Adding photo of dining room

I just saw a living room on here where they put two chairs kinda angled in front of the fireplace & then the couch across. That might look good if you used the IKAT chair and the blue chair. You could then use the ottomans as the coffee table and put some trays on them. I think silver/glass accent tables or barnwood color(not sure thats the name) but that would make it a more rustic look. It would look & maybe pops of coral or turquoise. I think you only need 2 chairs . Maybe put the other chair in a corner with a light if you have room. Good luck.

Good Bones. I think what is missing is something that ties these colors and lighten up the color pallett, I would try to find a rug that is thick enough to lay on the carpet. Also a large painting over the mantel that pulls these colors together. Patterns with colors other than just Blue. After you have picked these two items, you can pick a beautiful color for the walls. I would get a coffee table that is light in color, perhaps a light wood, maybe antique wood piece, approximately sofa level, about 2 1/2 feet by 4 feet. With arrangement of furniture arrangement as it is, I don't see where you can put ottoman. You might want to consider retiling mantel surround . Dining furniture is beautiful, but its so dark along with the floor being so dark. Something of color and bright on the table might help to lighten and break up the dark.

A pop of yellow or orange in your artwork and follow through with another spot of the same color - maybe a lamp base?

Great beginnings, love the walls and the architecture.

Looks like the wall behind the sofa gets a lot of beautiful light. Would you consider putting the chairs on that wall since they darker and pull more weight? Then you could put a table behind the sofa with two fat and colorful lamps to gain more light in that space.

Or place the sofa facing the fireplace, and flank the hearth with your blue chairs.

I would look at a glass top table between the sofa and the chairs, especially if you can find a really cool, funky rug.

Can you do a chandelier with some crystals for more reflection?

If you feel the room squeezing in, try a mirror over the fireplace in the silvered gold, and keep your artwork on the walls.

Bhelmore, love your ideas. But if I face the sofa toward the fireplace you would be walking into the back of the sofa as you come down into the living room.....

Maybe not, especially if you move the sofa more towards the fireplace, and place 2 of your chairs on angle in the window alcoves - anchor them with a small chest behind them - and put your ottomans in front of the fireplace. Go with dark wood - mahogany, walnut finishes, and lots of glass in your accents.

Love your colors! If you would like a coffee table, I say go with the same color wood/stain that is on your wooden stair trim. Without changing too much, two ways to de-emphisize the ikat pattern are (1) by placing a "winter white" quality thin knit throw over the back of it (folded thin like a runner and slightly off centered to prevent making it look like a granny chair;) or (2) moving it across from the white sofa instead of directly next to it. One place for the ottomans is under the window sills. Try different formations - 1 under each/2 under one as a bench etc. to see if you like any. I think it would be good to try the striped pillows on the white couch and leave the ikat pillows on the ikat chair. :) Play around with the positioning of the pillows and if you'd like, the throw to find balance. There is no quick solution, but I do feel that the more you "mix things up," the more the individual elements will be de-emphasized. One thing that will be a great addition to your room is TEXTURE! :) - Specialty knits (cableknit etc.) or textured pillows, maybe a waffle patterned rug, texture is going to be great in there! Any other posters have some ideas for what else would be a great textural addition for this room?

Nice room. You could add curtains to the windows, side tables on both ends of the sofa and one between the two chairs in a reddish brown or brown stain. You can place the ottoman anywhere you like. A coffee table in front of the sofa with a rug in blue and white that you like. You can add lamps with a nickel finish and a vase of flowers on the coffee table along with candles or a big book. A throw over the sofa in your color choice. A nice big abstract picture or one of a big flower would look nice over the fireplace if you don't put a tv there.

My opinion is you need a third color. You have blue and white, and white and blue, and blue and white. Pick a third color you like (yellow, green, even small doses of red) and run with it for accessories, pillows, candles, art, etc..

What is everyone's thought around accents in a pumpkin type color?

yes, yes, yes!!!!! Love it!

Bobbi, really...what do you think? :) There is a solid pumpkin color pillow on crate and barrel website that intrigues me....and if ever there is a season to find pumpkin accessories, this should be it, no? :)

Agreed! Painting could do wonders also.. the particular beige on the walls can be stark against your white and blue furnishings.

greenangel, I love ALL the colors of fall; pumpkin, and the burnt reds, oranges, and golds. Do not like them in their primary state, just the burnt colors. Also I love red ocher, have you seen it? It is delicious! This is just one of the many shades of red ocher: [houzz=]

And there is an entire ideabook: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/color-guide-how-to-work-with-red-ocher-stsetivw-vs~4273061

Oooohhhh...love the color!

Thank you! Somewhere in my house, that color will exist. I don't know where yet (don't think hubby likes it) maybe inside a closet, but it will exist!!!

Pumpkin color would be lovely!

Pretty space, bright and happy. Love your windows.
Unless the room is too small, I would definitely face the sofa toward the fireplace and then either
1) flank the fireplace with the two blue chairs as Behlmore suggested or
2) place one blue chair at each corner/end of the sofa so that they end up facing each other. This will allow you to push the whole configuration closer toward the fireplace, leaving more room behind the sofa. You need at least 3-4 feet between the back of the sofa (or sofa table behind the sofa) and the last step of your stairway. Ground the sitting area with a large rug and coffee table, place a narrow sofa table behind the sofa...and you have just defined your room/space as a cozy converstion area rather than an area you will walk right into/through. You also will be defining 'walkways'.
I have the back of a sofa (sectional) in front of a stairway at our cottage. It is a super simple space and very casual, but the attached photos may give you a good idea of how the back of a sofa can perfectly 'define' a space.
You definitely need a large piece of artwork (dark frame to pull in banister) above the mantel that has just a couple tiny spots of your blue and lot more "other" color(s) to add some interest to your current pallette in both living and dining rooms.
Place your Ikat chair, one ottoman and floor lamp in the far corner of the living room if you have the space, or just the chair with a side table and table lamp (no ottoman). I like your chair, think it is very pretty with your sofa (I may have even gotten 2 of those instead of the 2 solid). Think the other ottoman is too much.
A rectangular coffee table made of wood (reclaimed, rustic, etc) with iron or dark metal accent or legs/base (ORB?) would be cool to throw in with all of the elegant elements you have going. Or you could do a dark metal with glass top. Carry the iron/dark metal to your lamps
Here are my photos. Again, they are just to show you the back of the couch configuration...it is clearly a more casual space.

Ok...off to move some furniture and see what it looks like!!!!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00209151/

I know this is a bit on the wild side, but just think of it as low light fun! You can't beat the price.

Living room: blue chair on either side of fireplace; sofa facing fireplace; two ottomans in front of sofa as coffee tables; trays on the ottomans; move plants to far corners of fireplace; mirror over fireplace; Ikat chair? Can't advise because only one view of living room. Use red accents.



Dining area: needs a rug; remove little tables; fill hutch with lots of white china; lower chandelier; remove tags from chairs; two striking oil paintings on either side of hutch.