I like #2 but with the drapes. The valances look nice, but, I think you need something else on the windows. I don't care for the angled furniture with the fireplace. Very beautiful home!

I like #2 or #4 arrangements & the drapes in #4. Very pretty rm - love that armoire!

First of all, I've always loved your room/furniture. I don't think you can go wrong. When I saw the first pic I immediately thought angled so I would say #3 but I also love #4. The drapes, I love the valance. I always liked that style but for your room I would go with the drapes.
So basically #4.

oops...I meant you CAN'T go wrong... :) sorry

Thank you! Looks like so far #2 and #4 are the favorites. I like them, too, but...

#2 Don't like that you walk into the room straight into the backs of the furniture. I like rooms that are more inviting.

#4 This is probably my personal favorite but I feel like the sofa should be diagonal from the armoire to help balance the heaviest pieces in the room. However, maybe the dark drapes balance out the armoire in a different way.

What do you think?

Maybe I'm just impossible to please!!!

OOooo! I love this room. I especially love, love, love your couch and loveseat (where did you get it? the fabric is awesome!). I love the rich colors and texture. From what I can see from your room, your tastes are very similar to mine (although I'm not personally keen on the flower fabric on the valances in the kitchen).

THAT said, I prefer layout #4, with the valance from #5. with the loveseat there, it gives great light to read the paper on a sunny SUnday morning. The only thing I can't tell from the photo, is if it would be an okay angle to see the TV from? AND, that leaves it open to add another accent chair on the other side, if you wanted to, maybe something of wood, with complementing upholstery (in a red or maybe sage-y green (if it matches what I think is green in your TV armoire). Anyway, something to think about. Love, love it, though!

#2 with the draperies is as pretty as a picture.

I'm not crazy about valances over loooong windows.
They looked skimpy to me. The draperies take your
room from somethings missing to perfect.

We have a similar room structure and a decorator who just came told us to do this: Put 2 couches facing each other parallel to the windows. Then put a chair or two at the end of the couches that's farthest from the fireplace. Another option she suggested was to have one couch in same orientation, and face it with two chairs next to each other.

I think #2 needs a chair or something in front of the window. I think #4 and 5 both need another chair opposite the one you have, to balance it.

I like the drapes, but think they should either have a valance too, or hang the rod lower? The bare wall showing along the top seems empty.

Sorry so curt, in a hurry. Your room will be beautiful!

What a pretty room.
I like #2 with the drapes.
You could add in another chair in front of the drapes.
I would suggest a larger round table to go b/tween the sofa and chair, thou. Then you could use the current round table next to another chair.

I understand what you mean about furniture on the diagonal seeming more open, thou. I really never can make it work.

Smiles:)

I like the furniture arrangement in #5 the best. As far as the drapes, I would suggest using the long drapes in fall and winter then switch to the valance for spring and summer. I do love the valance and drapes, where did you get them?

Beautiful room!

I like #5 but did you ever try moving the small couch to the opposite corner. i know this makes it impossible to watch tv. I had to do this in my family room. The kids still sit there. The decorator told me that the chairs need to be placed for conversation so its not always wrong to face them away from the tv or fireplace.

It seems like your curtains are too full. Do you have 2 panels on each end? If so, reduce it to one on each end. I do like your valance too.

Here is my family room, you can see the oversized chair is angled in front of the tv.

Thanks again for all the input - keep it coming as it helps me quite a bit!

nonchalant - the sofa and chair and a half are both by Bernhardt. I do wish that I had gotten a leather chair instead of the fabric one, though. I made the decision under pressure...oh well. Regarding the curtains in the kitchen - they are from the previous owner and not my style - so funny that you picked up on that! After I finish this room I am moving onto the kitchen.

egganddart49 - Thanks for the idea on moving the sofa parallel to the window. I just moved it this way and I like how the sofa is framed in the window. However, I am guessing that my husband is going to veto this since it gives a rotten view of the tv. Also, I would probably not be able to use our current chair and a half since it would be too wide. I would need to purchase two new chairs to fit opposite. I do like it, though. I will sleep on it tonight....

cindyloowoo - The valance is from The Great Indoors and the panels are actually from Bed, Bath & Beyond. I was going to have some made by Calico Corners but I lack the committment level to spend that much money on something that I will probably change my mind about before they are even installed.

gk5040 - Love your room! I will try it the other way. I think that I already did that and it looked funny in front of the painting on the armoire. You might be right about the panels being too wide. Maybe I need to reduce it to 1 1/2 widths. When I just had one width it looked too skimpy.

Thanks again - would love any additional input that anyone has!

Love your room too and have been looking for couches like that for my new family room. I like the grouping in #2 the best. Angles are hard to pull off. I angled our couch in our last home acrooss form the armoire...it worked super, but the armoire was angled too (in the corner). I think in your room with the non-angled focuses being the fireplace and entertainment center it makes a angle hard to flow. Two chairs angled slightly on one side could work though. Also, love your window treatments. The valence is very nice, but to me just looks a little too formal in your room. I would stick with the panels, they "belong" in your room. We have the same taste in color and style:)

You know, now that I'm looking at this again, I would probably have to say I like the panels better than the valance -- however, I think two things initially threw me off. I agree that there's maybe too much panel. (And, as a hobby sewer I would personally NOT go to a fabric place to have my drapes made -- especially panels -- because they would charge way too much. If you did want custom panels, but you don't sew yourself, maybe go to your local fabric store, and see if they have business cards for local people that could sew for you, if you buy the fabric. Or see if there's anyone you know that could do it.) Also, could you have a more substantial rod. Seems to me something a little thicker might look a little better.

And, one last thing, if you don't mind me babbling on (^_^), while I like the mirror you have over the mantle, I would personally replace it. I think on some decorating show I saw that they suggest against it, because when you're sitting (and really, standing, depending on the height of the mirror and wall), all you see reflected in the mirror is ... the ceiling. I would suggest either moving it (along with either other pictures/sconces/mirrors) to the blank wall, or get a larger mirror to put on that wall -- as a plus, it would reflect the light from the window opposite it. (It's hard to tell dimenions, but even a narrow console table against that wall might look good.)

Oh, and random, but I agree with getting a more substantial side table to put in between the couch and chair, instead of the small pedestal table.

Anywho, just some thoughts! ^_^

(And I hope you show piccies of your kitchen when you start on that.)

I like #4. The furniture arrangement opens up the room more. Also prefer the drapes. The valance shortens the height of the room and makes it appear squaty. You could always change out the rod to something more decorative. i.e. larger diameter with a design carved thru.
I like your mantel and decor throughout the room. Great taste!

Beautiful room--I love the carpet and the upholstery! I like #4, and agree with egganddart49 that the drapes need a valance if the rod is going to be high like that and the drapes are to be kept open most of the time, *or* the rod needs to come down (I lean toward lowering the rod). The valance looks good, as well, especially if you are one of those people who like openness and lots of light, and don't want to load the windows down with a lot of drapery. It's unexpected, and is interesting enough to stand alone.

Thanks again for all of the helpful suggestions!

I agree that maybe the panels are a bit thick so I have reduced them to 1 1/2 widths instead of the full two. Also, I am auditioning drapery rings to attach the panels to the rod. I can't decide if I like it better or not. It adds some interest and also brings the panel down just a bit closer to the window. I may end up bringing the rod down also.

Also, I have rearranged (again) to #4. It seems the most attractive when I take function into consideration (traffic paths, tv viewing, etc).

Do you think that I should paint out the header of the blinds to match the wall color? It seems to stick out right now.

Thanks again!