Cdr, you're looking at the pricier leather one.

The thing about Ikea slipcovers is that each cushion has a separate cover- it isn't one big piece. So they don't have that loose, sloppy look.

For the entry, I have the mirror that came attached to the vanity/dressing table - should I try that? Ugh, I am just at a loss!

I like the karlstad better than kivik, though the birch legs look cheap. Kivik's thick blocky arms don't appeal to me as much. I love that seroun one above.

Sorry about that. In a hurry today.

Do you have an Ikea near you? I would check them out and Ashley's.

What size is mirror that came with dresser and what is the available space above the front hall table?

karlstad versus seroun (if you dont like the light color of the legs on the karlstad you could paint them...)

mlc, I know you have to travel to go to Ikea, so be sure you make a list and know everything you're going to pick up when you get there. I got these candlesticks for the entry there because I thought you needed something tall and simple. I lowered your starburst mirror, and took away everything but the basket (good for depositing your keys when you come in the door).

Remember, less is more.

I was on another discussion and suddenly realized I forgot to change out your boob light in the entry. Got this at Ikea too.

You know mlc. You need to set a budget and perhaps share with everyone who is trying to help you here. I personally feel that they may be looking to spend more than you have.
You're looking at a couch from CL for $220 and people are looking at couches 600-1500.
People keep saying add this and add that however this and that adds up.
With that being said I'm trying to redo my living room on a VERY tight budget. My rule of thumb is if it's fabric NEW hard washable surface and accessories (not pillows) USED. If my child is going to lie on a couch...I don't want to buy used when God knows what has been on it.
Now if you decide to go Ashley they will meet any advertise price. I just got a sectional there for 1350 that was priced 2400. That's 1050 off of what they listed it for in their store.
Also I don't know where you live but I know there is a store that is called American Freight near me and their prices are made for people on an extremely tight budget near the price that you're looking at used on CL.
This is decorating ideas but just budget advice!

Groveraxle, thanks again. You are awesome!

mcarthurc, yes, it is a good idea to set a budget. Again, I agree with you about not buying used upholstered items.

About the budget, it is a good idea to set one. However, the items we are suggesting to mlc509 are necessities to bring the room to the minimum level she wants. That being said, she doesn't have to buy them today. If she can afford a couch today and can't afford the bookcase for awhile, so be it. At least she has an idea of what she needs.

Front hall: What Grover did with the mirror was great. Ideally, you should eventually buy a tall mirror. I see that there is (I believe a motion detector?) to the left. So, you would have to buy something on the narrower side.

Sectional:

Before you go shopping for the sectional, write down your parameters. So, in other words, you will be writing down width, depth, length of both legs. The for each angle, write down the maximum and minimum. That way, when you are at the store, you can easily eliminate those that don't work.

I know this sounds very detailed and boring to some, but it must be done. Your couch and love seat is your template. Take into consideration your bookcase. It will take up at least 12" (don't foget the baseboard), plus, it will need to open on the bottom.

If I had a recommendation for you, in this instance it would be to buy the bookcase first. The reason is that if you end up buying one that is 18" deep, as opposed to 12" deep, it is going to make a huge difference, because your room is very tight.

Or, you can buy bookcase and couch at once, but be sure about your measurements.

If you can, can you take a shot of the couch along the front window head on?

mlc509, you might want to consider this:

Your couch needs to be pulled out from the front window only enough for the drapes not to be crushed. So, I see no purpose in having it pulled out a foot.

So, with that in mind, I really think you might be able to buy a couch and 2 chairs. That way, you are not tied into the sectional, and you will have much more versatility with your group meetings, as well as for the future.

Can you please move your couch back toward the window, leaving room for the drapes, then move your love seat back accordingly and take a photo.

For now, you could buy a couch and use the extra chair, while you look for chairs.

You could buy one for not that much $ at Ashleys'

Mirrors we have:

Pcmom wondered about desk in entry I think:

I love the arched mirror and how its curvature at the top reflects the small arches on the front door, but inversely.

