You have a gorgeous space, but I'm afraid I would not include the entertainment unit. They are really completely gone from the current decorating scene. With wood floors I would buy two gorgeous and very large rugs to delineate the living and dining areas. I don't know what your style is, and that's something you're going to have to share with us. Those curtains are not going to work, I'm afraid. It looks as though you may already have a console for the TV. Do you have any inspiration pictures to show us what style and colors you like?

yes, you have to use that beautiful piece somewhere in some way!

It's a gorgeous piece and we aren't all into the 'latest trends'. My Romweber entertainment center from I forget when that I still love today. I have had it for at least 10 years.

What a beautiful space and stunning cabinet, which will fit nicely based on the high ceiling. I'll leave it to the pros for direction but hope to see pics of final work. Enjoy. It's going to be beautiful I'm sure :)

Nice large room, it just needs defined areas. Currently, you walk in front door directly into living room/sitting area. Define the entry area with a long table w/art or mirror above, passed where the door opens to the wall. Or move the grandfather clock there. Table/chairs and rug for dining at the front window. Move living room area to back of space, add rug. Everything is currently lined up against the walls, like in time out! Float a pair of chairs, with a small table, so their backs are to dining area (they also won't visually "block" like a sofa would in that position).

Do you enter the front door daily? If so, keep a more clear path to back of house. If not, a little zig-zag never hurts.

Agree with comment that said paint the handrail/bannisters upstairs. If you want warm and cozy, paint the walls and ceiling a medium color (green, perhaps?).

I hope you will share photos along the way!

My husband is actually building a new entertainment unit for our house so not everyone sees them as passe. You have a large space with high ceilings and a short console unit would look squatty no matter how fashion forward it might look in another space, I'm afraid. The unit you have will give you some of the height and mass you need in that space but the bigger question is, do YOU like it? You say it's been offered to you but sometimes offers are really orders in disguise depending on who makes the offer! Suezbell gave some nice options to consider and I'll echo that you'll need other items with visual weight to balance that cabinet and I would definitely use a rug with some deeper tones to help ground the room.

It would help people make more specific suggestions if you could find pictures of spaces that appeal to you. You don't have to copy an entire room but if you find one with color or specific pieces of furniture that you like it's a starting point for ideas.

As for your floors, I am not a fan of gloss finishes on wood, even medium gloss and would suggest a satin finish at most, but different manufactures will have different looks with the same finish name so be sure to see samples first.

"Blessed, happy and confused..." that's not a bad place to be at all

Thank you DLM2000 and I so agree with your last sentence :)

I'd place the entertainment center where the fireplace is in these photos:

I'm not anti-entertainment center, but it looks like your home might have a family room that is better suited to for this piece.

We want a warm, cozy look for our Living Room Dining Room. ... We will be painting and adding new lighting fixtures, and shades as we face the street and need the privacy.

Are you planning on shades only for the windows? Or shades with curtains? Because shades alone, unless they're Roman shades, tend not to add a cozy factor to a room. Curtains, though, are very good for cozy : ) .

Also want to add casings around the windows to tone down the height of the ceilings?

I really don't thing there's anything you can do to tone down the height of the ceilings. They're high, and there's no disguising that. The other thing is that by adding casing, you'll be emphasizing the windows, which in turn will emphasize their height, so there's a good chance that adding casing will just emphasize the grand scale of the room. I think you're going to be spending enough money on other aspects of the room, so if you don't want casing just because you want casing, I would skip that.

Just yesterday on another thread I saw the top photo below, which to me makes a great room look cozy, so it, and the other photos of the room, may be helpful as inspiration photos if you like the look,

how about you do leather couches, they would give you a good transitional between older and darker and newer/lighter, no?

We did engineered wood floors by somerset in 7" gunstock two years ago. We LOVE it, I think it is really gorgeous.

I think your entertainment center has potential. Paint it; keep the wood background, or line it with wallpaper.

i don't think i could do that, could you?

I think I could

What a fun project! I think that your new wood floors should be the color of the wood on the back of your entertainment center. It is a classic look. I really hope that you do not get on the " gray everything bandwagon". I would get the floors done and choose a paint color. I would go with something warm ( not gray or blue).... a warmer beige. Since your room is bright it could be a little deeper in color. My favorite still remains SW Nomadic Desert. It has no untertones and goes with everything.

After those things are completed you could come back and get furniture/art/rug advice. There are many people who are very willing to help. I really like your entertainment center.

