Matt, you definitely want your guests to face that gorgeous view! I would place the back of the sofa up against the wall. That way, the view remains the focal point and the room will flow nicely around it. Plus, the room will look and feel more spacious.

If possible place the TV to the right of the windows in the 2nd photo from the left.

Create a small cluster of seating toward the center of the room. Put something like shelves on the wall to soften its impact. Right now it looks like it's cutting the view in half. leave room for people to walk and stand in front of the windows. That's what people do in rooms with big, open views.

Hi Matt,
Congratulations! That is some amazing view.
I guess that putting your sofa up against the wall would make finding a place for a TV difficult? But it would be the best place for your sofa I think.

I like the Karlstad sofa, but have you seen their new one, the Soderhamn. I've seen it here in the Netherlands and thought it was very nice and comfortable too.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69902238/

If you could do some sort of window seat.... that would be absolutely fantastic! (not for the fainthearted though)

Matt instead of having your guests walking directly into the room, why not float the sectional's largest portion off of the wall without windows. Place a nice console table with lamps behind the large section. You could place the TV on the solid wall and the sectionals shorter end would face the TV. The focal point remains the view, but you could still comfortably watch TV. I am probably not describing this very well, but am sure someone more experienced with photoshop can draw it out.

Thanks for your ideas. I have to say you're all right! I've had the same kind of thoughts.

Rod, I'd like to do 5-6 armchairs around an ottoman, campfire style. That way we could arrange the chairs however we felt at the time, facing the view or each other or the tv....but I like taking naps on a couch on Sunday afternoon so I scratched that.

Carolins, I went to see the Soderhamn on Friday afternoon, it reminded me a lot of my friend's $10,000 Italian sofa and seemed well suited to my new bachelor pad. My only hesitation is that the seat is 2" lower than the Karlstad and the heating /ac cabinet is 28" high, I need to 'test sit' to see if the view looks different from 13-15" off the floor vs 15-17" that the Karlstad has.

Rod I think you're right to keep the area in front of the windows open for people to stand and look. Also, you're right that the wall divides the view, the best view is from either at the windows, or sitting at far right and back.

Thanks again everyone.

What an awesome space! Please post pictures when you are finished.

I agree with carolins that the sofa could work well against the wall. Then I would add two chairs at the far end of the sofa, allowing all a view of the TV on the wall to right of windows as Dytecture suggested. Is that wall big enough for a TV? Do you want to watch TV?

Alternately, you could place the sofa facing the far window, about 2 feet out from the window on the right. With a 7' sofa, that would leave 5 feet of space to the left of the sofa. I'd now place the two chairs I mentioned facing the sofa across a large coffee table. Against the wall could be bookcases, TV, and desk. A sofa table behind the sofa could hold lamps.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Matt, I wouldn't worry too much about the low height of Ikea's latest sofa. You will see that view, as will your guests, as they enter the room. And from the sofa you can view the stars at night.

Sofa back against the wall...the view is really why you got this corner unit, and it also depends on size of room to even float it...but can do L shape far windows and wall combined, or do one good size sofa on wall, w/round table and set those chairs campfire style, but only 2, then flank the other 2 opposite corners, or put 2 on either sie of sofa perpendicular to them and opposite facing, uniformity, and you also have easy access flow to windows, and to seating.

Install a hidden TV in the ceiling where the two windows make the corner. Retract it when not in use. Instead of a sectional, use two sofas in an "L" for more flexibility. Add a couple of swivel chairs for additional possibilities, around an exciting coffee table. Give guests who fear heights a place to sit with their backs to the view. I hope you are allowed to remove the blinds. Float the entire arrangement in the very center of the room. Add a tall piece of casegoods on the wall, as the horizontal lines are rather strong and need to be broken by something with height. Wall to wall bookcases from IKEA could really warm that side of the room and add a location for art, decor, books and other interesting things. Painting or wallpapering the backs of them could add more warmth.

