I think we'd need to know a little more about what style you're going for and what colors of rugs and furniture you're bringing with you to this new house. Or are you starting completely from scratch?

Thank you! Starting totally from scratch. I'd like to retain the stained glass and wood trim but modernize a bit, and and allow in some additional light. We'll have a TV in here, I think, I would like it to be more user friendly than it is now. My husband really wants a brown leather sectional which could maybe work?

Is this the only living area? Or would you like a "den" and a formal living room? I'm glad that you want to keep that beautiful wood trim. I think your house is maybe the same vintage as mine - 1920's. What I did last summer was pick out some styles and fabrics of furniture that I liked. The consultant brought the fabric samples to my house because I was trying to coordinate with an oriental rug. From that point, I chose a paint color. I'd do paint LAST. I can't tell what the material of your fireplace is, but you can get a lot of ideas looking at pics here like you've already done.

We have a family room off the kitchen, picture attached. I don't want the living room to be so formal that we don't use it, if that makes sense! I have three kids five and under.

That's a great suggestion to find a piece to design around. Maybe I'll start with the fireplace.

That's it - the K word. Just an idea if you don't want what I subconsciously call "man furniture" in every room - some of those Sunbrella indoor/outdoor fabrics can be put on more elegant pieces of furniture so that not everything is a sectional or a lounge chair. 'Cause if the mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

ain't it the truth!! I also realize that I'm going to need a pretty gigantic rug in there so that's something to pick out too... :) Thanks so much for your suggestions!

Good that you aren't painting the woodwork -- arts and crafts houses all had that. I like it.

Figure out what furniture you really want, and do a few floorplans. You can look at furniture online, but there's nothing like going to a furniture store and testing it out. Some of them have consultants who will come to your home and offer suggestions. I had so much fun doing it -- don't rush and enjoy it.

yes, he definitely likes that leather is indestructible! I'll have a look at those. We have an upholstered couched filled with down and feathers escape and stick to it and it loses it shape and we both hate it!

exciting time, isn't it? congrats!

1)window treatments-depending on whether you're drawn to classical or more relaxed-I envision either Roman shades/blinds..or light linen/cotton drapes, maybe patterned. Either something not long or long but not stuffy:)

2) fireplace. fill these shelves with books and favorite things..put a painting you love over it or a mirror you love..and you might find it doesn't need any updating.

even though I might take a trouble and paint it the wall color-when you actually choose to paint..if you choose to paint. or you can wallpaper it too. the inside of the shelves I mean

unless you hate the surround-and then it's a bigger job that needs to be considered.

if you don't hate it-work with it and around it. it's fairly neutral

3) furniture. Olychik and others here said already what was on my mind..if going for sectional choose the one that has good lines. if you tell us approximate budget I'm sure we can be of help. Room and Board has a good reputation. Natuzzi which I have experience with has a great quality leather of different durabilities and many many colors..lines are good too..the wait is three months though. but the service is-or was?-impeccable. It's exactly 3 months, they come the day they promise:) White glove delivery, as professional as it can be

still have couple armchairs I bought from them almost 20 years ago. these would benefit from reupholstering to be honest...but they went through a lot these armchairs..and I love the color..don't want to reupholster them fully, only the worn parts.

I think reupholstering every 15-20 years is a good deal:) if you still love the furniture of course

4) still furniture, paint, lights...well you need to think. and get inspired. How people get their vision? They look and they dream. Pictures (magazines, books on design, art, Pinterest, Houzz, photography..not necessarily of interiors..you never know from where your color palette will call you), nature, your city I'm sure(I've been to Chicago once..it impressed me as elegant city..), movies..fabrics and rugs..fashion..your own wardrobe:) Figure out what you like..you'll find you like many things but some you'll love more and return to them in your mind, over and over..these are loves, with more staying power.

You don't need to rush..it's a process. You don't need to furnish everything at once or paint right away(although logistically much easier of course before you move..especially with small kids), buy all the lights right away. Take it slowly. Will be more fun that way too:) Don't neglect the table lamps, the floor lamps, the sconces. The more sources of light you've got the more power over your atmosphere you have. They don't need to be expensive-you can score amazing finds when you search for vintage for example.

