Isendra such a beautiful room! I like the armless sofa you have. Does it need to be re-covered or can it be cleaned? I would go for 2 chairs on the opposite side with the small table and lamp in between and a glass coffee table. This room will look fantastic when you finish putting it together.

I LIKE THE LONG SOFA AND I WOULD PUT AN OTTOMAN SQUARE IN FRONT OF IT WITH ANOTHER SOFA ON THE OTHER SIDE IF YOU CAN FIT IT. TWO LONG PICTURES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FIRE PLACE AND A MIRROR OVER THE MANTEL

- Gosh -what a lovely room!

Leave the sofa where it is, centering the rug on the fireplace. Add a pair of chairs opposite that have rounded backs that will mirror the arches in the space in the windows and fireplace. These chairs below are covered in muslin or leather and are just to show the shape of the frame. All are customizable as far as fabric choices.

Add shallow bookcases on each side of the fireplace and fill with books and accessories. Hang your bird artwork in the bookcases by removing some shelves in the upper half and using those areas for the art.

Your rug looks like it is neutral but must have some color in it, so pull a color or 2 from it and use throughout your room in toss pillows, accessories, etc.

I'm going to get rid of rug and get a solid color. I also plan on putting the butterfly pictures up and get 2 tables made under it (I will probably have them made so they are not too deep). My husband just charcoaled that bird picture for me - I am not putting that there, I think a mirror would look good there. I like the 2 big chairs and a table between them, I just hope that is enough seating. I have that small cream bench (hidden on the side), I guess I can put that somewhere for 1 more seat.

What a gorgeous room! It's stunning. Anyway, I think the bench style sofa is something for "extra" seating in a room and not the main seating. It looks stylish, but not very comfortable, something more for when you have a large group/party.

I'd recommend you start with a more substantial sofa. What are the dimensions of the room? Do you have a floor plan? That would help with furniture placement. Then you can work on fabrics and paint.

Your armless sofa has a really unique style, so I vote for you to keep it. The graceful curves of the sofa, fireplace surround, and windows do add a feminine aspect, along with the artwork you plan to hang. That being said, I would keep other seating small to mid-size, but curvaceous. See the curves in the chandelier, floor lamps, and table top accessories at
and in the chairs at

The arched windows afford an excellent opportunity to add extra seating for guests if you add window seat cushions. Those windows are so much taller than the windows behind the sofa, so you may want to consider adding the illusion of taller windows by treating with drapery panels over shades mounted at same height as the top of the arched windows.

Is the angle from which you took your photos completely open? It would be nice to see what the room looks like from in front of the fireplace. It might make it easier to help you with furniture placement. You probably do not want to overfill the space.

Really. How hard would it have been to remove the boxes before you took the picture. The suggestion of 2 rounded back chairs with a small table and lamp should do the trick.

put the couch to where it is facing the fireplace, get 2 chairs to go on the left side, and 2 chairs on the right side of the couch.(or one on each side; whatever you have room for.) get a large round coffee table to put in the center.

[houzz=]

Listen to Lori Colvin! Right on the money!

Putting something simple but colourful in the corner (where you have the pic on the floor) should create a welcome. Something like a led-light lamp stand or some flowers in a vase on a stand. Something that shouldn't belong but does if you know what I mean.

I too like what Lori Colvin Interiors had to say. I would also consider having book shelves built on either side of the fireplace at some point in time.

Assuming that you are able to paint the room, make a statement with a bolder/darker color (even if just as an accent wall) to highlight light furniture. It will also make the room more cozy.

Or conversely, paint the walls a pastel/light color (grey/blue/mocha) and that will help it to retain its larger, airy appearance. Light furniture would go very well with that color scheme. With a small room though, I would be cautious about using any "thick" or "heavy" furniture. They would crowd the room.

The room has lovely architectural features. It will be beautiful however you decorate. I can't wait to see the finished product. I have to ask about the importance of the physical size of the folks who will be sitting on the furniture? I have three 6'4" sons and a husband who is handicapped and can't lift himself out of a chair without substantial arms.

I don't know if anyone has suggested this, but if it were my room, I would face the sofa towards the fireplace, flank 2 larger chairs on either side of the fireplace facing the sofa at an angle. I know you mentioned your hub building 2 small tables in the niches, but I would do the chairs in that area and hang your artwork in that space. Add some shelving below it if you need it. Then just have 2 cushions made to fit into those gorgeous windows in the ledge area. That could be some extra seating when you need it. And I would not use any window treatments on those windows either. They are beautiful as is.

