Do you plan to get lots of use out of the fireplace? If so, have you considered mounting the TV over the mantle, grouping the furniture so you have one focal point, and then closing up the current piano space with solid-door cabinets? Flank those with the glass door, well-lit cabinets, and artfully display the models without allowing things to become overly crowded (some could sit on the mantel too maybe?). Put the clutter (like that sea of books and framed photos, for example) behind those solid doors. This just might work for you. Is your piano an upright (like I see in the picture), or more like a grand piano? The current owners have a tremendous amount of brown and beige in their house--if you could introduce some complementary colors I think the space could be enlivened quite nicely. Red or blue, a bit of yellow, a judicious use of black (careful there--don't go buying a black leather sectional please). Installing a lighter color carpet is a possibility too.

Appreciate your response. Our thoughts were more along the occasional fire lit evenings or during power outages which happen in our area more than we care to deal with. Strictly a display area with keeping doors at bottom...so happy your advice reassures me with what I was leaning towards. As this move is a pleasant/ surprise really, we had recently purchased a chaise sofa in a wheat color and recliner in a muted green. The chaise is reversible. Have truly no desire to place tv over fireplace. I guess I had hoped I could pull off the impossible with tv elsewhere. Old Packard is tall upright. I lean towards the primitive/rustic so have a few antique pieces that are black. I wondered if purchasing a couple of swivel chairs could somehow help. Or maybe another recliner identical to the one we have. Is that too matchy matchy? Would I dare throw any type of area rug on carpet to add some warmth and colors that you mentioned? Thank you very much. (Pics quality low as I snapped quickly with phone.)

Hi. Lot's of potential here.

Question: If you place the tv opposite the fireplace, how are you going to set the furniture to view the tv? Place a couch with its back to the fireplace?

So, I would like to throw out this idea:

What do you think of placing the tv in the sitting room/dining room?

Then, you could use the fireplace area as:

-a nice large, sitting room/library where people could enjoy the fire.
-or you could even put a pool table there (don't know if you would like that or not)
-you don't need a dining room? you could also place a large table by the fireplace that could be used as library table, eating table, game table combo

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Gorgeous fireplace!

Hi! here are a few decor items I found that may work for you:

http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/farm-fresh-eggs-wall-art/

http://deciture.com/shop/decor/world-market/farm-fresh-milk-wall-art/

http://deciture.com/shop/furniture/pier-1-imports/claudine-rooster-barstool/

Hope this helps!

I would put the sofa perpendicular to the fireplace and the tv wall, with the chaise away from the fireplace, and the back towards the wood railing. Across from the sofa I would put two matching chairs with a nice patterned fabric. That way you can have both the fireplace and the tv open for viewing. You definitely need a rug for color and to ground the placement of the furniture. Using a rug pad will help keep the rug from creeping on the carpet. The piano could go on the wall next to the window, maybe? Your long mantel needs a large picture or pictures, hanging or sitting on the mantel. Vary the height of the accessories, and some big items will fill the space. I would not be symmetrical in the placement of items. By the way, I have this exact stone in my home. I painted my walls Sherwin-Williams Camelback 6122, a gorgeous color, as it really brings out the golden tones in the stone. I have lots of antiques and prints on aged paper and this color really works well with them. I hope this helps!

So appreciate all who have responded! So gracious are you to offer your advice. Will try to answer all questions. We are not in need of the dining area as a lovely kitchen nook behind the wall of future sitting area. We are empty nesters. Also a second kitchen in finished basement, though dated in decor, where family get togethers will most likely take place then come up to main level to enjoy conversation. We are leaving a pool table at our home and asking that previous owner of our future house remove theirs. Crazy huh?! I will definitely look into the both paint colors suggested for walls. I had not thought about possible placement of tv in the future sitting area. I really had hoped to place it in living room. The suggestions from Patina Period Design sounds like it would work nicely to view both fireplace and tv. Again everyone thank you!

I think Patina Periods's idea of placing the couch perpendicular to the fireplace, is the only solution if tv is opposite the fireplace.

However, I would not want to be looking sideways at the tv all the time.

On the area rug have been eyeing this 9x12 on overstock.com. Would this be complimentary to the room? Thank you.

Customer comments are rust, green, gold, cinnamon, and brown in colors. Depending on who reviewed the rug. Thanks.

cm, I do not recommend an area rug over a carpet. There is no need for it. There are plenty of opportunities to add color in other areas including drapes, pillows, furniture paint, etc.

The rug looks nice. I have two sofas in an L shape facing the TV. Watching the TV from the side is not a problem for our family.

what you think about this rug?

Patina Period Design... a long overdue pic of using your suggestion of furniture placement of tv opposite the fireplace. Thank you!

Much better! How are you liking this?

Very well. I tend to curl up at an angle on the chaise sofa next to fireplace. Husband enjoys his chair. Grand kids have plenty of room to play in center of room. We did change up the dining area/room to a sitting area. We are enjoying the house. Thanks for asking.