How cool will that be, a hidden TV that drops down from the ceiling.
You could also do a screen and projector (apparently, can't be sure about it for I'm 'technically challenged')

Wow !!! What a fantastic home !!!! What ever you do, and there's some brilliant ideas on here, it will just be fabulous !!!! Lucky you !!!!!

Anne Dee, that photo is fantastic, it's my dream apartment. That photo does help a lot, I'm fact the Soderhamn looks kind of like that sofa, and backless section gives seating while keeping the room open. The placement would work in the room too.

Margaret B, I understand what you're describing and I think that would work out nicely, I'll try that layout when I get the sofa.

I think the photo Anne Dee posted captured the essence of what I so poorly described. I love your space, fantastic view.

Dytecture, it's actually just a 16" concrete column. Here is a photo from a similar unit

decoenthusiaste, what a great idea for a drop down tv, I hadn't even thought of that. Unfortunately the ceiling is concrete with no power. If this would be a 'forever' place I'd consider it, and the corner position would be ideal as the back of the tv would be against the sun. As it is, and on my limited budget, I think I'll just have a small 32" tv on a low rolling cart that I can pull out and position when I need it, and keep it behind or next to the sofa otherwise.

carolins and Carolyn AK, you're getting me to reconsider the Sonderhamn- I like that they are different units that I could reposition in the various configurations people have mentioned on here, and I could use the footstool as seating like in Anne Dees photo.

My normal instinct is to go for the beige sofa - but then everything in the room is beige: beige carpet, cream walls, off-white radiator cover. The unit was just painted, and I don't have the funds to refloor. If I got the black/ dark grey sofa would it be too heavy visually for the small space - making it look more crowded?

I like Anne Dee's pic. You paid for the view so use it. The drop down TV idea is great but you won't find it on Craigs list and they aren't cheap PS. I love you condo!

Too true! Thank you!

Your welcome and I'm jealous, lol!

Hi ausoutback,
I just peeked into your ideabook and the first photo struck me as being rather beige, but very stylish, so if you like that look, you can go for it. Embrace the beige :-)


However, if you go for a dark grey I don't think it will look too heavy, since the room is so light. But I do vote for beige.
Would you have space for a small seating area near the windows? I'm thinking a nice bar/breakfast table with two comfy bar chairs. Thé place to read the newspaper, have a coffee and a chat with someone...

... or just a small dining table with two chairs...
http://www.westelm.com/products/tripod-table-g123/?pkey=call-dining-room

Go for the beige sofa - you will have more options in long run for different color combinations and can let the view be the star. It won't feel matchy, but layered.

I would put the television on the left wall - with the chairs and the options for seating configuration you won't go wrong - best view while sitting is still in a location that is best view for television too.

I took a look at the colors in which the Soderhamn sofa is offered and agree with carolins and libra that the beige, which looks like a lovely gray/beige, will suit your new home well! A prime consideration is that unlike the black and the dark gray, it will not show fading as much and with all your lovely windows, that should be a concern.

Carolyn, thanks for taking the time to look it up and for your input. I agree, I think the beige fabric will hold up better in the sun, its a great point. I went to Ikea yesterday evening to have a look again, and brought home one unit with both the beige and grey covers - I don't need to open the black one to know beige is the better choice, I can tell just be looking at the fabric peeking through the package display window. The size of Soderhamn seems good too, I think it will fit into the room nicely. Thanks again for your advice, its much appreicated.

libradesigneye, I think you are spot on - getting everyone's input as well as mentally 'trying the layout on' in the room makes me think your suggested arrangement is the best - sitting back from the wall provides the best view as well as leaving space for the tv. I will keep the area near the windows open for standing as was suggested. In time I would like to put a small alcohol fireplace against the wall as well - just an idea to provide some coziness when its cold and snowy out.

carolins, I like the idea of a little seating area by the window - I think I am going to put the chaise end of the sofa there, so I can sit and read in the sun and look at the view - or have a coffee or wine. I will show you where I am planning to put the table and chairs in another post and will need your input there too.

this chair is available on craigslist. what do you think? get it or i have enough with the sectional?

