What are the little boxes by your valances ? Are they speakers ? Can they be covered ?

Yes they are Mark... Put into the wall. This house is 15 years old that was technology then:(

If you still like traditional, here's a room for reference.
http://houzz.com/photos/2548098

Bellesum thank you love that looks much like my home

lin15 I think that navy roman blinds on your windows would pull out the navy in your carpet. I think it would be a nice departure from the red throughout the house. I also think that a light sofa in a material similar to the chairs I suggested from Baker would be lovely. I would then add some pillows in navy and some made from your beautiful Schumacher fabric as well. I think the material that you have on the wing backs is very nice and suit the carpet well.

I would have suggested a different drapery treatment but your speakers can't be covered, so I think roman blinds would be a nice updated choice.

I was thinking no window treatment as we have off white wooden motorized blinds. Everyone has commented the look like dots when valences are up there ..?

If no drapes are what you would like then no drapes it is :) I think if the roman blinds were pulled down to the length of the curtain valance you have on now it would just add a nice pop of color to the wall and tie in your navy in the carpet. You don't want to bring in navy because it would be hard to maintain with the animals but it would be nice to pull it out in some way.

first of all.....let me say that i LOVE your rug!!!! (Heriz is it?) also, it's saying blue blue blue to me. i would move completely away from any orange/rust/brown and embrace blues, reds and cream.

What about a neutral sand cored sofa that is a color in the rug

That room in my earlier post shows that sand would work. It would also tie in with the color scheme of your sitting room without being identical. Blue can be introduced in small shots.

Perfect ! That would be a great choice. With all sincerity you are a lady with impecable taste and it shows from the rest of your home that I have got to see more of on Houzz . Sometimes we need help from decorators but I feel that you have the eye and talent to make the changes in this lovely room to suit you. Just from our exchanges on Houzz you are very talented and I think decorators you have hired have helped you but have also led you in directions that did not suit you and confused you.

Lin, Wow, you have been getting lots of great ideas, especially from Mark! If there is a sand color,in the rug, then go for it. I started out looking for sofas in linen colors,for you, but just wasn't sure what colors were in the rug. I saw the peach tones and thought linen would look weird, but yes, sand works! If you are worried about keeping them clean, I'm wondering if slipcovered,sofa is the way to go. ,it is a family room, so even though you have a beautiful Persian rug it doesn't mean you have to stay formal with the decor. For good quality slipcovered sofas, look at Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel. The sofa below is the Carlyle from PB. You could do your sofa pillows in a coral ikat print to bring out the peach tones in your rug. Or have the two arm chairs covered in a salmon color Microfibre, like the chairs in pic three.

This rug is really red.. There is a touch of sand if you look close and it's very light. I'm not sure why the dark coppery bronze was chosen for the sofa there is none of it in the rug at all. My adjacent living room has red chairs so I hated repeating that but maybe that would be the best?

I like the rug. You do not have to match furn to it. Mix it up. Use cream, and a navy blue. Carmel sofa sounds good. Chair looks a little to traditional for rug. Go more contemporary.

You don't have to go custom furn. Go a Indian look, with lighting, end tables Peir one has fun things. Walls a taupe.

Instead of navy go,the aqua I see in rug for chairs. Go light rather than dark.

lin15 look at the color combinations in this room. The grasscloth wallpaper. The red chest, the coffeetables, the taupe and navy pieces. All lovely together !
Contemporary and traditional mixed together.

Like eclectic mix, Mark

i'd never forget that the rug is really red. i'd think: red/white/blue and stay away from orange/amber/browns. someone put up pics of blue/white striped pillows, i think that would be good. i don't like navajo designs with this rug.... or any textile pattern that's sort-of ruggy looking. i'd let the rug stand alone with rug-y-ness and have the patterns around it (sofa/chairs/drapery/throw pillows etc) that are far away from the rug and it's design. and... i'd use angular furniture to compliment it too btw.

