Hello CPR130, first off you have some awesome pieces. I am envious. Yes you could do with some softer finishes and some color, also I'd recommend reconfiguring the living room...rotate the couch to really open up the space and make it feel inviting. I would play up the cool colors in your pillows with this area rug. http://www.nwrugs.com/loloi-genevieve-ge-01-storm
Maybe an oversize abstract http://www.zgallerie.com/p-15249-concrete-enclosure.aspx

Also look at window treatments to soften the space and some really textured end tables.
http://www.zgallerie.com/p-1262-zanzibar-end-table.aspx

Just to throw some ideas your way.
I also offer online consultations. If you are looking for further design expertise,
Email me at info@muse-interior-design.net

one of these design ideas may provide you with some inspiration. i would focus on the architecture and add chair rail and add color above it. dramatic colorful drapes and area rugs in the living and dining rooms. lovely space!

No way are you over your head! Beautiful choices so far!

"Muse" is right on with centering your sofa on the long wall to the right. Where you have it now is like a 1/2 wall, dividing the space and stopping traffic flow - not as welcoming as you want. You need to direct traffic in spaces using furniture placement, for one thing.

Do you have a pair of the patterned chairs? Would be nice to place a pair of them in front of the windows with a case piece between them. Lamp, accessories, etc. on top, artwork above . The loveseat would be placed opposite the sofa.

You need artwork and rugs in both spaces. You could hang a large mirror on the dining room wall and the frame finish would depend on what you do in the living room for artwork and rugs. Google < images sofa artwork> for hundreds of pictures of artwork. This will help you decide on what you want to see every day. This goes for rugs too. The rugs should not match [boring] but definitely coordinate - color[s], design, era, etc. and with the artwork in mind.

Now, here is another take. With the sofa on the long wall, place the loveseat at a 90 deg. on the dining room side, leaving an open area on the non-sofa end of the loveseat for traffic, or place it on the window wall. Put the print chair on the wall opposite the sofa with a dark wood bookcase + TV stand unit next to it, by the pillar. Find a unit that is more than a shelf with metal legs! ARGH! You want to pull the dark wood from your kitchen cabinets into the living area to balance the space.

Put a cabinet between the windows and hang simple drapery panels on the outside of the frames, ceiling to floor. Add matchstick or bamboo blinds and hang artwork/mirror over the cabinet. Install the same blind in the kitchen window.

It Is impossible to add examples of artwork or rugs since I have no idea what your interests are or taste is - old masters? - black & white photos? - but I can tell you like clean and simple lines.

I think a striped carpet like the one in this picture would be perfect for your room. I'm not sure if "Room and Board still carries this rug but I would look for something close to it. I also think that glass tables would suit your decor. The coffee table in this picture is from West Elm. Of course artwork is going to be one of the first things on your list and this art piece by Nuala Clarke is a beautiful piece. This kind of artwork would suit your decor as well. Hope this gives you some inspiration. You have lovely pieces and it will look beautiful when you are finished. Good luck !

GREAT shopping trip! Has to be soooo fun for you to come home and walk in the door of your new home! Will the couch fit on the wall to the right of where it is now? Also, what would be across from it then? Do you have a tv in the room to work around? If you move the couch, we can play with the love seat and chair, which are all just beautiful pieces!!!

Thanks everyone for the feedback. This has been eye-opening.

@sandy g. I like the idea of your second take. I started to buy two patterned chairs but settled for one because I thought with the other furniture it would take up too much space. Probably not the best decision I made in hindsight. Design-wise I do like simple and clean lines. I tend to prefer more modern type styles overall. Black and white photos are my favorites. So I will be looking for those in the near future.

@abbyjean. I attached some more pics so you can see the entire living room. The tv jack is on the long wall next to the pillar. The couch will fit on the wall next to the pillar but that will block the tv jack.

So what about floating the couch in front of the stairway wall......thanks for showing all of that......and then it will face the tv wall. See if you can then use the love seat as the room divider and maybe put the chair up next to where the tv will go. It will be a part of the conversation area even though it may not work for viewing the tv. No trouble with not having two chairs.....not sure you have room for two.

I would definitely place the sofa and loveseat at a 90 degree angle to one another. If you decide to try that, take a picture and let's go from there. I don't think they work across from each other. Since the back of the sofa isn't very interesting, I'm not sure I'd have either backed up to the dining room. Also, not right against the walls. Float them in the room a bit.

Try the couch centered under the windows and the love seat against the back wall to start.. I would get counter stools for the bar area in the kitchen.

Abbyjean's idea of floating in front of the stairway is a good one. If you put the couch perpendicular to the wall where the b/w chair is in the fourth picture above, the loveseat could float on the window wall. The little cubby by the stairway appears to have enough room for a small table to place a lamp and a drop spot for keys, wallet, etc. The b/w chair in the corner with the TV on the wall in facing the couch and then you still have the entire area where the couch is now to use for additional seating, a console/buffet or bookcase, etc.

I see that you have some space ( looks like about 6 inches) between your crown molding and small wall trim. You could paint that a color to either match your sofa's or another mid-tone color that complements it. It would bring some weight onto the walls. Another idea would paint to paint it a wood tone to complement the handrails and floor.

You have nice walls/canvas to paint on. My suggestion would be to add a splash of art of all kinds to the walls, black and white photos, hanging tapestries, canvas, wall sculptures, etc.

-- So, then, the TV unit needs to go on the wall where you can plug it all in!

Since the sofa is the largest piece, it needs to go against a wall - the window wall - otherwise it simply takes up too much valuable floor space. I have found that, generally, guys like more room around them than women do. The loveseat can be placed parallel to the sofa, by the dining set and front feet on the [new] rug in the LR. There should be at least 3' between the back of the loveseat and the back of the dining chair.

The occasional chair can sit 90 deg. to the sofa near the bottom of the steps. All of this is guesswork because it depends on what size your TV unit is and how much of that wall it needs.

All of the heavy-looking pieces, ie., kitchen cabinets, TV unit, dining set, are lined up along the right side of your space. You might want to think about how you are going to balance this out along the long left wall.. What is going on with that wall on the left?

Would it be possible to have the cable company install an additional TV outlet over on the stairway wall - then move the TV unit to that side?

Cocktail table could be dark wood, simple design, glass or ceramic insert in top.

Turn the couch to face the long wall with the T.V. Jack, then put the pattern chair in the corner with the bank of windows, put the love seat to face the windows with a small side table on the side of the couch ( the tv side) leave enough space between the two couches for traffic flow from the kitchen area. If you have enough space behind the couch and the stairs put a table behind the couch with a lamp and some small picture frames. Add an area rug and coffee table and then you have a gorgeous space!

The posters are right. Art is key. I like going to starving artist sales and buying pieces for

under $100, though I usually spend several hundred each on killer frames

Like your couches! Need a colorful area rug then pull decorating colors from that.

The abstract from z gallery recommended by Muse with the grey and teal would be outstanding!