Blondie, the size of the mirror? over the sofa shows how a major piece of art would make good sense in proportion to sofas. If you are recommending a mirror, I'm certain the reflection will be of the kitchen. I don't think we would want that?

Anything large scale that you like will do nicely on that back wall. I second rearranging the sofas (particularly the one pushed up against the window. Indeed a table running along the back of the sofa will make it look finished to the extent you think the sofa isn't stylish enough for floating it. Glad to know you're going to get a rug and coffee table. That struck me more as "missing" than anything on the walls.

What about a little greenery? It also looks like your side tables could use some lamps that reflect your taste.

Your home really is gorgeous. Congrats!

trekzin, you might want to take a photo of the room with your back to the window. That will tell everyone how much "other" space is available.

Piff, not floating the sofa has nothing to do with the back being stylish. It's just a really big piece in the middle of the room. Of course this is only my opinion and nothing is lost by trying the suggestion just to see how it shakes out. Nothing is ever certain until it is. :)

Blondie, just noticed the art over the fireplace and the addition of lamps and pillow....very nice. So the piece over the sofa is the....?

HI -- Great space , so nice and open but the sofa's don't seem right for the room . It looks like the room should have a modern sectional and an accent chair or a long sofa and two accent chairs .You could put the biggest art you can find or make that whole wall art with a photo mural . Or have bookcases there with the sofa in front or a sofa table with a painting or a mirror and lamps etc. Or how about some of that photo wallpaper that looks like a wood or concrete wall . Maybe some grass cloth wallpaper - it is popular again ! Or you can keep it simple and easy and just paint it a great accent color maybe even black then that would show off any Art or a big fancy framed mirror or even one or more of those white animal heads .This all depends on your style , if your modern or traditional or other wise . But before you do anything , you should go out and find a great large area rug that you just love.

Well in that case I would change my answer to "this room needs new smaller scale seating that can be oriented towards the focal point". The styled up mockup makes a better looking picture but to me looks more like a fancy waiting room or condo party/reception room than someone's house.

Really?? I think it has a very simple and sophisticated presentation:) not over the top...... by any means!

@KPI thank you:) are you referring to the horizontal mirror over the sofa?

Maybe try a saturated color on the walls, that would make the sofa and any art you hang much more interesting. Think of an art gallery color for inspiration, paint is not expensive and it adds loads of dimension to a space.

I would get an area rug to anchor both sofas. Bring them off the walls facing each other at right angle to fireplace. Large mirror or art piece on back wall with low book shelving or table under it.
You should be able take advantage of tv, fireplace, view from seating.



tafhj
ta take take advantage of fireplace, tv

Hi Everyone, Thank you to all that posted suggestions, I really appreciate any ideas you can provide.

For those who suggested floating the couches the hubby and I did try, but they are too big and bulky. They end up cutting off the open concept look and leave the walk way to the kitchen/dining area blocked.

The other reason that we choose to have the couches laid out this way is for entering purposes we have a large family (all adults) so we like the fact when people gather everyone is a part of the conversation no one is left out or facing in other directions.

I also seen some comments about the couches being too large for the space and yes I do agree with that statement. All the furniture that you see was purchased for our previous home and we just recently moved into this new build so were trying to work with what we have until we finish the basement rec room and are able to move furniture pieces around.

I have also attached more pictures from different angles so you can understand what i mean by everyone is included in the conversation.

Please send me any suggestions you have.

Would you consider selling the sofa on the window wall? It seems in good shape. If you do that you could set up a pair of chairs floating opposite the sofa. What are those three pieces in the corner between the two entrances?

At this point I would consider anything....The three pieces in the corner are my glass cabinets

area rug will definitely help give it warmth. Also, maybe a chair with a small martini table next to it.

Collage of art and objects on wall and large lamps on tables with rug as anchor

I would move sofas closer, to create a more intimate area.. And just add few accesories: coffe table. Floor lamp, rug...

An idea for the wall with the TV on it is to install our Recycled Granite Tiles. We have lots of customers using the tiles on fireplace/TV walls to add depth and texture to their living space.

do you happen to have a example picture for me ???

