@mrstinylady are u able to do a mock up with two rug choices??

I can try. Post the pix.

Your new sofa looks great. I actually like the chevron rug. I think what is off are the curtains. I agree with others that heavier navy blue ikat curtains would balance the statement of the rug; I also think the orange curtains or yellow curtains would be wonderful. Lastly, artwork over the chairs will make a huge statement.

@mrstinylady

yeah 5x8 may be too small. and the negril in 8x10 is $800. a little out of my price range right now :(

@mjmil thank u!

do the legs of the sofa/chairs have to be on the rug?

@daniellebea
sy thank u for the great pics!!

Try a 6 x 9 rug...rugsusa.com is a good place to look for inexpensive modern rugs. In fact it has your rug which I agree looks too big but definitely has a nice look to it in the room.

monidemi: AS YOU REQUESTED!

monidemi: AS YOU REQUESTED!

But I don't like either. Do you?

Don't kid yourself by buying an ivory shag rug with a toddler in the house. Been there. Bad idea.

Really just different curtains (darker and heavier), artwork for above the 2 chairs, and something taller to fill up the space between the window and the chairs and you've got it. The artwork or pictures could have some pop of color that you enjoy and then fill the rest of the room here and there with other smaller items of that color (i.e. one or two throw pillows, a vase, etc.)...something like @mrstinylady's first mock-up with the red but you could also try light yellow or light green.

I am not a designer. But my first impression is that the rug is very stressful. Draws your attention to the right to much!! Imagine what will make you feel comfortable and peaceful, to me for example means, lighten colors not to many vertical or diagonal lines , in general, not only talking about the rug. You have the lines (arrow, type, triangular) of the rug and lots of horizontal lines of the shades and then the verticals on the curtains... I will start by eliminating the rug or changing it for one with no lines, and see how it goes. then you can decide if you want to change the shades or maybe is not necessary. The sofa is very dark so some lighten pillows could work pretty. Work with what ever makes YOU feel peaceful and happy, rather than what it is suppose to "match" or look "cool" at the end it is you who will be leaving there. Good luck!!!

monidemi darling, her's what all of us need to KNOW FROM YOU:

What style are you going for? Contemporary?

What colors rock your world? Cool or warm?

Why does little toddler need to be kept from the furniture, exactly? I mean, are there things in the cabinets or are the corners a black-eye waiting to happen or what? Throwing up?

Thank you for posting your comments/questions mrstinylady! NOTHING would make the room look better than removing all the gating. Maybe redecorating should wait until the toddler is a little older?

Then, monidemi, it might help to answer the questions mrstinylady posted. Start with one inspiration piece you love -- the rug or a piece of artwork -- and decorate around it. I guess I assumed, since you were talking about replacing a perfectly good rug, that money was no object. If $800 for a new rug is out of the question, use the gorgeous rug you have and decorate to complement it! Folks have posted some wonderful options, pick something that speaks to you and go for it.

Love your gray wall
What color is that?

I got the rug for $200. I would t mind spending something around that price, not close to a grand. I think I like the ivory rug. I like that its neutral and I can experiment and change colors easily with artwork, pillows, accessories, etc. I like modern, eclectic, and touches of traditional. All very different, yes. I made a lookbook of photos that speak to me. I tend to shop at west elm, crate and barrel, and cb2.

do not get rid of your child's toys, they need to play too, and its nice that when you are in that same room they can be part of your space too.....work around it. Homes with children are not to be model homes. Love the environment of them in the space.

@delfina thank u so much for ur comment! I love having his toys in our grown up space. I'd love to organize them better but I enjoy him being a part of the room in a sense.

Thought I would include some rug choices that are more neutral. I agree with the comments about taking some time to really think about how you would like the room to look. Good luck!
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Metro-Grey-New-Zealand-Wool-Rug-6-x-9/6852606/product.html
https://www.jossandmain.com/Textured-Ground-Davis-Shag-Rug-in-Pearl~FV29298~E4986.html
https://www.jossandmain.com/Textured-Ground~E4986.html

being a grandma of 4 now, as I look back when my kids were young I wished I would have been much more relaxed about having everything be so perfect and model home looking...they grow up so fast! You know.....

Rug is awesome, totally keep it. Curtains, totally agree go heavier. Lose all the baby gates...you are willing to have toys in the room, retrofit your cabinets to be kid safe (change out glass with plexi for now, or tin, fasten them to the walls, add magnetic latches so they can't open the doors even in the slightest without the 'key', etc). I couldn't imagine having such amazing furniture and having it exist behind a plastic gate! I just think if you are going to embrace the kiddos in the adult space, go for it. Personally I would get them some play sets that are made of wood or a little less plasticky if you care about that. I would experiment with the rug placement as well. Put it at an angle and put it deeper under the furniture. Don't be afraid to hide more of it, right now it feels like it's being contained by your furniture, not tying things together. If you stick with the rug, go with solid color pillows on the sofa and/or chairs. It OWNS the room, respect that and when the kids are older, if you still love it and they haven't totally destroyed it, get a glass coffee table. Your taste is amazing btw. OH and consider getting a new ottoman that has storage inside of it. You could have the kids toys available but easily stowed.

