I'd like to see a nice rug in there. One like Sandysflowers has would be lovely, it has red and cream, which would bring in both your wall color and your red curtains. Look for something that has actual red in it, possibly take one of the curtains with you when you go to pick the rug.

Once the rug is in there, I'd look for a couch and loveseat that I loved. I disagree with the ID that two couches would fit in there. I think they would be a little bit too big, mostly because I'd love to see the couch and loveseat set up as an L with the red chairs worked into the arrangement.

I'm torn on fabric vs. leather for you on the couches. How old are your kids? Do you have dogs that would beat the leather up? If not, I'd say go with the leather if that's what you want and can afford. I might choose a dark brown rather than black, but only because I think that color might work better with the wood mantle and the brick.

I love your entertainment center (next to the fireplace, right?) because it hides everything, yet looks beautiful in the space. I especially like the mirror above it, although I'd like to see something displayed up there, maybe a basket?

Your bookcase looks black on my monitor, and black doesn't really go with the other stuff in the room. However, I think it works in the corner it's in because you have the black piano in the room. Once you cute it up with some baskets and candles, it will work better.

So, here's the furniture arrangment in my mind's eye: L with the couch and loveseat in front of the fireplace, with at least the front legs of both sitting on the rug edges. Pull the two red chairs forward almost to the edge of the rug, but keep them angled like you have with a small round table in the middle (maybe get a black table). Use the long rectangular coffee table/trunk in the center of the grouping...and I'd look for wood that goes with the entertainment center and mantle, nothing too dark or light.

If you really want to keep the two chairs by the sliding door, I'd get a smaller rug that coordinates with the big rug and place the chairs and their little table on that rug to clearly define that sitting space. I would suggest putting the bookcase on the wall behind them, but then all of your black would be on one side of the room. There are positives and negatives to that, but the biggest negative is that it wouldn't flow like 1 room, imo.

I think I see a red barn theme going (is that a barn over the fireplace, too?). I'd move the picture by the piano so that it is on the wall over the piano and put up a sconce there, then put a matching sconce, or pair of them, by the red barn picture over the chairs. Some sort of small BLACK painted shelf would look cute there to hold a themed accessory or two.

The 4 little paintings/mirrors on the wall by the bookcase would look better if they weren't hung all even. They would attract more interest, imo, if they were staggered in a V shape.

In spite of all I've written, I really like your room and I'd be perfectly comfortable stretched out on the couch in there, watching the fire dance.

The bookcase and piano are mahogany [sp] the pictures were not very good because it was so bright outside so there's no black just really dark wood as is the antique table between the two red chairs.

I love your ideas...what would I put on the wall where the barn picture is if I move the chairs?

The couch is actually a really dark brown that looks almost black....but I can get it in lighter browns.

My kids are 7,8,10 so not as rough as they used to be [why we waited so long to replace] and I have a 15 lb. dog so he's fairly harmless...

I'll look up the username to see that rug.

The fireplace has a stain glass piece that my MIL gave us... it's not super sentimental, she just didn't have use for it...I originally had the 4 pictures all in a row on the mantle and I think I liked that look better. Or do you prefer a V shape [i'll have to figure that one out].

Just a basket on the entertainment system?

Anything else on mantle?

I love your 'vision'. Thank you!

Trish

Following you over from kitchens... Do you have a floorplan?

(Bet you knew I'd ask that!)

Also, do you have list of pieces you have, functional pieces you need, etc.?

Is the cabinet under the mirror the TV? I think it looks nice with the woodwork and has a nice, traditional feel. If it works for you, you might as well keep it. I like hiding a blank screen from company.

It's hard to tell from the picture: Is the piano a baby grand? A spinnet? It doesn't look like it, but maybe an upright?

Re couches: Do you LOVE the couch or the look of the dark leather? I wouldn't choose that particular style for your room, but if it's comfy and you love it, you can do the room around it. For your BH meets country look, I'd rather see a nice leg, and a less lounge-y back. Also, I wouldn't match the seating, but rather coordinate.

The great thing about leather with kids, as you probably already know, is

For instance, if you want a love seat and couch, assuming the couch is that dark chocolate leather, I'd do one of these high backed settees they're showing right now (which are kind of funky but the shape should look great in your room), covered in a large, vine-y, restrained floral (i.e., not many flowers, more background) with the chocolate, and a touch of red from the chairs, some gold and a cream background (and a good fabric treatment so the kids can flop)). Some striped pillows in the same colors but with more gold and a lot less cream on the couch.