Love the chair. Not sure about the colour when you go for the beige sofa though. This chair is more like a silvery grey?
I think you could find a space for a cool chair like this and a separate chair is always nice to have.
I'd love to hear what the others think.

Don't look at the scale of the furniture or position. I just put it in your room to see the colours:

You are the BEST! Thanks carolins, very clear to me now.

Enlighten me too please :-)

The gray chair would probably not be happy living next to the beige sofa. I think that chairs to go with your beige sofa need to be either the same color, or considerably lighter or darker than the beige. So you could use charcoal chairs, or cream chairs, but gray might not work so well, or take a look at the rust colored Tolix chairs at bottom of this post. You could also use colored chairs, tho I'd really prefer that you keep things neutral, furniture-wise. For color you can add art and pillows.So if you go to see in person this chair that is on craigslist, please take with you the cover from Ikea to see if the two are friends.

But even for your pillows, I could see you using charcoal and white and neutrals with textural interest, such as these. People who frequently read my answers may get tired of my offering the Mongolian lamb pillow as a solution, but it just WORKS SO WELL!! So go get the white Mongolian lamb pillow at West Elm. It's gorgeous
and affordable.

Now it's time for some art, and that's a very personal thing, but I hope you'll get somethin that is either a splash of color or a statement in subtlety.

I could see adding a couple of the wonderful Tolix chairs in the rust finish shown below. They just look so Chicago industrial and would mix nicely with other items.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Absolutely love Carolyn's suggestions here.

wow Carolyn you are really great! you really have a sharp eye and can sum up a room and design in an instant! I am going incorporate your ideas. I am a big collector of aboriginal art, which is large and colourful, I think it will mix nicely with the neutrals in the rest of the room. I'll post a photo when its finished. Thanks again for your great insight.

Ausoutback, does it get very hot in the room with the sun coming in? I can't tell you much about the placement of your sofas and TV but I can't help noticing the beauty of the light pouring into the room and the shadows created from each window frame. You shouldn't cover it up.

Matt, congrats on the new space! :) --

Carolins I'm in complete agreement with you

Yep rick, you're spot on about the sun. It's been cool and foggy/ cloudy/ rainy in Chicago this week. Yesterday afternoon the sun came out and flooded the place with bright light, and warmed up the living room by about 15 degrees F. As soon as the sun began to set, you could feel the temperature drop. It was beautiful though to see the orange sun peeking from behind the clouds, the city bathed in a blue/purple light, and the yellow-orange street lights start to come on.

The plastic Venetian blinds that are there are pretty bad, they're thick, the mechanisms don't work, they need to be replaced. I understand why the previous owners put them in though, they control the light, and when the sun is out it gets so bright you need sunglasses inside, and can't use the tv or laptop.
The unit faces south and west.

Hi Matt, I like these :) --

Honeycomb shades are quite energy efficient, but they are either up or down, not allowing you to control the sun as you could do with wood (or faux wood) blinds. Silhouette shades allow some view outside and are quite expensive.

Wood has always been pretty good at insulating but wood blinds have no energy efficiency rating that I'm aware of, I presume because the rating people don't know if you'll have them open or closed. If you keep them closed when you're gone, they should work well for you and be quite affordable. They're not terribly contemporary looking, however. You could even consider metallic silver metal blinds which would look more contemporary.

Your building may have rules and regs about what you can put on your windows. It would be good to talk to your neighbors to see what they have done.

Carolyn, I will never get tired of my Mongolian lamb pillows! They are gorgeous and one of my most favorite purchases for my new house. Thumbs up from me!

@ kimdee: I don't have the Mongolian lamb pillow, but I did buy one of the large pillow covers and had it made into the seat cover for the vanity stool in our master bath. I love it and I'm so glad you like yours too!

I have the same dilemma as you and I'm determined to get a corner sofa - I would say it doesn't matter if the walk into the room and your sofa has its back to your guest, just as long as they can sit and face your incredible sky line