I really do not think an 8 foot sofa in a 13 1/2 foot wide room gives enough space to comfortably enter the rest of the room. That would only allow 30 inches on either side. Plus it creates a barrier rather than a welcoming effect. Then there is the 'step down' into the 15 foot length. An area to 'land', a sofa table, and the sofa would eat up about seven of the fifteen available feet, thus reducing the chair seating area. It might feel a bit like a corral (lol).

With the fireplace centered and directly opposite the entrance into the room, it is automatically a focal point along with the arched windows.

If the sofa faces the fireplace consider angling it between the step down and the first of the two rectangular windows. There would then be room for a single chair flanking the right side of the fireplace. A nice console table for lamp(s) centered between those two windows would be nice. Then two chairs slightly angled on either side of a small table on the arched window side. You have then 'floated' your furniture, and created a circular conversation arrangement.

Just pour the wine and enjoy your guests!

I would "kill" for that fireplace and those windows!!

Every room needs books. Piano if anyone plays?

It doesn't look empty at all.

You are so lucky your room has character in the moulding and fire place... keep it simple yet elegant. I love the sofa think it makes that area look bigger... enjoy your space :)

Calmsea, they are not staying. Lol.

Some good ideas here. Using the firepl as yr focal pt is wise. Bring in interest with pillows mix it up,with shape and size. Don't be afraid to mix prints. Use color in art and accessories. You have good bones, the room will come together. I'm not if fan of putting furn up against walls. So move furn to center of room and go from there.

In that corner where pic is. Add a Bombay chest could go a black. Over it a tall 5 ft mirror hung very low 2-3" above top of chest. Over fireplace a vert tall,and bold art. Show off that area. Windows a roman shade, go 2 shades darker than walls. Which I think are nice.

Yes, you do have a lovely room for sure! I would partly do as chaefender suggests. Put the couch so it's facing the fireplace. The cream bench you have use it as a table; put a tray on it.
Two chairs on the windowsite and that little blue table you have between them.
Hang up the two pieces of art on both sides of the fireplace. No curtains, drapes or whatever, you windows are absolutely breathtaking.
If you like to add a colour you can pick up the light blue ( it's also in the artworks) or another colour and paint your mantel, or even the inside window walls.
Anyway, enjoy your lovely room!

I would just put a round, hall table there and place a vase of flowers or indoor plant. Take the sofa out. Alternatively, place the sofa facing the fireplace and have a smaller occasional table between the two windows. It's a lovely room.

What is that in front of sofa? I like the room and sofa. You have great ideas on here already but I would fill that sofa with some great big colorful pillows.

Brenda, I'm not a pro, but I recently moved to a house with your living room only with a less attractive fireplace. The previous owner had two sofas facing each other and wing chairs flanking the fireplace. I have my sofa facing the windows and 2 comfortably sized arm chairs across from it. I have a rectangular glass coffee table and between the windows a glass top console table, a wood table and lamp to the left of the sofa and a floor lamp to the right of the fireplace. One of the armchairs is leather and has a matching ottoman. I tuck the ottoman in front of the console table. The room feels larger with this arrangement. If your foyer is like mine, the fireplace faces the side of your stairs. I placed a large armoire facing the fireplace (against the stair wall) because I didn't have anywhere else to put it. I now realize that this piece seems to balance and expand the space - I have a large painting above the fireplace. I also have simple white drapes hung high. I like the idea of adding bookcases. Good luck!

What a wonderful room! Love the windows. Have you ever tried putting the sofa facing into the room and fireplace. If that fits maybe two chairs on either side of the fireplace. You will have 33 inches on each side and as the sofa is armless it could work.