That's a short summary on my hectic thoughts on the matter:)

Will you be keeping the carpet? If it is a craftsman you should find wood underneath. Unless you are avoided wood.

Congratulations on your new home! I would do two sofas facing each other or an L of two sofas and a chair. The trick to getting men out of thinking brown or black is to offer blue. They almost always go for blue. After a few months of thinking blue it's not too hard to just change it to what you want lol. It's just a process. BTW, don't let anyone tell you light colored leather is bad with young children. I know.

oops just saw you do have hardwoods. I got caught up in the large rug/carpet.

I would start with something you love. I typically start with a rug I love and go from there, or a paint color that makes the room feel warm and comfy. You might like bright or you may prefer more saturated colors. However, that is just me. From there I would go with seating and then on to tables and lamps that fit the furniture. I am a lamp fanatic so I try to have many for warm ambient dispersed light.

Are there colors you are drawn to?

This is my living room. As you can see, I went with a dark saturated color. I did it bc I have so many windows and it is glaringly bright. We live on a hill so there is no filtered light.

Personally I would paint all the wood trim a cream color but I know that's sacrilege for this style. I would, however, paint before you move in because it will be so much more difficult afterwards, especially with children. It's odd that the walls are pink and the fireplace yellowish, so that's something I would address first. I would next look for a large, gorgeous Oriental rug that would set the color scheme and go from there with drapes, furniture colors, etc. The rug that's there now is actually longer than it needs to be. The window treatments are odd, to say the least. You're so fortunate to have windows on several sides, which means you can go with lighter or darker wall colors without the living room turning into a cave. I would choose furniture that has classic lines, and not the overstuffed, lumpy shapes that you see so much in leather furniture especially. That look is going to be dated very soon, and in fact you will never see it in decorating magazines or on-line decorating sites. Furniture stores are often 5-10 years behind what's trendy, but classic styles never get dated, like a chesterfield sofa, or anything that has simple lines.

Your house is so classic you could almost go any way you want. I love bungalow style and Art Deco, but YMMV. You can google that and find some classic ideas. I can't see it too well, but to my eye, those shelves aren't doing your fireplace any favors. Were they a modern add on perhaps? A close up might help. I love fireplaces so I'd definitely want to keep that classy looking one and make it a centerpiece.

Lovely place. I have no worthwhile suggestions but I have a question for the more knowledgable members here. Would you characterize the fireplace surround as Art Deco? Also, I have never seen window treatments like the living room WT's, kinda fascinated by them.

Yes, the fireplace surround is Art Deco. Could you provide a close up of the fireplace and the shelves? If the fireplace surround is original, I wouldn't touch it. If you ever do decide to remove/replace it I would suggest you have it dismantled professionally and then store it. If you ever decide to sell the house, the original fireplace could be very desirable to potential buyers. Are there any other original features in the house? Congratulations, it's a lovely home.

Thank you all so very much for your suggestions. aktillery what a beautiful room! I'm for sure going to try to move in a different direction with the sofa. Love the blue idea.

I don't know how you characterize the fireplace - maybe Prairie?

New curtains for sure, and a smaller rug because the floors are beautiful. This has given me lots to think about. :) I really appreciate everyone weighing in.

@teeda we're not in the house yet, so I only have the pics from the listing. I don't know if it's original but good to know. I've looked into a few professional fireplace places because that's not a job we could tackle! The floors and I think trim are original, and the stained glass too.

Design neophyte that I am, I feel like we have a gem and I want to do it justice!

Before you do anything I would do some research on bungalow and arts and craft houses. I'm glad you want to retain the woodwork. It looks like the fireplace was redone at some point because it looks more art deco, which is more from the 30's and 40's. If it's original, I'd keep it. Otherwise, I would figure out a way to bring it back to its 1920's roots.

The wood trim does seem to have a very high gloss finish. It would look considerably better with a light sanding and a more matte finish, which isn't a very involved project (not like stripping wood trim that's been painted white...).