I'm not sold on the curtain issue, perhaps none are needed......one of the best features of your living room structure is the great oversized window that has a sill well below the top of wainscot (the wainscot is creating a terrible stripe around the rooms, and needs breaking up). Try moving the sofa to the high peaked wall to cover the wainscot stripe, then move the two chair grouping in front of the window. Now the chairs won't get lost under the wainscot since their chair backs will be higher than the window sill. Try the room without the curtains and keep the window clean and open. Add a two row grouping of same framed pictures above the sofa to fill the big peaked wall. Want to add the softness of patterned fabric to the room? Add a curtained system between the living room and adjoining dining/playroom and simply pull back the curtain towards the new sofa placement end and you have divided the spaces and cut that long run of wainscot in half. Eventually move the great buffet to the dining room and add a comfy chair with ottoman in that living room corner. Tall dark bookcases added to each side of the entryway to the hall would fill the tall peak end, and create a library feel to that end of the living room.

definitely like the idea of adding curtains to the separation of the kitchen

Honestly, if I may pipe in during my super cheesy pizza break . . .I actually love that black and white rug especially because you don't and can ruin it with child slobber and late night cocktails or whatever. It's WILD, but you can use all kinds of everything with it and have as much fun as your toddler would--just in a different way. KEEP the toys in the room if you have to but not those gates. Read what Mike Severson said until you have it memorized!

I want curtains! Bold and oversized is better and you can put those as a ceiling mount and keep ALL the existing (I think, but maybe the gray has to find a new room). The bold curtain pattern or color will bring up the eye and make your room expand visually. And it'll make most of us happy. That's your tireless goal, right?

Love the gray wall and okay with all else, but am thinking the ceiling could use some pizzaz via veneer or paint and you gotta have some built-ins just to store it all after a long day of mothering. Steamer trunk or armoire? That's much cheaper. Repurpose something. A big silver foil covered trunk would be neat between chairs and have lighting on it? So pillows, bean bag for little one, a little extra storage for toyland, and coordinated pillows.
Art. You're done.

I like the new couch. I think the area rug would go with your new couch. I would create a sitting area on the corner where the buffet console is located. Swap the 2 arm chairs and round table and put the buffet console on the far end wall. Add a wall art where the buffet console would be. I would put up Roman shades so the kids would not pull on the curtains. If you prefer curtains use a double rod put a sheer and a darker curtain. Loose the blinds ;D Change the art frame with a mirror, since the frame is too big for the wall on where the smaller console is. Add kid friendly accessories.

ok so i did some experimenting with curtains tonite, ad while i haven't found a pair that i'm keeping yet, i think i'm getting closer. bought new pillows and am using the blue on as the inspo for color. i need massive color in here! i'm thinking i want avocado green on curtains. this pair was my favorite. yes they're the wrong length. they have the right length online, just wanted to see if i liked them before ordering. thoughts? maybe more pattern??

wow, can't see it in this pic but they are avocado green with a slight flower pattern.

oh and i'd buy way more panels, just wanted to get an initial reaction from myself and all of u!

I like it!
Want to change the chairs into a dignified patterned white with greens.
Can you see a cornice box in the coordinating fabric to the chairs?

Here's some visuals for your opinion.

More. It's a TGIF day already!

Oh heck! Just try to stop me!

Hummm . . .

Baby gates and

Like the idea of the avocado green which I think would work well. This color looks a little pale and faded out, perhaps something more like the green color of your pillow. Think a pattern would work well too with the avocado green. Like your idea of bringing more of the navy blue into the room with pillows, etc, if keeping the rug.

I still think you could use more dramatic drapes. Here are a few suggestions. I think any of these would be pretty or some type of geometric pattern in your color choice.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104224313/pair-of-color-block-linen-curtain-panels?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=white+and+navy+curtains&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto3&ga_search_type=al

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97149881/pair-of-rod-pocket-curtains-in-navy-blue?ref=sr_gallery_28&ga_search_query=white+and+navy+curtains&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=all

http://www.westelm.com/products/ironwork-flocked-window-panel-ochre-t532/?pkey=e|curtains|75|best|0|1|24||16&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-Featured%20Curtains-_-

Would totally do the west elm pair but I need four panels 90+ length.... $400 for curtains? Can't do it :(

I have three kids, and I would suggest changing the child proofing first. Look at how to make your room safe without the gating. Figure out toy storage that works. We have a lot of closed baskets from pottery barn kids/ teens and everything that wasn't child safe got secured or taken away. Once I did that I loved our room do much more and clean up became a breeze. It won't be long before your toddler is finding ways around the gates. Work with the child elements, not against them

here's an update...

A very crisp looking room. A decorative element on the wall behind the 2 chairs would help heighten the ambiance of the room.

Your updated room looks completely different and really great. The rug and curtains go together beautifully.

Like all the changes - they look great!

Thank you! We are working on ordering a series of prints to frame in multiples behind the two chairs. We still need accessories but it is coming along!

Love the room. I actually liked the chevron rug, but I have an affinity for simple, yet bold patterns. I think a fiddle leaf fig tree would look gorgeous in the room, as would some colorful flowers; Faux hydrangeas can be a room changer.

@cait204 I LOVE both of ur suggestions!!! I have been envisioning something tall and green next to the chair but didn't know what. I was looking at these big yucca plants but the fiddle leaf is it!! I also love hydrangeas. I faux arrangement was on my list!

@cait1204

You really cannot remove the toys ( which are really minimal) unless you have a completely separate family room.

I don't quite understand the security gates. Your toddler is going to make short work of them soon! I think there are other child proofing strategies. The big case pieces can be bolted to the wall and I would just remove the decorative items on the tops for the time being. Those with doors should have fasteners. I also worry about the wires I see around the gates. They should be secured behind the furniture. Safety first, absolutely! Give the gates to someone with dogs.

I think your room is great looking - has lots of impact.

I personally like the area rug. The geometric is great. But, if it is bothering you, swap it for a geometric in a different color.

You need something exciting for that large wall area. Although, there is something to be said for negative space!

Perhaps an artist could do an original piece for you.

You have great instincts! You should trust them.

You have a stunning home.

It is stunning and looks great!