Definitely needs some draperies in a slightly darker color with a subtle pattern and some texture! Same with some pillows. The tv would look better with items of varying heights flanking it on each side. Add some color with accessories.

Thank you for the extra pictures. I know it is different when you are IN the room and not just looking at pics, but it just seems like there would be room for the couch in front of the window to move away and face the fireplace and the tv and the other couch. Think how nice it would be to have the window open. You will need to lose one of the ottoman/coffee tables, but think that is ok. Right now you have two couches pushed against the wall and not looking at anything and something small in front of each one. Just turning the one will change all of that and the adults that use this room will not only face each other while talking, but also be able to enjoy a fire and a tv show. It does not have to be all the way across from the other couch...just turned and close to the wall. The back will be to the island and move it as close in as you can to still have a walk way there. PLEEEEEASE!

treck, if you are willing to try anything that is a positive. Often times we are reluctant to get rid of what we have even though what we have was meant for another house. I'll tell you what I would do if you are open to it I would hunker down and have Houzzers examine your floor plan to determine the optimum layout. Then once you have some really good input on your best choices, I would weigh that against what I have, what I would consider and what the next move in the right direction needs to be.

I am seeing lots of floor space by the display cabinets, too. Maybe that couch against the wall could angle out just a bit and the other one angle out just a bit??? OR no angles and the couch in front of the window stays right there and the other moves across from it, with the edge by the kitchen wall. That would maybe even mean a display cabinet could move over by the fireplace and fill in part of the wall vacated by the couch.

So you could TRY to move one couch at a time one more time and just see what it looks/feels like and then I will go away. LOL

If watching TV is not a priority, why are you allowing it the prime focal point real estate in your home? Do you watch in the morning while preparing and eating breakfast, after work as you get dinner ready? Then I'd put it on the right side wall in the dining nook to be seen from the prep area and the table but not to influence the living room at all. You can hang it on an extendable arm to adjust it for viewing. Then "L" the sofas, removing the table by the FP and adding a square one with a lamp where the two come together at the end of the long wall. Put a sofa table behind the "floating" sofa to be seen from the foyer below. You can add art above the FP and a great scupltural piece of art over the wall sofa. Anchor sofas with a big area rug and add a large weighty coffee table. An arc floor lamp by the FP that arches to hover above the coffee table would be nice. Your trunk or bench style one can go under the windows, and if it opens you might use it to store fire starting materials. The lightweight tables and coffee table should be removed as they are the wrong style and don't have the visual volume your seating pieces require. Here's a chart to help with proper sizing of tables and lamps. When you want a change you can put the sofas perpendicular to the FP facing each other over the table, moving the sofa table to the long wall.

Thanks for everyone’s comments and suggestions. We decided to float the couches in several different positions and this seems to the best fit.

It has some great points, we love facing the fireplace head on and feeling that warmth on these chilly nights it also works well for our television viewing and looking out that large window.

But I can’t seem to get over the back of the couch facing into the kitchen and dining area. I feel that it cuts off the open concept area that we had hoped for in this house. In addition I also am having difficulty when guest enter into the front foyer they are greeted by an oversize couch instead of viewing this nice large open space.

Take a look at the new pictures and let me know your opinions.

Put a narrow table behind the couch and some pretty things on it so that will be the first thing people see on entering.

What's missing is warmth. Get some drapes, a rug, and better lighting. These three alone will make a tremendous difference and cozy up your space, which is lovely.

There you go! Thank you for trying this! You are having a hard time because it is different! You are used to furniture being lined up on the walls and it does take some time to adjust to furniture floating. We often feel like it wastes the open space when the floor space is filled in, thus the temptation to line up things on the walls. Your furniture is short, so that helps cut down on visual confusion, too. And the back of your furniture also looks nice. I can imagine how cozy this feels when you all sit down there together.