What a great room! Wish I could be there, I'd have a blast helping you. I, too, think it would be lovely having the sofa facing the fireplace but, having a room nearly the same size as yours, I know that would begin to make it feel closed off, even if angled. We eventually exchanged our sofa for a love seat (more because the sofa was in poor shape but mostly to give me more flexibility in arrangement). I LOVE your sofa's shape, could fit in most every style depending on fabric. If you can afford to recover now, I would since it looks to be velvet or ultrasuede, but if not, the color is a good neutral, work with that. Given your room size, keep the sofa on that side centered between windows, definitely go with 2 curved-back chairs (perhaps tuffed on the back as well for interest and texture) on opposite side pulled away from the arched windows and make sure they are substantial enough for men to sit in but not overly tall backs. Then go with a true statement chair facing the fireplace that does have a slightly higher back (and one with a beautiful back, look at the lines of the chair from the back, should have a sculptural quality to it...think wingchair with an attitude) and this chair should be one that makes you want to sit there all day and enjoy your room, so make sure it is very comfortable (also, think of the statement chairs you see on "Revenge" love the design on that show). if you are keeping upholstered pieces somewhat neutral, go with a rug in an accent color and simple geometric design in a lighter shade or off white. A square glass top table with rubbed bronze or antiqued silver colored frame would be great and you could always pop that little bench in front of the fireplace with a throw draped on one end. Do you plan to paint? i would go with a med-light gray and accent trim in an off white or palest gray. This would accent your prints nicely, then your rug could be a deeper gray or blue-gray to pop the butter flies. Add accent pillows that pop other colors in the print. Draperies darker than the wall color and sheers (since windows appear to look into another room) hung high behind sofa on beautiful hardware to give the illusion those windows are just as tall (and it will accent sofa) and simple roman shade (maybe only a faux roman shade valance) mounted inside the arches for color...or skip shades and go with bolder color for window seat cushions and pillows. Of course, you will need little occasional tables, narrow consoles on either side of fireplace under prints, some flowers or plants, and for over the mantle (please no mirror, so overdone and most of the time in appropriate if you have a spot light on it) go with something a little unexpected and a little modern, sculptural to break up the rectangles and squares happening in the room. Think circular or vertical, sparklely or neutral, something that just brings the elements all together with a kiss on top! Good luck, it will be gorgeous!

One last thought, if you would rather go brighter (rethinking your prints) then repaint in a neutral light linen color with off white trim, pick up a bold color in the print for rug (still stay with simple geometric), bold pillows, and bold draperies (solid or simple design but not dark as it would make arched window side look naked, though chairs upholstered in same or similar color would balance that). Just wanted to add that, don't know if you were looking to create a subdued calming room or something a little fun and whimsical, those are the questions to ask yourself.

I think the couch will play better in front of the big windows - pulled forward onto the carpet. Put a patterned throw on the back of the couch. No room for pillows on that couch.

Add two small leather chairs facing and a coffee table, a black coat rack near the door. I love the colors of the existing rug - play up black in your picture frames. Keep it simple.

Thank you everyone for the feedback! So many ideas, thus making it that much harder :) Here are 3 pictures without the boxes. Here is what I know what I want to do. Keep the couch and recover it (keep it cream). I would like to have green as my color -- so get some pillows made with patterns/with green (obviously covering that maroon pillow). I think 2 tables built one both sides of the fireplace with the butterfly above those (maybe with 2 tall buffet lamps). I think a glass coffee table would work. The fact is I am horrible at decorating. In the past 2 months, I have sold a couch, 2 accent chairs, another chair, the rug that is in the picture, a office desk (Bought it from a consignment store, no returns -- brought it home and I'm trying to sell it -- less than 4 hours of having it), etc. I have decided to hire a decorator. I'm done (trying) decorating it. I am in Dallas, if anyone knows of a great decorator who is reasonable. If so, I would love to talk to them (first look at some of their work). I have a couple other needs in my house, too. UGH!! Thanks again for all the feedback and ideas!!

Oh I wish I was in Dallas! Your room is so lovely, but I feel the furniture and art is too contemporary for it. I would do a slipcovered linen sofa with graceful lines to echo the architecture, a rug that glows and two comfy chairs. If this room is right off the entry and what you see right away, then it should be welcoming and a bit more formal then the more intimate rooms of the home. Good luck keep us posted, can't wait to see it!

Great pictures, really helps! Good luck with a designer, should be able to find one inDallas right here on Houzz. I thought about green too, especially if you don't want to paint and want things bright. Fun green drapes for the sofa windows, a different shade green for accent pillows along with some blues (keep the fun blue table), cream chairs with throws and/or pillows and an accent chair facing the fireplace in a fun blue and green fabric! be sure to put a little yellow here and there (tiny spots of it) to pick up the butterflies. If you repaint with green, go light so as to not detract from your prints. FUN!

I live in the Dallas area also. One of the stores I love to go to is Hemispheres. They have rooms all set up with paint on the walls, furniture, rugs and accessories. Also, they have interior decorators there. You have a beautiful room to work with. Good luck!

