I like the idea of adding the fireplace here, only I would paint the brick white if doing it, so it fits in better. I'd also change wall color to white or light grey, or something like SW Sea Salt. Don't do an accent wall, keep all walls the same color. I'd definitely switch up the window treatments to take away the valance. Keep in simple with pale or white panel curtains. You'll probably want a new rug too, something lighter and non-geometric I'm thinking. I like the loveseat, I think it would be very nice in there, as could the console table.

More importantly, until you actually move in, live in the space and have all your other stuff laid out, I don't think you should have this room layout set in stone. Better to live in it for a few days and get a feel for what's going to work with the flow of your household.

Congratulations on your new home! I agree with Cara Lewis-Watts with the exception of painting walls SW Sea Salt. Those walls cover a huge portion of your home, I would stick to painting them white or light grey.

To Cara,

Thank you for the great ideas.

We are definitely not doing anything "final". For now we are just trying to figure out how to start off repurposing our furniture... as you live in a place for a while you get a better feel!

We both hate green so I don't think SW Sea Salt is in our future but I could see how it could work.

As you have stated yourself, let's see the place looks with YOUr furniture - we can then go from there.

Put your fireplace (painted white) where they have the big bookcase. I can't see what's behind their piano, but that might be a nice spot for your little chest with the floral inlay and the round mirror hung 5" above it. If you entertain with liquor, that can serve as a nice little bar with a tray of liquor on top and glasses inside. Looks like you have 3 similar shelf systems (different heights) that could possibly be arranged on the stairwell wall. I suggest you paint or stain the railings and newel posts black, and that will pick up on the bookcases and look better with or without them. Loveseats are for lovers and your bigger sofa looks too large for the new space. I would sell them on Craig's List and get a nice pair of armchairs to float facing the fireplace. Your other cabinet and large mirror would be eliminated too in my mind. The rug is a bit contemporary and not a good color. A new one should be large enough for the two chairs to sit on comfortably. What else do you have in the way of art that is about the size of the firebox opening? I'd hang something like that 5" above the mantel. We'll probably have more to say when you get your stuff moved in. Here's an "after" with black of the "before" of a stairwell I worked on here in 2016.