I took another look at the entertainment center. I don't think I would use it in this room (I really like beckysharp's inspiration photos) but if you were to paint the whole thing black (or whatever its color is) I can see it as looking much more elegant and classic. I would probably use it as a bookcase rather than an entertainment center. If you look at any number of current and beautiful rooms you probably won't see a single entertainment center because something so massive overwhelms every other piece of furniture. In all honesty, it was a trend and has seen its day. However, it's your home and you have to style it to make yourself happy.

I really like the entertainment center as it is (even recognizing that they've fallen out of favor in the age of flat-screen TVs). But it is a statement piece, and I think you really would need to design around it. It definitely has the cozy/homey/little bit country thing going on. I think the gunstock color of flooring is a good choice with it. Without having seen samples, "medium gloss" sounds like it might be too reflective for such a sunny room.

If you keep the entertainment center, I'd try to use black elsewhere in the room as well--coffee or side tables, or tables lamps. It will visually balance the room.

Do I understand correctly that the empty end of the room is the dining area? Even though no table? I was trying to figure out why so much empty space, and that would explain it.

Thank you for your comments, the area with the 1/2 moon window is the Dining Room area.

I am in love with your piece. If you love it, I hope you use it either as a TV "frame" or a cabinet for books and items that talk about who you are. (Consider that although entertainment centers are not being pushed today, many people love the look of TVs surrounded by built in bookcases...and really, what's the difference?) Think about the advice above, however, as it will be the boss of your room and you will need to choose other furniture that works with, and not against, it. If you are on the fence about using it, however, this might not be piece for you.

actually, if the room is as large as it looks and the other one is too. i would have one formal, one not so for family. so a huge fancy table in here and elegant sitting area, and smaller dining table for family next door.

I would keep the gloss low on the floors-satin finish or the equivalent from Armstrong. I think you can keep the living and dining room in their natural spots by placing the entertainment unit on the wall where the grandfather clock is currently. The sofa can face it with a sofa table behind to extend the feeling of an entrance. Then you can add a chair at the window side and another opposite to form a U shaped sitting area with an area rug to ground the space. I also see a room that looks like a family room. Will you have a t.v. in there as well?

If you are keeping the entertainment center dark, you just need to be able to mix the dark and light pieces. Here are a few ideas that might help.

What the heck do any of those pictures have to do with the OP's situation or entertainment center? Geesh I wish we could go back to separate worlds for GW and Houzz and eliminate the self promo responses.

If you are that challenged, please get a local decorator to help with the project.

i do not understand with either of the last 2 comments.

Havingfun my post no longer makes sense because the previous poster removed their post filled with pictures of their own work that had nothing to do with the original post.

Joann, what I was trying to say, is boots on the ground with eyes on the project is a much better solution for someone that needs comprehensive help on a project than Houzz. I am actually impressed that you know your limitations. While I worked at interior design studio through college, I know that I am not talented in pulling things together so I ask for help. No shame in it. So get some ideas here but also get some help locally and you will have a much better project overall. You have a lovely space and as my uncle always told me, “its cheaper to do it right the first time than to pay to do it over again.”

Are you planning on buying any new furniture? I ask because your current furniture doesn't seem to have the heft that the new-to-you entertainment center does. In it's current colour I'm afraid it will overwhelm everything. The new floors may anchor it but your area is so nice and airy.

As a hint with your high ceilings - look at the photos that beckysharp posted and notice that a line horizontal line was picked and everything is kept below that line which helps to make the space manageable and cozy. For example - pick a line such as the base of the railings in your loft and keep everything - artwork, furniture heights, window coverings, etc below that line. Just my 2c.

Thank you, yes we will be getting new furniture. All of the posts have been very helpful. :)

First, thank you for all of the posts, they were all greatly appreciated. Just an update, picked out the flooring and had it installed last week. Pinnacle, Hickory, Cornsilk mixed plank widths. Looks great. Now for the paint, I am having the spindles painted white - thank you for that idea!! For the walls I am leaning toward BM Lenox Tan or Bleeker Beige. The ceiling throughout the house is SW Dover White Flat. Also, any opinions on matte or eggshell finish for the walls?

Eggshell has a bit of sheen, but not much, and is more durable than matte.

I think the entertainment center is really attractive, but as others have mentioned it must fit in to your style. It is possible that you could use just the bottom part?

joag, you really should finish furnishing the room and then paint it.