If you could ever get that motion detector moved or painted it would be great. I also noticed the vent by the tv. It should be painted also.

We might want to paint the mirror. I think, once you get the furniture, you can decide how different pieces like mirror, dresser, etc. should be tackled as far a finishes.

I like the desk there. Arched mirror above it.!

Does bench that was under console work under the desk?

Thanks, mcarthur, for your thoughts. A budget is indeed very important & something we stick to. For this room, however, I don't have a budget in mind for the whole room right now because I know I won't be completing it in a day. I see this discussion as a learning experience for me, so that I can know what to keep my eye out for, not so that I can go out shopping for everything right away. All in time. Use some of what I have & gain a vision for what I can do. And of course, $220 for a sectional is crazy. :) Ashley sounds very affordable.

Just getting caught up. Thanks for sticking with me!
Motion detector is the doorbell. I think it's wireless so I can move it but it is coveri.g the hole from the old doorbell right now.
Bench doesn't fit under vanity sideways. Longways it sticks out a bit.
Vent painted to match wall, correct?
Still mulling over paint colors. I'd like to lean more gray than beige in this room. Furniture before paint?

My hubby & kids were getting excited about a sectional! So comfy! I was actually getting ready to measure it all out when you suggested it.

But if we did couch & chairs, would 2 chairs go where loveseat is now?

Doorbell hole: patch it. If large, you can buy a patch plate made for covering larger holes

Do you like desk there? Can you prop curved mirror over desk and take photo?

Vent painted wall color. Correct.

Paint for room will come last. You can have a vision or idea of what color, but exact color comes last. There are literally thousands of paint colors for wall, including custom. Easy to match paint to furniture.....not so easy the other way around.

Yes, 2 chairs would go where love seat is now.

Sectional is fine. Just offering alternative.

my vote is sectional.....but i suppose it depends onwhat you can find withion the budget..

sectional would look best, but mlc at one point mentioned she would like chairs for meetings. She will have to weigh all pluses and minuses (including price) and make best decision.

I think we'll save our pennies for sectional - as my husband likes to point out, we can't decorate for the sake of guests who may come once a week or a few times a month when we live here everyday.

Smart husband. As I mentioned before, you have all of those dining room chairs you can pull in.

Omg, I think I have that exact same desk like the one your Grandma gave you! We have ours in our office now. We used to have big office desk, now it's perfect size for keyboard and monitor! We get so many compliments on it!
You've gotten some great input and ideas from everyone and I agree with it. Just one thing I'd like to add. I love sectionals, sometimes. I have one, love it. However, I have found that it can be very limiting in where you can move your furniture and if you entertain at all it feels a little odd to be sitting so close to others even on the other side, so we make sure and have another chair for others to sit in. Just something to consider. I'm sure whatever investment you make you'll want to hold onto for a long time. I think the kind with a chaise and one long side doesn't offer much but adds more furniture placement issues. My humble opinion. :)

jacey, exactly what I was trying to point out above.

The truth is that guests don't like to be trapped. There are only 2 "escape" seats on a sectional. They also don't lend for future flexibility.

However, the sectional will look good in this space and the poster has said that her focus is her family.

So, like all decisions....positive and negative.

I think the arched mirror above the desk will be sweet! Functional also. Scale looks perfect.

So sorry to have been gone so long. Life, work, and kids happened, haha. Sooo thankful for everyone's generous help. Here are some new pics. Things that will be changed:
Curtains hung higher & wider.
A sectional will replace couches.
Corner bookcase & white frames will be replaced by white Billy bookcases. (tho I do like the frames - another wall?)
A new square ottoman will replace dark rectangular one.

No idea what to do with tv corner. Would a large white armoire look good? Oh, shutter too will go, I think.

Good progress!

-framed art arrangement looks great! I would move them to wall in the dining room.
-ideal for tv would be corner white unit. (if you are going lighter woods, you could paint this one? Wouldn't be bad.)

