It's your sofa. Only possibility in such a small room.

Thank you, Anglophilia. Would you keep the sofa where it is? Do you think a sectional with chaise near dining entrance would be ok?

If you got a sectional with the extra section on the right of the sofa whilst sitting on it, you could eliminate one of the wooden chairs. Try a test by putting a chair where the extension of the sectional would situate.

I would take down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. Why is your husband opposed to it? It appears that you have a large kitchen with a seating area. You could use that space in your living room. Do you have a dining room? It looks like that part of the kitchen was intended for dining, but I can't tell for sure.

Bonnie_ann, my husband thinks the room would be too long and narrow and more open that he wants. He likes the cozy feel of the living room as is. Yes, we have a dining room, which is where you see a couple chairs on the left and nothing on the right in front of the kitchen bar. We are moving in and I'm having trouble parting with my two Stuart Swan chairs so they're temporarily there for morning coffee. :-)

Here's the dining - excuse the mess!

Ok, Now I understand. Would you consider putting an electric fireplace across from the sofa, behind the two chairs. That would add a focal point and would be a source of heat for the Cambridge winters. Older homes in New England often have smaller rooms, which is part of the charm. I can see your husband's point of view. Live with it and see how it functions for you.

Hi Bonnie_ann, yes, I was wondering about that. I think we might be able to get gas there, too. So you're saying you wouldn't open up the space then, given the situation?

I'd live with it and see if you like it as is or if you find the space would function better with the wall gone (or you could do a partial wall with period columns.) If you currently have gas in your house adding a gas fireplace would add value to your house. We added one and really enjoy it in the fall, winter and spring. We're not far from you! I adore Cambridge. Good luck with the new home.

Thanks, Bonnie_ann. I agree about the added value of a fireplace. And coziness factor. :-) Take care, neighbor, and best wishes!

Pretty place. Can you put the sofa on the wall with the 3 windows?

It looks pretty open in there already to me, yet it still feels cozy. A fireplace would really be cozy. I think I'd put end tables with lamps next to the sofa and move the bookcase to the dining room. Would you consider putting your tv on the wall in the dining room where the mirror is and putting something like a chest that opens into a table underneath? This is the first style that popped up. It's cheaper on houzz.com. I like the chairs in that room, and it looks like a comfy spot for you to sit and read the paper or watch the Sunday news on tv while your husband is cooking your breakfast.

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/12321?cm_cat=ProductSEM&cm_pla=AdWordsPLA&source=PRODSEM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI44TIzMfh1QIVw4uzCh1p9gSAEAkYBCABEgKn-fD_BwE

To answer your question about how to furnish your room. The rug and the gold chair stay. With a 7-8K budget I'd start with sofa shopping. It is very hard for me to think of what you could do in the LR and ignore the adjacent space in your DR! Are you definitely parting with the Philip Swan chairs?

You don't have that much room in the LR so if you are able to do a gas fireplace, I think I'd do one without a hearth that people could trip over coming into the room.

Jn3344 - I will try putting the sofa there, thank you.
bonnie_ann - no, not definitely parting with the Stuart Swan chairs. Maybe getting slipcovers, though.
chickadee2_gw - you're hilarious about my husband making me breakfast. I'm the cook, but I'll read him your post and plant a seed. ;-) I agree on no hearth and that's exactly what we were thinking - put the TV where the mirror is in the dining and have a collapsible table underneath for entertaining. Something like this C & B table but bigger since we'd like a 55-60" TV. Thank you for all of these ideas, I really appreciate it!

A solid plan. I really like the table you posted and think that will work well in your DR. Glad the chairs are staying!

Thanks, chijim for your suggestions. I have tried putting chairs at right angles - I'm attaching some pics. The room is only 12x12 so it's tight. I do like the idea of 2 chairs like that, though and then poufs opposite the couch on the other side of the coffee table. I think it would be too tight to have built-ins around the DR/kitchen wall if we want to have matching side tables and lamps on either side of the couch. My issue is: my husband wants to keep the antique gold chair so the chairs wouldn't be matching. Not good, right? (the bookcase goes)

I tried out some options, some suggested by you all, and am curious what you think. I would like to keep the Stuart Swan chairs but probably have to let go of the ottoman if I move them to the living room. And then we may do a sofa with upholstered ottoman in the dining room for TV watching. Or a sectional with a left arm chaise (chaise closest to DR entrance, I mean; but that would make the entrance to the room a little less open). Thoughts?

Option A, couch at window and chairs under piano window. Imagine a slim table between the chairs, a square coffee table and poufs opposite the chairs. Side table and lamp where pharmacy lamp is. Rug under chair & sofa legs. Bookcase goes.

Option B (below): Couch under the piano window. Imagine rug under sofa legs and chair legs, slim table between chairs or C table on left one and a square coffee table with poufs opposite chairs or couch. Matching side tables and lamps on couch ends. Slim pharmacy lamp on left chair (if no side table). Bookcase goes.

B looks the most inviting, to me. I think the art needs to be relocated, but wouldn't do that until tables/lamps are placed.

What you could do is if/when you reupholster antique gold armchair, have a complimenting seat cushion made for cane-back fauteuil

I like option B with chairs in front of the window and the other with 2 pull-up chairs at right angle to sofa

Chairs under piano window remind me of a waiting room

When I suggest built-in shelves flanking doorway, I was thinking them
being about a foot deep-- about the depth of existing bookcase.

I'm not a fan of sectionals unless the room is ENORMOUS and one is trying to fill empty space. This room is small and your sofa is the right size.

Alex9179 - thanks, I'm liking that one, too.
Chijim - getting the same fabric for the cane back would be a nice way to handle "matching" the two chairs, thanks for the suggestion. I couldn't see your picture - the link gave me an error even when I typed it in. Would love to see if you can post in this thread.
Anglophilia - good point. I am thinking of a small sectional for TV watching in the dining, though. My husband and I like to cozy-up and I like my feet up. Do you think that will be too big?