This is a beautiful room that is "eclectic". You will be doing a simplier look but I just wanted you to see this is lovely. I like the black and white striped accents. You could do that in this room as well.

put the sofa back where it was and the chairs like these here perhaps you would need a larger rug or not it all depends ,a glass top table would look much better in my opinion.

@ Genevieve, my wife was actually talking about that last night. Problem is the room is longer than it is wide. If I put the 2 chairs like that it doesn't leave hardly any room to walk behind them.

Do you have a picture of what this space left looks like ?

you could move the chairs in a bit ....perhaps !

I agree with Flo eclectic is my style. A little modern, traditional and an antique from my old style thrown in. It shows your personality. Love your room

A room is always more interesting when different elements -wood, metal, glass or marble- or shapes are combined. I like the larger, more traditional glass coffee table with cleaner lines and less fuss if you want rectangular. Glass will show off your rug and you can stack large coffee table books and other decor to give it bulk and interest. You can also consider square bunching coffee tables that come in many different configurations and can be separated for entertaining if beed be.

thoughts ?

To be honest, it's not my favorite layout. I think it looks a bit crowded and squared off, like you have to squeeze between the furniture to sit down, which isn't as inviting as the layout where the second sofa was removed completely. I also think the walkway behind the chairs is a bit narrow.

However, I like how you rotated the rug and rotated the coffee table in the second photo to align with the new rug orientation.

Is there another room you could put the second sofa?

If you plan to have the two chairs opposite the FP, then chairs on an angle with a curved back would be more forgiving in this location.

Glad you turned the rug.

Since you have matching sofas and the room is longer than it is wide, you might consider the idea of using them back to back. It is possible that the rug would be better in the dining room, if back to back works. Play with it - what have you got to lose?

May help

I think the chairs are a bit "lite" feeling for the room and the fireplace- they don't look so inviting. I think a club style set would be better-especially of you like restoration hardware style that too is usually heavier- the club chairs could be a unique fabric pattern or lite/bright color to keep it all fresh and fun.

I think I'm on advice overload...ahhhh. But seriously thank you everyone for all the help. It's going to be a lot of trial and error purchase and returns but eventually we'll get it done! Keep the ideas coming!

What about this look ?

"Elegant". "Classic", "Traditional" all apply to those chairs. "Cute" DOES NOT. They will work well with the sofa, but should be the determiners of the table style.

So coffee table should resemble the wood of the chairs ? And not the bookcases? I was thinking just going with the color of the bookcases for the side table and coffee table and incorporating some lighter wood accessories on the table to pull it together

You might overload the space with black with that scheme. The large block of black with the bookcases is enough big blocks. Then the other pieces are "supporting actors". You can and should bring some small doses of black but not in a huge coffee table. Too much black will start to look "matchy-matchy" which will not be best bet. Before you decide on a coffee table for sure, get your main pieces (sofa(s) and chairs decided on and their arrangement. Then you can decide on coffee table. If you decide on two chairs facing sofa with coffee table in the center and perhaps a long bench on the end of the "U"; then you would have one shape coffee table, namely long and rectangular in shape, like your earlier posting. If you decide on two sofas and two chairs on the end of the "U", then you might want a more square coffee table. So, I would urge you to switch things around and see what "feels" best to you and your families needs. Keep a walkway at least 3' around the pieces and 24" between pieces (roughly) and 18" from edge of chairs or sofa seats and coffee table. Those are "guidelines" but usually work well. Have you found an arrangement that you prefer?

We would prefer to have the chairs facing the other couch

@ Flo Mangan. Any plans on coming to Socal? :)

Don't I wish! I like your idea of the two chairs facing the sofa. Then the long coffee table and you could put a little tufted leather bench at the end to complete the "U" and give one more place for one or two people to perch while sipping an adult beverage! I will play with some ideas for you. bbl

I have played and played with various options for coffee table, side tables, etc. and considered your family (children) and this is a tricky room to do. I don't have the measurements of this room, but judging from the photos, you do not have enough room for the oversized wood rustic table. Plus with the two new chairs in the Regency style this type rustic table just won't look right, especially with a formal dining room in the background. So, I hunted and came up with a versatile but lovely coffee table with expanding tables plus a "idea" for the table between the two chairs. I put a gray rug down in the mock up, because it was as close as I could get to your rug and I wanted to block out the black table you have. I ruled out glass top due to children. This coffee table has a marble top and I think they simple styling works with your chairs and keeps the look modern but not too fussy.

