvious answer* but perhaps this is a bit too predictable? We have gone down this route at several previous houses, but here we have opted to put our smallish, circular dining table in the square bay (not suggesting that's an option for you :wink: ) and we sit there to play games of scrabble etc. Remind me, PP, is your sofa in front of the bay? Possibly a free standing floor lamp to one side, throwing light on you whilst you sit reading on said sofa? Could you employ the one you adapted? If the sofa is in front of the window, would a footstool/low bench be seen/practical? Or how about a life-size statue of Elvis? We saw one recently standing in the bay window of a house in Kidderminster as we drove past :lol:

*We just so happen to have one for sale at the moment, but sadly it's in a bit of a sorry state - not due to our carelessness I hasten to add, it was like that when we bought it quite a few years back - but might be worth getting restored......just saying!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Hello Mims, the sofa is opposite the fireplace. We intend to put the tub chair to the left of the fireplace and a smallish upholstered chair to the right. The curtains draw across the bay, so whatever is in it really needs to be 2ft deep of less, hence the idea of a footstool of something. The window extends down to within around 18" of the floor too, which is nice so a large piece of furniture would cover the bottom of the window which would be a shame. i like the old lamp in the corner that it is in a the mo. I would like to break up the slightly empty look of that part of the room, without filling it up with very much!!! Perhaps another small rug?? I'll put pictures up in a bit.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Hello again. Here are some pictures. I think a nice idea would be a bigger rug, but that won't happen. The sofa is not very period and is quite big for the room, but it is nice to have a sofa big enough to be sprawled upon. That end of the room just looks a bit bare, but there is no obvious solution to me. Anything I do will also have to be cleared with my other half who really does seem like a ball and chain at times.

 

[LadyArowana]

A "window seat" would probably suit, lots of different styles available. I have an arts and crafts type one in the bedroom, easy enough to get a cushion made to measure for the top, I put the bed cushions on mine, and a folded throw would work as well if you are concerned about keeping sun off the wood. Because they are intended for this sort of location they aren't too deep and don't impinge on the room, that's why I got mine as it's smaller than a chair...... and yes I did consider a small chair just for Teddy

Lots of ideas here, and you don't have to pay anywhere near that much they turn up at auction quite often, and probably ebay too http://www.onlinegalleries.com/art-and-antiques/antique-furniture/antique-seats/window-seats

 

[88v8]

Don't recall seeing that window from inside before, very unusual and a feature in itself. Allied to the low cill that makes it difficult to dress the bay without hiding the glazing bars.

Might try the palm on a low stand or even a low oak table.
This is only 14" high
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Chinese-Carved-Wood-Low-Plant-Stand-with-Marble-Top-Oriental-/272134114247?hash=item3f5c750bc7:g:va8AAOSwUuFWwNHV

Or this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Copper-Plant-Stand-With-3-Brass-Claw-Type-Legs-Copper-Rivets-Lovely-Cond-/401071691163?hash=item5d61bc559b:g:3RYAAOSwFNZWwISo
which is astoundingly cheap. Quick!!!!

Another rug, hmmm. A runner rather than a rug perhaps.

I'd also have tie-backs for the curtains and make them more of a feature, sorry if this has been discussed previously.

The sofa, as you say a bit anachronistic. Old seat furniture can be hard to find, takes up a lot of shop space and has little value. And then it needs re-covering. On and on.

Ivor

 

[plasticpigeon]

Yes, tie backs would be nice but have been banned, as were lace curtains rather than nets and many other things that I would have preferred, it's hard work making a place nice!!!

 

[mims&pip]

Ah, I see now PP - for some reason I was visualising a different layout :roll:

We're it me then - apart from filling the space with a much larger rug (yes, I know I suggested this ages ago!) - I would definitely be looking for a long, low footstool/bench or window seat preferably upholstered or with the option to add a loose seating pad or cushions to soften the look and make a more comfortable additional seating area. I love your bay and agree you don't want to hide such a great feature with too much *stuff*

Sofa-wise, in our upstairs *snug* (the PO's master bedroom), we have a similarly coloured velvet affair. It's a modern take on a Chesterfield without the buttoned details from John Lewis, still quite classical but compared to our other sofas and furniture it is the odd one out. Despite this, the addition of historical fabric throws and cushions has enabled it to blend into the overall period scheme. Your cushions are a great starting point - look for throws on eBay (I found a two nice Past Times examples a couple of years back) or get one made up in a suitable fabric......

TBH, I'm not a fan of tiebacks (sorry Ivor :roll: ), but do have some wooden/metal hold backs - and have had Pip made some at previous homes - but as I'm going for the whole Arts & Crafts more simplistic look, furnishings-wise here, on the whole I've opted to forego them in most rooms. Personally I would have chosen a chunkier curtain pole, but that's just me!

Mims x

 

[plasticpigeon]

Sounds like our sofa is very similar to yours Mims. It is a chesterield type shape with no buttons, but it has a higher back and removable back cushions. I'm quite happy with it. It is just a bit large for the room! I'm glad we are thinking along similar lines. I think putting the tub chair in the space in front of the tv will help too, and then I can put another slightly larger chair on the other side of the fireplace. I like having a chair either side of the fireplace. I can find precious little period photographic evidence for a room layout in a humble house like mind fron the early 20th century.

I could have done a chunkier pole, but I had one eye on the costs, and although the poles are much of a muchness as I get them from the metal stockholders, the finials and brackets seemed to increase in price very quickly with diameter.

Also you've seen the curtains now, it is a smaller print than normal strawberry theif, chosen as it was about 1/4 of the price.

That's a very sweet little seat m'lady!

 

[mims&pip]

Just adding a couple of pics of our sofa for reference, PP........

Apologies for the quality of the second one - it's the only pic I could find (without taking a new one and the room is currently full of stuff from the office, lol) that shows the throw :wink:

I guess ours is a little more *period* style, but yours is a fairly traditional design - nothing too contemporary - and fairly neutral, so can be dressed up with your cushions and some throws etc!