It's looking great. I love the gallery with white frames. You could put them on the wall to the left of the TV also. Simplifying your space has made it so much calmer and more cohesive. When you get the Billy, you can add back some of your decor and your beloved books and it will all look pulled together.

To left of tv is a good spot for your art gallery, as Grover Axle said.

In the dining room, I would like to see something special. The clock is very lonely on the wall and doesn't really make a statement. The art on the opposite dining room wall has glare from the window.

Thank you! Yes, it definitely feels more calm. Thanks for helping me get there! Agree about the clock. I have 4 8x10 frames in the same finish as the clock that I thought might go on that wall with the clock, but wasn't sure how & was afraid of too many gallery walls. The art on the opposite wall is just an empty frame right now. I was actually thinking of making a chalkboard there, as we try to memorize verses at dinner. Too conflicting in style?

I think the chalkboard could be done tastefully. It could double as a menu board when you have people over for dinner!

Yes, I think a large canvas would be better for the clock wall.
[houzz=]

All of stuff is cute enough to work. What is killing you is the carpet. Maybe save on the furnishings and pay for a new, hard surface floor.

Lori, I totally agree. Hate the carpet! At least it was new when we moved in. But need to save our pennies for awhile before putting in hardwood or laminate. Is rug over carpet a major faux pas?

CDR, where could we put clock? Need the functionality of it. Maybe a smaller one in the bookcase when we get it?

What is the current trend with TVs: sleek console or hidden in cabinet?

Clock possible where bookcase is now.

Sleek console the tv trend.

Benches:

What is the status on benches? If using front hall area as desk, could add the bench that was previously there back there. (Maybe too short, though?)

Or, you could place the bench to the left of the tv for extra seating.

Finally, what about grandma's dressing table? If you are using it as a dining room buffet, I would remove the bench. If you are using it as a desk, I would add a chair with a back. Otherwise, it will look like grandma's dressing table that was placed in the living room.

Will use it more as buffet, so no chair. I'll move bench back to entry under desk.

Room feels much better than before but still has college dorm feel. Is it mainly the couches? What are some other ways to add sophistication? (that don't include blowing it all up & buying all new things!!)

Yes, mainly the couches.

-get rid of sticks in dining room corner
-new covers on dr chairs
-clock out of dining room (large art). Inexpensive large art at Kirklands)
-move fruit to kitchen
-candles on buffet/nice, small wine rack

Are you painting buffet, desk and mirror?

http://www.kirklands.com/product/Wall-Decor/Art/Canvas-Art/Hazy-Fields-Canvas-Art-Print/pc/2283/c/2293/sc/2673/175406.uts
http://www.kirklands.com/product/Wall-Decor/Art/Canvas-Art/Cherry-Blossom-Canvas-Art-Print/pc/2283/c/2293/sc/2673/169477.uts

Def. open to painting. Probably get sectional first to see about color? Also wondered if painting buffet cream to go with table set would then clash with white Ikea bookcases?

What kind of covers for dr chairs - add chair pads?

http://www.surefit.net/shop/categories/dining-and-folding-chair-covers-and-accessories-full-length-dining-chairs/scroll-dining-room-chair.cfm?sku=35461

$15

Hmm, thanks for the visual, groveraxle, but I guess that's not really the look I'm going for...

i dont think your diningroomchairs need covering,they are right as they are...

dining room chairs: I thought the seats were upholstered. If they are wood, just leave them as they are.

I think it will look fine to mix the white and the cream furniture.

Think a white armoire in the corner to hold the tv would be a great addition. Shop consignment stores for the right size, then sand and white wash.

Armoires are one to the most functional pieces of furniture: living room can hold tv. Kitchen can hold mixer, pots and pans. Bathroom can hold towels.

Any thoughts on this bookcase (except in white) from Target instead of the Billy? No trips to Ikea in the near future and I'm getting impatient! Two concerns: no doors and shorter. But I like the style of it and it's inexpensive and accessible.

Hi, it has been awhile, so some old and new questions

-Does it come in white?
-Will you buy 2?
-What is the purpose of the bookcase?