The side tables are a pair, but you would only use one on that side. I also put two poufs at the end to have some additional soft pieces in the space. The coffee table will soften the white of the stone wash/paint on the fireplace just a bit but will keep things light and breezy. I am guessing your sofa is 86" long? So this coffee table is 50" long and that would work nicely I believe. Of course, all the measurements would have to be verified to make sure these numbers work. The chairs drive you toward a less rustic look and a more formal look, but I tried to keep it comfortable. See what you think.

I picked these for size and to break up all the straight lines. I also was mindful of pricing. Also, bringing a touch of the black to the seating area.

Kid friendly, plus another small seat. With your walkway at that end of the arrangement, I can see why the chairs won't work in that location.

Flo this pattern matches my draperies on a smaller scale.

Nice!

@Flo, thoughts on reworking the hearth to accommodate a chair on either side?

From what I can see, your fireplace box is elevated from the floor to the hearth height, and that hearth looks like it is only about 18" deep? So, no I wouldn't mess with that at all. Could be opening a can of worms too because I don't know how it is attached? Is it cantilevered? Was it set into the wall stone? Would taking it out create a "gap" that would have to be filled? Would the floor get dinged taking it out. Not a good idea I don't think. But what you could do, is ask yourself, how many people will be seated in this space routinely. If generally not more than 4-6, then the two chairs and sofa plus a bench will work nicely and give the room a lovely, polished look without being "stuffy".

Have not seen the whole room, but I like the two sofas....is there room to make a seating area of pair of chairs with small table between and small floor lamps on either side of chairs behind the sofa on left by a possible window.

If not then L shape the sofas on the left and but one chair on angle by fireplace and open up entry area to sofas or place a pair opposite the Lshape sofas.

@susan not sure I can visualize what you're talking about

I have no professional experience, but from what i have read and seen, here is what I think your room could look like... Lshape couches, larger coffee table, but not bulky. Chairs opposite with nesting "natural" table in between

I drew this with the room as a 17'x21', with doorway opening on 2 walls, and an 8'x10' rug. With a larger rug you can open up the area even more.

Thank you so much for this drawing! problem is that I have a second bookcase on the left wall that would interrupt the second seating area. also this living room is like the main thoroughfare from the entry into the dining room. Moving the couches in that pattern would leave me with less room between the couch and the wall than whats in the picture. Also the back wall is like 75/25 split. longer side towards the top and shorter side at the bottom. I tried my best to show the door openings and how close the sofa comes to the wall. I think I'm stuck just doing the 1 sofa and 2 chair combo

hmmm sorry about that, have you thought about a love seat or even a bench of some sort. Not as long, and I saw one that could serve as coffee table and/or bench at Crate and Barrel that I loved. You might check that out...

going to take a look at the restoration hardware bertrand coffee table I found on CL tomorrow. too good of a deal to pass up. 71x36x17 for 675. If it looks good I think I'll go with the sofa and 2 chair idea with the larger coffee table in the middle. Anyone familiar with this coffee table?

Hows do I bridge the table and bookcases together? or am I forced to sell the bookcases now? I love all the pieces but tying it altogether is insane! the chairs have found a home in the master bedroom so the layout will remain as seen. Happy wife...happy life ;)

I think the bookcase is fine. You just need some color through pillows and maybe a plant like an orchid with a few objects on the table. Nice room.

No need to eliminate the bookcase, à Canadian Designer once Saïd " In a forest not all trees are alike" these words of knowledge really stuck to my mind.

I like your final layout much better. Add some full throw pillows that pick up the same colour of the stone on the fireplace and then a few accessories on the table (tray, book etc). You could add a basket in front of the fireplace in the same tone as the coffee table and fill it with throws as well. Looks like a cozy spot to hang out.

I think that works and I agree can't beat that price. The way you integrate the bookcases is with some accessories on the coffee table that bring in some black. A silver tray perhaps with a nice interesting black object and some coffee table books with some black in the dust covers. Then a single white orchid with a black vase, along with a couple of kidney pillows for the sofa in a fluffy white, cream and perhaps a bit of black and you have it! Do you have enough walk around space from the entry through the room? Can't quite see from that view? One more small tip: pull the sofas so they are 18" from the edge of the seat of the sofa to the edge of the coffee table. That is the best distance for folks on the sofas to reach the table. I will post some coffee table arrangements for you in a bit.

Here is a large try (you don't need one that big, some black bound books, black candle sticks, etc. You want to leave enough blank space for glasses or coffee cups, etc. I want to find another that is more perfectly like what you need.

Here are some others for your review.

I would error on the side of fewer rather than too much. Books, orchid and a black object would be roughly what you need. If you put object on stack of books, that would count as "one" item; then do two more things. Use "odd" numbers for the best look.

This is nice "life like" silk orchid in a black pot. This placed on books would be lovely along with perhaps a tall hurricane glass candle holder and may one more small item.