For the rug I'd go with something that has a busy all over pattern, that reads as one color. It wouldn't matter whether it's Persian style or modern, or anything in between, but lots of little bits of color, rather than big blocks of it. I'd probably choose dominant color gold with a little blue in it.

If you're keeping your current arrangement of seating at right angles, you might consider a wider (squarer) coffee table that's usable from both sides.

Re the mantel, what's there isn't making the most of it. You asked for dislikes so I'll name them, though I'm not sure from the picture if some of these are holiday decorations or permanent:

1. The frame in the middle is too tall. With the wood cap and the beams you probably don't want to go much higher than the same piece on its side would be.

2. The frame is too close in color to the woodwork and sinks in. You need something with punch, like the chocolate brown, or red.

3. The absolute symmetry of the topiaries and candles is a mismatch with the asymmetrical balance of the doors and the cabinet.

4. The candles hang out past the bricks and are totally lost.

What I'd like to do for that stylish casual thing is an uneven number of black and white photos in different heights and sizes, either family members or landscapes, in simple dark frames, just set on the mantel and overlapping. Maybe a triad of candles, or two small ones on one end and a tall one on the other.

I don't know if I'm way off from the kind of look you're going for, but you were right: It was a lot of fun playing, and a nice change from kitchens.

Thanks so much [and you helped with the shades for kitchen too! :O)]

I love the idea of a fabric sette with the leather couch. I sat on that couch and fell in love. I have never loved this couch.

The piano is a baby grand. I have no floorplan that I have scanned in sadly and with the remodel it's in a box somewhere...who knows where.

The cabinet under the mirror does hold tv and stereo, wii, cds, etc. It's quite useful. Glad to keep it.

The only things that have to stay in this room:
piano, barn print, tv

What I'd like to keep but don't have to:
entertainment center, 4 prints, drapes, antique bookcase that has our dvds, games, etc. on [by the peek-a-boo window], and the little antique open shelving thing by the entertainment center.

don't have to keep anything else...

I'm going to try and search for things like you suggested as well....

:O)

Trish

The only idea I had was to think about that couch in a charcoal gray leather... it would pick up the tones in your fireplace stone and would look fab with the red chairs. Does that couch come in a color like that?

I'm sure it does. I'll have to check...I'm not a grey person typically but I do like charcoal. Thanks for the idea!!!

I've been searching couches and settes and some look great but not comfortable...I want to be able to lounge...right now there are 4 of us hanging out and some of the settees don't look fun for that?

I'm really bad at this....I'll keep diggin. Thanks so much everyone.

Keep advice coming. Love it!

Trish

Trish,

Do some local scavenging and take the family shopping. There's nothing like a sit test. That's how you fell in love with the couch.

The kind of settee I was thinking of is upholstered and comfy, just not as floppy as the couch. Good for older people, and people wearing skirts. A nice contrast to the loungy couch.

good point about older people and skirts....
will have to look next week. Took kids once and that was enough. LOL. Dh just wants me to order something.

Trish

or too limiting?

Dh just wants me to order something.

Ordering furniture in a hurry is a bad idea.

just can't 'commit'. I love the comfort of Larry but don't love the looks so much [the double cushions 'eh'].

I fell in love with the idea of this....obviously throw pillows would need to coordinate more [ignore the zebra pattern and dead deer]. See the leather and fabric couch? Maybe makes it more traditional...?

Do you think something like that would work? But more on the side of the room rather than centered in front of fireplace because then what would I do with the space in corner and could you see tv??

Love the coffee table size and the red bench behind the one couch...

could I do some different accent fabric pillows to tie in the red?

And if you hate this style or doesn't fit or another idea, PLEASE let me know. Thanks.

You asked: I hate it. The bottom one looks like someone took a traditional, wicker sofa and wrapped it in leather. Those very formal, old fashioned arms, and bun feet, don't go with the eclectic, casual style of the upholstery.

The shape of the red sofas is much more appropriate, but it would be better in all leather. Leather is great with kids so long as they don't have sharp things in their pockets and can be trusted not to poke pencils into it. It cleans up with water and saddle soap. But it does stick to bare skin, and can get hot. It's nature's vinyl. Which is why they combine it with fabric. Bad move. Either be fabric or be leather. The weight and texture are too different and they rarely come out looking great, especially after some living happens.

The red bench is cool! Less imposing than a sofa table (console), but with a lot of the same function. And it's folky and funky.