Update on this crazy room. I went with a neutral beige Kravet English arm deep sofa, a Kravet rolled arm sofa in the same neutral fabric. Two swivel chairs in a Aqua yes Aqua and cream in varying shades with a back pillow in print... Know your hating that Aqua .........Mark....:). I painted the room a slightly deeper beige with a brighter white trim and the ceiling a lighter beige. I dumped my beloved fan and hung a beautiful wood and black chandelier with candles. Throw pillows did carry some of the red and deeper Aqua blue that's in the neutral linen roman shades as a stripe. But I'm not done....
Still need several pieces... End tables. Lamps and a cocktail table and maybe a new cabinet for the TV. When I have a good picture I will post it!

That would be rolled arm chair!

Thanks for the update ! As I have told you before you have impeccable taste so if you chose aqua chairs I am sure that they are lovely. I actually think the aqua will now add a new color to your palette and a lighter feel to your room which you wanted. I look forward to pictures now.

Looking forward to that photo - it sounds great, I like that you went with the lighter colors for the sofa and can't wait to see the aqua chairs!

Yeah, you took my advice to get some aqua in the room. We are waiting for pictures.

Here are a few... The snow is making taking photos difficult! I still need to change quite a few other items and now with our Christmas snowman theme tree gone the difficult empty corners look sad! Back to work on this!!! My favorite purchase... my two swivel Century chairs .. Can not give Century high marks for quality but very comfortable and they work well in my floating room.

Looks lovely ! Did you have the back cushion made for the chair ? The chair is not coming across aqua on my screen but the cushion is though. The light fixture and roman blinds look fabulous.

I know it seems to photograph green..it's not a true aqua .. Maybe I should not say I used Aqua it's a blue :) I wasn't brave enough for that! It's a cream/ blue/blue green fabric which I did COM on that chair.. That cushion is Ralph Lauren fabric .. Which I have to have filled already ... Century also did a mediocre job with the fabric on the chairs.

Lamps going and so is that book case... I need a large lamp to fill that corner any ideas???

What about a "large" table in that area that you can put a lamp on and family pictures, or some collectables ?

To the right is a large TV console for our 60 inch! So it's large wood and more wood...crazy when we built this I did not realize we would have two dead 3 foot corners ... We just have way to many windows and French doors.

So you are looking for a floor lamp only then ? You couldn't use a table beside the chair ?

Not great pictures such glare. Can you see what I mean? There are no walls. Two deep corners.
Yes, thinking of a small table..a floor lamp with a bigger shade .. A tripod? ...also a table one between the two chairs. I might refinish my coffee table only because it's made do well and I can't find anything I love . We are trying to a bit less traditional.

A bit better

A tripod lamp is a good choice. Would you consider a wood one or would you like wrought iron to tie in your ceiling fixture and coffee table.

That's exactly what I am thinking:)

And now the issue is the other side and I guess the only out is a big old plant. What better choice do you have for the TV that's 12 years old and I'm over it.

I think a plant is a good idea as well. Some greenery in the room would be quite nice. Not sure what you mean about the tv though.

What about a unique folding screen for that one corner ?

I like that!!! I want to place the TV on something different hanging it would look strange.

You need something that would hold tv components and "stuff" so some type of cabinetry right?

Depending on storage something other than wood would be nice for texture to your room like this tv stand. ( Of course a larger tv )

I like that but yes it's all those components ...ugh!

Is this a hobby or vocation for you ...Mark. The craziest thing is in can see things fir everyone but me... As my career was visual!

When it comes to decorating our own houses, I find that I get what I call "design block" like writer's block in a way. I find that I can help other people quite easy and yet there are times when I go to do something for my home and I doubt myself. I think many creative people are like this. That is what you experience too so you are not alone.

That's so true...I've heard this one before!

lin15, I have been searching for a large area rug with the same colors as your

rug pictured with the indigo chair; reds/burgandy, indigo, greens, etc.! Is it an

heirloom or purchased rug? Can I ask for the purchasing info.? Manufacturer, Name,

store where purchased, etc. Thank you for your reply. Mama S.

(email: mamaschapman@gmail.com)

I purchased it 5 years ago I really don't recall the name or anything...its been challenging but the room is completed thank heaven!
Good luck!!!

It looks like a Kazak rug. Google Kazak wool rug and similar rugs should come up. I have a similar style runner in our kitchen and large area rug in our living room. We got both of ours from a local rug dealer.

Not sure it's the Kazsak rug... I know it was well over $5000.00 with discount. It's very durable that's for sure :)