Harriet - the shelves are built ins. I have considered having them removed but I don't know if it's something I want to do at the moment.

Carolyn, I really like that first RH table you suggested. The 20th c. European one. What did you think of the rug I on the fence about? Do you think it would be to busy? You think I need to just go with a solid color lighter option? For a rug Id like to find something that is not to expensive. Between me & my siblings there 5 kids under the age of 6 & we have most get togethers at my house. So I was looking for something that can survive active toddlers. Lol

Thank you suzyq53. You are right it is always easiest to find something when you aren't looking. Inspiration Picts would be great!!

Ann that rug was an 8x10. I currently have a 6x9

Thanks Chris. An 8x10 might work fine but do wait until you've figured out the furniture arrangement you like best. Then, measure and mark the corners of where the 8x10 will be and see if the size is good or if you'll need to go up one more size.

I wasn't terribly keen on the rug you showed but I do know that they can sometimes look fabulous once you get them home...or terrible. Why not try it out. Are blue and white the only new colors you want to introduce into the room? You might be better off with a neutral rug and adding color with pillows, throws, and artwork.

I think you are right @carolyn a more neutral rug. As far as colors I seem to be more drawn more to like the grey, blue Greys, seafoam green colors. I am open to other colors too though. The only thing I would intentionally avoid is probably reds or maroons.

I even like navy

I like the West Elm rug called Mini Pebble Wool Jute Rug-Natural/Ivory. It's neutral and in colors which should work well with your leather and flooring. https://www.houzz.com/products/mini-pebble-wool-jute-rug-prvw-vr~1193752-Pebble-Wool-Jute-Rug-contemporary-rugs

Houzz has changed the way we attach links and photos and I'm not understanding the new system. Can someone please explain it to me?

Here is that rug Carolyn. I love this rug and have looked at it many times.

Hi again Chris - I was looking for rugs for you, but I got sidetracked. There is a huge selection of reasonably priced rugs at amazon.com. If you haven't already looked there you should check it out. So many options. If you want something neutral, you can have carpet bound on the edges to create an area rug out of anything you like. Its not too expensive for the edges, but if you pick expensive carpet, watch out. You can usually get remnants at a big discount. With little kids and little dogs, plan on replacing it often. Maybe use that nylon kind that you can use bleach on for now?

Yes, that's the one. So glad you like it!

Here is the jute pebble rug and another with a bit more pattern, both from West Elm: http://www.westelm.com/products/marquis-rug-b746/?cm_src=AutoRel

Since the shelving is built in, I think it might help to paint and add a white board the width of the unit across the top (at the height of the top of the top shelf). I think it would anchor the piece and enhance its appearance. I would then also paint the section of wall behind the TV the same white or attach a solid board painted white there . Another option, I really like how this shelving was painted to match the wall color.. http://cdn-image.realsimple.com/sites/default/files/styles/rs_photo_gallery/public/family-room-after.jpg?itok=Z-6q9SGJ

you should go to a carpet/rug store and ask to see their remnant room. I've found the most incredible deals there on rugs and they will bind it for you and you can have it to your exact measurements also. Like the sofa facing the fireplace and think you need a much bigger rug, even maybe a 9x12 or 8x10. this is all imho. lovely room to work with. and whomever mentioned painting the inside of the bookcase is right on.

Oh how wonderful to see the rugs on the floor! The patterned one looks too contemporary for the rest of what Chris has in the house, but I like the first one.

I like the first one too!!!!!!

I like those rugs Carolyn. Simple but still breaks up some of all the color.

Groveraxle thank you for doing that! It makes a world of difference to someone like me who is a visual person.

Tautfest I never thought of that about the rugs. Good idea.

Harriet do you mean paint that whole wall on that side white?

With your furniture, this floor, fireplace, and expansive windows, this space has the potential to be awesome. I would remove the whole built-in unit, add a few plants...

Groveraxle - thank you for that visual too. I really would like to remove the built in but (at the risk of sounding stupid) I don't really know where to start to do that. I mean is it something I could attempt myself? I'm a single mom & not really having a "handy" person to call on I'm not sure who to even look for to do this project.

I think I would first just try painting the space that would be boxed in by the top board above the TV. That would make it look like one complete built in unit. I think just doing that much would anchor the whole unit better to the space and would be a low cost enhancement. Wouldn't look so much like two towers perched next to your TV. tried to paste it up, see attached

Your built-in unit has a dated look. A handyman should be able to remove it for you, repair the wall and repaint it, if you know what the paint color is. Certainly the visual given to us by dear Grover shows how much better it would look without it.

Does media center come apart? If so put high part TV is on. Where that small chest is now would fill that wall better on top add big round pots in bold color like teal, red, yellow whatever. But get some color going. Put a sofa table behind sofa takes few items you had by TV and put there. End units by TV. Find another room like a girls bedroom. Just not working in your family room. For TV. Get a buffet type chest long 6ft. Go a color or reclaimed wood. Sit TV on it. Nothing on walls or around it. Maybe your scones on each side of TV. On windows roman shades in a accent color. Maybe a stripe accent, plus wall color. Add pillows to chair and sofa something bold. You have a lot of dark brown. Always good to mix furn up. Don't buy matching pieces.

A lighter colored bigger area rug would help lighten dark colors in room. Try a cream shag.

Love the rug Carolynn shows. It would work with wall color too. Take the colors from rug and buy pillows with pattern, mix with solid. Pot on white piece buy all those colors for pots make them big. Window covers in stripe like I said before but in a smaller stripe. To tie room together. I've seen buffet in a turquoise that are distressed. That would work for TV media . Google for stores. If in Calif Living Spaces carries great things, TJMax is always a good source. Reclaimed wood is very big now. And would work In Your home. Coffee table very big. Get a big round ottoman in a color. Maybe Aqua. Rug would be 8x10.