My Aunt had the two sofas flanking the fireplace in her living room. It's a great conversation grouping, but not so much for TV watching. For that, especially for the kids who probably look at the screen more, you want a straight on view.

You can do a big square, though. An L of couch and settee or second couch or loveseat, and a couple of small easy chairs that are easy to get around on the opposite side. You have your red chairs. I'm not sure if they're too big to allow people to walk by easily if you close up the square, but even so, you can always pull them over for company, and keep them by the piano for family time with running kids.

Re Larry, have your other family members sit tested him? I totally agree about the shape. It's very tired. But that LOVE thing is important. Your family room couch should feel Ahhh to sit on. I'm sure it'll still be there though. Maybe you can find a similarly comfy couch in a more classic shape that will give you more breadth of possibilities. Comfort comes first, but it can be done with a little more style than poor Larry. ;-)

Thanks...poor poor Larry. He is divine to sit upon...sigh.

And bummer about the leather and fabric...I just couldn't find one that looked 'right' they were all so 'stuffy' [not the right word].

I think I'll hit another furniture store...I wish I could find something that would make Larry handsome. DH totally disagrees and thinks Larry is fine.

Thanks for the help.

Trish

Trish, nothing is going to make Larry handsome. But does he have to be? Can't he just be an adorable mutt that you just love to have around? Since you both like him, why not go for it? You wanted a less formal room anyway. (Larry definitely has "den" written all over him.)

What you can do is find another piece that has the chunky feet and square arms (minus the pillowy top on the arms), so that they look related. Put some bright throw pillows on Larry, and put his purebred cousin next to him, and he'll do okay. He's not so bad with the red chairs.

You mentioned sectional before. I wouldn't do a traditional sectional unless it was just as comfortable as Larry. Unfortunately, a lot of sectionals aren't all that well made. If they were, they'd basically be individual chairs, and they'd be very very expensive.

The red chairs are modern and funky, so maybe you could do a larger, curved, modular couch? That is, breaks apart, but not into individual seating units, still has couch construction. A lot of the ones I've seen recently don't look as comfortable as Larry, though.

you've been so helpful. Chunky feet and square arms. Do you mean in leather or fabric?

A picture by chance so I can see it? I'm dense.

Thanks

Trish, A huge part of communication is non-verbal and is lost in this medium. You're not dense.

Look at Larry. If you want something to go with Larry and make his better attributes come out, try matching his better styling details. Look at the arms underneath the cushy draped part on top. They're very nice, square, chunky arms. Look at his feet. More nice chunky and square. Look at the bottom underneath the cushions. Tight, and pretty clean looking, but that whole double cushion thing down there too. Don't mimic that. Do get clean and tight. Choose well and the companion makes Larry look disheveled a la Hugh Grant, rather than really disheveled a la Jeff Bridges in the Big Lebowski.

I think your red chairs look like flirty twins next to Larry and go well.

As to leather or fabric, part of it is what you find. I'd prefer a pattern of some kind to lift the room. And the contrast of the fabric with all the leather, but the sit test is highly important too.

Sorry I don't have a picture, but look at Larry and you'll see his bones. Try to find a Jonas Brother to go with Larry and the twins. Fresh, young, and very pretty without being really girly.

great comparison...and my red chairs ... the olsen twins?

LOL.

I'll start searching and post something.

i went to another store today but most of the ones I liked had the rounded arms like my red chairs...

Trish

having near impossible time finding anything that might work in real life and my price range. [Trish

Well, what are you finding? I'm sure you can make something work.

A fall back position would be to get new slipcovers for the old ones.

I tend to be really picky. It took me four years to find a dining table and another year or two to find the chairs. But that's not reasonable for a young family. If you can't find a Jonas brother, did you at least find a Denzel? Or a Teri Hatcher?

Maybe looks less like Larry, but looks nice with him and the girls, and feels nice to sit on.

Did you find any coffee tables?

I had a lightbulb today....My old couch hubby loves....could I just get a new slipcover for that and Larry?

I'm thinking doing like the picture I posted....couches facing each other with coffee table in between....and maybe even the red chairs will fit on the peek-a-boo wall...bench behind one couch...some throw pillows for Larry....

what do you think? I'm just not finding anything I love and I'm frankly exhausted from this remodel and want it over.

In the meantime, if anyone would like to play and rearrange what I already have so it looks pretty for a baby shower I'm throwing in 2 weeks...my goal was to have it all done by then but considering I haven't ordered anything yet...not happening.

Thanks.

Trish