Yes, that room is going to be beautiful whatever you do.

you got that right mollysmom! that room is beautiful naked, AND with cardboard boxes! elegance!
some lucky designer is going to be in heaven! :)

You have gotten a lot of very good ideas that I will try to elaborate on. I would definitely have built in book cases on either side of the fireplace. That will really accentuate that entire wall and you can have it set up so that there is room for the art pieces inside of this. Otherwise uses them as a pair over the fireplace. Keep the sofa and re-cover it and let it stay where it is. Yes use 2 chairs in front of the arched windows and the rounded backs will complement the architectural elements of the room. Yes with the glass cocktail table, but no to a chair in front of the fireplace as you don't want to block the focal part of the room. Use a bench or 2 ottomans as that will keep the room open looking.

Good Luck and have fun with it!!!

Get window cushions seats. Put floor lamp on one side of couch. A coffee table. 2 accent chairs on each side of table. Hang art on each side of fp& above couch. 6-8' inches.

Mirror above fp.

clarify, chair would not go in front of fireplace but across the room from fp. Since you come through the front door and spy the room from an angle, this is not blocking the focus on the fireplace. Your small bench ottoman would work fine in front of it though as I said earlier. I'm sure you will find a great designer in the Dallas area to pull everything together.

Have you considered putting a chair each side of the fireplace? I'm thinking something with a nice scolled arm that invites you to collapse in it maybe with little footstools. Vintage leather or similar style, something soft and cosy. Angle the chairs of course and pull them forward a touch to get them to the edge of the rug if you can, then a couch of some description facing the fireplace but make sure theres plenty of room either side so you can walk by comfortably (think door/hallway width). Then because the back of the couch would face the entrance to the room, put a console/sofa table behind it. Tables with a shelf underneath are great. Use the lower shelf for books and the top for decorating (picture frames, maybe a lamp or vase. The console and chairs would be what people see first so put accents/colours there. This also leaves all your windows free to show them off and so people can admire whatever the view is as they will walk past them every time they enter the room. If theres room put your little bench between the arched windows and consider having squab cushions made for the arched windows if you think they make ok seating in a pinch. Pictures over the chairs and mirror over fireplace.

ground the room with sofa (new more comfy if you can afford it) use oval metal coffee table with two chairs with their backs to the fireplace...all centered toward the middle of the room. The room is gorgeous and you will enjoy adding little by little.Keep your sofa even if you buy a new one. It has sexy lines and would be great at the end of a bed. Good luck. There is nothing more enjoyable than making a happily decorated home.

I love your delicate couch/settee. I think it is perfect in the room. Can you put it over on the other side of the room in front of the windows, with a sofa table behind it? You could put plants and a couple of beautiful lamps on the table. I would use a cream painted distressed French style for the table. How about some blue and white china pots? You could get an Aubusson style rug to ground the room and 3 chairs and a coffee table, What a gorgeous room!

Do,you have Bassett furn. If so they have designers, that can do space plans for you and decorate. It's free if you buy furn from them. I suggest you go,to a store who offers this service. There are many. Just call different ones and ask. It's better than what you doing. Which is stressing you out. Decorating should be fun.

Oh yes, I forgot about the design services at some of the furmiture shops! Ethan Allen has wonderful designers and terrific furniture (I can attest to that, I have several pieces and it holds up so well and is American made). There's one in Dallas and another in Arlington but there may be more nearby. Good luck, hope you post the GRAND FINALE!!

OK. what did you end up doing?

I agree with other posters that this room has beautiful architectural features. I too like the armless sofa, and it looks great where it is, provided it is centered in front of the two windows. I would suggest you go with the smaller upholstered chairs and have one under each of the arched windows. I would suggest that you put a bench or small chest on each side of the fireplace and then display the colorful prints on the wall above. The black-and-white print you have leaning on the mantel would look nice if you painted just the protruding wall above the fireplace an accent color, such as the blue in the other prints. Or, you could leave the fireplace wall as it is and locate the black-and-white print between the windows that are behind the sofa. As yet another possibility, if you have a wall-mounted sconce that matches the black sconce between the two arched windows, I would suggest you put the matching sconce between the two windows behind the sofa and keep the black-and-white print bird picture on the mantel. Having the black-and-white contrast on three walls and the original oriental rug with the black border in the center will make the room look unified.

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