Hello Dgina. You have beautiful things. It seems so obvious that the room would feel warmer with a rug that I wonder whether you don't have one because you really don't like them. But I'd love to see a rug there, especially one that adds a nubby texture. The one I found seems to echo your wall colour beautifully. Also, the art is to high -- lowering it will also help pull everything together. And it needs a stronger 'anchor' in the form of an ottoman, or table, or chest there. Use the surface to add a touch of the green from your curtains there.

http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/rugs-windows/natural-fiber-rugs/

I also think you need to shop for an armoire to put to the right of the glass doors.

Laliy, now I see your first comment, I have deleted the comment I made when I misunderstood your second one.

I agree with decoen....definately a rug unless you do not want one. Except I would put the bookcases together as one unit. Then your two orange chairs could be ...one on either side of the bookcase unit, angled toward the sofa, then a bench under the window. Take out boat bookcase and put an end table/lamp or a floor lamp... And I am not liking the two color drapes...I would choose just one color and let them hang down...no tie backs. I see the only lamps you have are on the chest under the wall scounce.....could you put your lamps in the living room. Is your chest too tall for in front of the windows rather than a bench? If you like your chest there, then I would put it on the other side of the door sans lamps....scounces are pretty by themselves.

Is there a TV going into the space between the bookcases? It looks as if it was arranged for such and there is a blank hole there instead.

Attached are a few images that might help with your dilemma. Notice where the TV is, furniture set up, and smaller coffee table.

I agree that an appropriately-sized rug will help warm up and polish the look of the space. Also, consider rearranging the furniture to create more of a cluster that is pulled away from the walls. Right now, with everything except for the coffee table being lined up against walls (including the lineup of accessories on the floor between the bookshelves), it gives off a dancehall feel -- not very cozy. Definitely look at Nandina's photo suggestions. There are lots of good ideas there for bringing the furniture into the room.

Are the tall black bookcases fixed or mobile? If mobile I would scoot them closer together and farther down the wall away from the bay window. I think it would be more to scale and functional to move the console table to the window behind your chairs keeping the lamps if you like. Move the white ceramic vases off the floor to perhaps the top shelf of bookcases. And I agree, the boat bookshelf is cute but not here. A bench seat would help create a conversation area to the other side of the couch facing the chairs. Some bold print pillows to bring in texture would help tie it all together. I would hang vertical mirrors or artwork underneath sconces. I would also consider a living room chandelier and large area rug. Good luck.

Love the mix of traditional and modern. Very fresh and cool. I'd put a traditional style rug under the modern seating just to further the traditional/modern juxtaposition.

Think about this:

There are too many shelves....the two matching are not in a good place and the upright canoe needs to move out of your room or at the very least behind the glass door (switch places with the buffet that's behind the glass door. Buffet is too crowded with stuff on top and you don't need both lamps.

Move the two red chairs across from the sofa near where the shelves are now.

Great black and white picture! It's hung too high--not good to hang art even with other straight lines like door jambs or window frames or tops of furniture.

Use that art as a backdrop for the chairs. Drop it down at so it's just a few inches over the top of the chairs. Black+white+red will look fabulous.

Hi, What do you think is the purpose of this room? Are you going to entertain there, relax after work, watch TV? Do you really need the shelves in this room and what function do they perform. Deciding on the purpose of this room will help you come to the best lay out. Aside from that, I think the room would benefit from more floor or table lamps around the seating area and a rug. I would agree with the above comment that the room needs a round coffee table. Round table will balance out all the square elements of the room.

A large rug will tie sofa, coffee table and chairs all together. Right now the chairs are just too far back to join in the conversation with the sofa.

As for layout, all your furniture is spread along the walls and that's why the room doesn't quite work well. If you don't plan to have a TV there, I would put the couch where the orange chairs are, bring coffee table closer to the couch and orange chairs on the other side of the coffee table facing the couch. That will create a seating area that is functional and cozy. If you want to keep book shelves in the room, I would put the desk between those bookshelves for work space or computer, and put a console table where the couch is now. I would put the same identical low shelves on both sides of the entrance to the room, to create balance and symmetry with mirrors above them to reflect the light of the sconces.

Thank you so much

Would you be willing to remove the heavy drapery? It weighs everything down and prevents natural light. That would instantly update and brighten this room. A small round game table and 2-4 chairs on the open end would be useful and ground the room. Post more pics when you get rug, coffee table and complete above mentioned changes.

I think the drapery gives the room its very individual personality, particularly in contrast with the modern chairs. I like it.

i love the drapery too. its hung well, and doesnt over do with fussy cornices. its a delight to see a room that doesnt look like every other room on houzz.

I get that, but perhaps one color off? Just too heavy. Or maybe on each end? JMO

Wouldn't it be cool to be in the room to talk about it?

Yes it would! I get the look and it is interesting and a different perspective. I think maybe when the other changes are made, like rug, moving bookshelves and boat bookcase removed, etc., grouping furniture together a bit more, will make a nice difference.

Hi.
I am wanting to brighten my living room without painting my furniture. What shade would look nice on my wallswith this sofa and furniture? I want it to look airy and bright with cool colors instead of warm.

Yes, it's a room that's so close to wonderful, and there are such good suggestions (Dgina can't do all of them, of course) ... Dgina, we'd love to see what you do when you've done it.)

Pam Evans - post this as your own design dilemma for more responses.

I would do a yellow rug to make the color of the curtains and couch pop. Nonetheless, beautiful home and great detail.