Try the leather bench inside the grouping.....thank you for resisting two coffee tables. Place it where that small table is now and try the small table where the bench is. It is always nice to have a table beside a piece of furniture, so make it beside the one without the coffee table. Find some art to hang over the bench. That is what is missing now.......things on the walls. Oh, that will warm this up even more!!! Place a throw on the bench, draped on one edge, and this will be nice for extra seating by the fireplace.

Would it be possible to angle the couches out from the fireplace corners? You could place them as close as possible to the corners and at a "soft" angle. That way you have a conversation area, you're focusing on the fireplace and the backs aren't fully facing the stairs or the kitchen/dining (I'm assuming the fp corners are far enough apart to allow for a coffee table/ottoman, whatever).

Wait....I just noticed the couch with the bench has a table by the wall....place the smaller table by the other couch then.

What would the middle cabinet look like behind the couch? It is a lot taller? Then the two smaller cabinets can go side by side where they currently are.

This also helps the back of a couch....placing a throw over the couch. Try that on once of the couches, too....maybe the one on the kitchen side even. That will also give you some color on the couch. Place it on the wall side of the couch, but hanging down in the front and the back.

Have you thought about an accent color for pillows and art?

Whew. I'd love to see what you are thinking now, in a photo. You had lots of good advice. I think bottom line the love seat needed to come off the windows. No matter how you float them now a rug is required to define the seating. I would get that first and go from there

Thanks everyone ... We have decided to keep this layout for a couple of weeks and see if we can get use to it. If we do ...I will start looking for a sofa table to place behind the couch facing the front entrance way to soften it up a bit. Then I will continue shopping for a picture, rug, blinds, pillows and blankets and finally display items.

Anyone have sugguestions on what acent colours I should mix in ???

Thank you! I do like the bench being IN the seating area this way and the tables make sense.

You have a blank slate and that makes it fun to choose the accent colors. I scrolled back up to see if you had colors anywhere else, and I noticed the red towel and maybe one other thing near the table that is red.......I like that! How would you feel about art work with some red in it and pillows with red patterns?

It is difficult to tell, but Is that green on the dining area walls? If so, you can carry this colour into the living area. If not, you can pick a blue or green accent. What colours do you like?

You spotted my red.... the colour red is my all time favorite. ... but I have been told that too much red can be a bad thing so I try to introduce it in small itmes.

Then you must have some red in that area, too! And again, not a lot, but if you make sure you have art with red IN IT, that will soooo work to bring your rooms together in your open space that you still have. And pillows are theeee most fun to find and buy and again, dashes of red in them. Red is actually a rich color and will look nice with your furniture.

I also thinking of adding brown .. that is the colour of the cabinets so that also should tie the two rooms together. So maybe brown, red and ???

A deep and rich golden color???

How about a plant or something?

Sorry I forgot about a plant .... I will add that to the shopping list :)

I would adore I golden light color brought into this image

I love touches of red too

so much better with sofas moved. Since sofas are tan, try red, purple, lime green, ochre, anything give your room some pop. But if you're going to get a rug, do that first.

Yes!!! thank you for moving the layout of your couches to create a space! wooohoo! That's what the space was missing!

When I bought my first house lol all the rooms stayed empty for months. Since you have a clean neutral palette I would suggest researching what color schemes you like and don't like. Once you find a few you like you'll notice you gravitate to the same things more often then not. Use that as your base inspiration when shopping. Do you like it? and Does it work with everything else? lol I always keep the tags w/ receipt stapled on for a week. There have been times I bought the full package pillows, decor, drapes. 1 time everything worked the 2nd time it didn't do it for me.

If I don't like it - I return it. ( I don't have kids, pets, or smoke - if you do, then, this may not work for u).

If you're looking for a suggestion - I like my more permanent pieces neutral - drapes, lamps, rugs, expensive artwork - and I mix it up in the inexpensive artwork/frame, and decorative items, lamp shades, pillow covers, etc.

So when you get tired - you change it without a lot of out of pocket costs.

Inspiration Here >> [houzz=]

[houzz=]

[houzz=]

Good luck!

Three stained glass panels would look wonderful in those windows.