Push sofa away from windows. Also chair. You have a nice size room.Everything looks to be on one side. Don't bunch furn on one side.

I would t angle sofa, but move down as I suggested before. TV has to be place for TV viewing.

Is TV unit attached to wall? As someone mentioned, a handy man is a good friend to have. Anything can be removed. It is very big and dated. Looks like it's for a bedroom not a family room.

If you can move center part would make a great bar. You could paint it a teal. Then stock with wine and glasses. Even putting a wine rake on top instead of pots. For interest .

chrisdp, single moms have to learn to be handy. Trust me; I started learning many moons ago. What's involved in removing that built in: a large crowbar, cardboard to protect the floor, and motivation.

What's involved in fixing the wall after removal is a bit more involved, but not so much you couldn't do it with some help. The hardest part will be repairing the drywall. First it's big and heavy, so you need a truck and some muscle. Second, taping and mudding drywall is a bit of an art. If you hire someone to do this, watch so next time you can do it yourself. Finally, replace the baseboard, prime and paint.

Perhaps this could be your first project. You'll be so proud of yourself when it's done!

Chris, just to fill you in a bit, groveraxle is an extremely talented woman and it sounds as though she may have spent some considerable time as a single mom.

Okay - its not the best looking wall unit, but its in decent shape. A cabinet guy could probably modify it to lower the side towers to be level with the tv stand. The storage under the tv looks like a great place to throw toys. It would cost less than demo, repair, paint and replace. Maybe someday when things calm down you'll find that perfect thing.

Maybe best to take it a step at a time. How about figuring out a furniture arrangement first (I like the new arrangement)? Then, you can figure our the best rug size and get a new rug in place. Then, see how it feels (I bet you'll absolutely love it at this point). I've had many Houzz dilemmas and all the suggested changes can feel a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, I do some of the changes, love the way it looks and take a break from that space (maybe for a year or so). Then, I remember some of the other suggestions and tackle another project in the same room, and so on and so forth. So, little by little, I get the room done (incorporating most of the great Houzz suggestions), but it might take me a few re-visits to the space, lol:). This technique feels a bit less stressful to me and slowly, my house gets better and better. The Houzz experience really is fantastic and your house will thank you for it:)

I like Grover's idea of Chris tackling this job herself, that is if she has any interest in DIY at all. Then, she can find a console/media center for the TV. Any money spent on redoing the existing unit seems a waste of money.

Carolyn, you and grover are two tough, motivated gals. Good for you - I'm kind of a wimp:)

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Carolyn. My first real diy was gutting a bathroom. Did all the demolition, framing, tiling, electrical, and painting myself. Hired out the plumbing. (I always hire out the plumbing. That and car repair I don't care to learn.)

For the kitchen, I hired out only the plumbing and the cabinet work. We have a local electrical supply house staffed by retired electricians; they taught me everything I needed to know to add a new 220V circuit for the stove.

When I built my deck, I hired a gofer for $10/hr. because I couldn't lift the bags of concrete into the wheelbarrow.

Be fearless, chrisdp. None of it is rocket science. You'll be amazed at what you can do yourself. And then, when you get old like me and decide to contract out, you'll know exactly what the contractor is up to and can call him on his screw ups.

That's amazing Grover!

Do Ann and Grover live near each other? You guys should meet up.

I am really considering Groveraxle's idea of tackling it myself. My only real worry is the floor under the shelving part of the unit. As far as the furniture arrangement I have left the couch parallel w the fireplace but it actually feels more open with it by the window with the chair being parallel w the fireplace. I want to go ahead and get a rug & then compare the two arrangements to see if it still feels that way. I never thought to tape off area to judge rug size. I will do that this week & hopefully have at least a new rug in place by the weekend. I do have a little of a "mommy break" coming up in a few weeks so it maybe a good time to start the removing the unit myself. I am so thankful to have this feed back! The suggestions & help are so helpful for me! Hope you all stay posted!

OK, so grover and the others that are capable of this type of construction - what about the floor? Are you assuming it extends under those shelves? If not, that's a big issue, right?

I don't know Chris, I'm with Ann. From the pictures, it looks like the floor is under the center furniture bottom part, but not under the towers. If so, you would probably need to replace the flooring along the entire wall there. Otherwise just patching the floor under the two tower spaces wouldn't look good. That's assuming you can match the flooring. Or you could patch it, but the new TV stand would have to cover the old footprint down to the floor (i.e no legs, same size). Maybe not the best DIY. Might be worth getting an opinion or estimate from a professional before you start. This could be a can of worms. IMHO

The floor under the built ins would be a big issue, except I can see that it is laid under the center cabinet part, so I'm betting it's under the bookshelves, too. My guess is the floor was installed first, then the built ins and baseboard.

If there is no wood floor under the shelves, the area is so small, a good floor guy could patch it and come close enough to matching it, that you'd never notice it under a long media cabinet.

chrisdp, as far as the seating arrangement, I think every configuration you've had looks good. Choose the one that works best for you.

I was really excited to hear Chris say she was thinking of tackling it herself until she brought up the floor. I hadn't thought about the floor and, when she mentioned it, I thought - Oh boy - that might be problematic and costly.

Oh, if you think it's under the bookshelves, that's much better.

IMO, a small patch on the floor will look better than the built ins. My floor guy matched a 25 yr old floor and you can't tell the difference.

chris, time to get close and personal with your shelves. Get down there and see if they appear to be on top of the floor.

While you're at it you might want to check where the electrical outlet is located. It may have to be moved too.