Jess, if it were me, I'd wipe my hands of this and call it DONE! This last configuration is exactly what I was hoping you would do, and personally, I love it! It's easy for everyone to get to, whereas in the first photo you had to walk around the couch to even sit down, etc., and in the other photos whoever sat on the loveseat wouldn't be able to see the TV without twisting their head.

This way, everyone has a clear and comfortable view of the TV, and also the fireplace. You can seat more people by bringing in the other chair, and everything looks comfortably spaced. BRAVO!

Now you can list you other concerns, like paint, trim, etc., and let everyone make their suggestions.....that is if you have any strength left!! I love this arrangement, and I think you're headed in the right direction with these changes.

Heidi

I like this arrangement, but would like to offer one suggestion for the loveseat. I'm just curious to know if angling it slightly toward the sofa would work. Then I'd put a floor lamp in the corner.

Yep, it's a keeper! A floor lamp in the corner by the loveseat would be good. Don't worry about something just yet next to the armoire--you'll find it in good time. I have one more suggestion, fwiw: I love your furniture and everything has such nice clean lines, but it looks a bit like it's floating in the room: any chance you could put an area rug under the coffee table, to ground the room, bring in a bit more color, and pull everything together?

Nanny2a - I'm glad you like it, too! I think I really needed that affirmation after so many variations.

Bac717 - I shifted the loveseat into the corner and nudged the TV cabinet over so the doors could still open and close all the way. Better or worse do you think? If I go with the angled loveseat my next questions will be about lamps and accessorizing but I'll hold off on that until I'm totally done here.

Thanks, OSH! I didn't know rugs could be done over carpets. Well, I guess I knew you could do it but I didn't know if I should do it. It's really OK? :)

How large of a rug should I use? Would it go under the front feet of the sofa and chair with the coffee table centered in the middle? I saw the positively gorgeous rug you found for another poster. Should I look for a similar style, but with more pale sage than blue, plus red? I love your taste, by the way!

A rug would ground everything perfectly. A small end table in the corner would give the people sitting on the loveseat somewhere to place a beverage and would be a good place for a lamp. If you don't have another end table, you could even use the one by the chair and couch because they can both share the coffee table. I personally don't like the idea of the angled loveseat, only because if everyone is watching tv together, whoever sits there can't see the TV.

Heidi

Oh yes, you can put a rug over a carpet. It all depends on your taste: some people like it, some don't. And I'm not sure you really even need one--that would just be my preference. If you do decide to go with a rug, I think it should be large enough for the front feet of the sofa and chair to sit on it. I would think a 5x8 would be plenty big, but I can't be sure, of course. As for style, don't ask me--lol--I'm traditional all the way, so I'd be nudging you in the direction of an oriental. :) But it seems like your style is a bit more modern, so how about a Karastan? This is one of my favorite Karastans, and I think it would be beautiful in your room. :) This rug is currently on sale for $1000 in the stores. It's not brand new, but that shouldn't deter you (if you like it), because buying pre-owned, when it comes to rugs, is totally cool.

I love Bac717's idea of angling the love seat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Karastan Ashara

P.S. I don't mean to imply that Karastans don't go with Traditional decor. They do, of course. I just meant that a traditional persian/oriental might not be the best choice for your space.

Have a good evening!

Another thing about the rug,all your furniture in a conversational group should be touching the rug, and if not, your rug is too small or you are yelling across the room at your guests.

I'm so excited now that the furniture part is basically done that I've started looking for accessories! I can't help myself. I feel obsessed. Besides, JC Penney has lamps on sale for 50% off.

Which floor lamp do you like best?

I don't know what your budget is, but here's another one that's really pretty, although you do have to be careful mixing red and green--you don't want you living room to look like Christmas! This one is currently on sale in stores for $1300, so this is a good price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Ashara

Do you live in Wisconsin--lol? (see link)

Of the lamps you've listed, I guess I prefer #2, because it picks up the wood tone of your fireplace surround, as well as of your ceiling fan.

Here is a link that might be useful: Karastan

Oh, I love that second rug! I can see how the red could really add more "oomph" to the space.

No. Way. I DO live in Wisconsin! No joke.

I planned to make a trip to Milwaukee this coming weekend and would go right past that town. Is it meant to be? I wonder if they'd let me see it in person before bidding/buying. I'd say that $25 is much more my budget than $1,000. ;)

You're kidding??? That's *so* funny. But do you like the rug? If so, you should ask her to email you close-up photos, so you can get a sense of the colors. The auction is over on Saturday, I believe, so you could pick it up on your way back on Sunday!

If you don't like it, the red rug above that you liked comes in a couple of different schemes.

Here's one:

http://www.thegreatindoors.com/p-391806-karastan-ashara-15007-agra-border.aspx

And the other I've provided a link to.

Signing off--good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Ashara

I DO like the loveseat on an angle. It looks like you may have room for a small round end table to the right (as you're facing it) of the loveseat. You also may have room for a floor lamp between the loveseat and the TV cabinet.

Yay! That was the plan I was hoping for. :)

If you like the 3rd lamp you shared, that would be great, as it would give you a place to put a cup or plate.

You seem like you feel so much more at peace with the room now. Hope you take some time to sit and enjoy your new space before you tackle the next item on your list!

I'm going to be the voice of dissent . . .I like your 4th picture best, with the couch/loveseat facing each other, as long as the door hitting the loveseat (can you move the loveseat there instead of the couch?) still means you can see the TV fully from the other seating. I just DON'T like the TV to be the focal point, not because I am against TV, but because (to me) there is always a big visual letdown when it's just that . . .a box hiding a TV or the TV itself.

If you keep the couch/loveseat across from each other, then you can put up some gorgeous artwork over it. If the TV is too annoying there, then I definitely like the other arrangement (the pic before your final arrangement), where the loveseats still face each other, but the armoire is on the wall opposite the window.

In any case, big improvement!!! Looking very good!

Great progress! Mpmg is so right.. you "sound" so much more at peace-- and excited even. It's great to see.

I like the loveseat angled as well. It feels more cozy and intimate-- and less boxy. I think I like the lamp with wood for your room.

I LOVE ALL the rugs OSH suggested.. and gosh, I really think a rug on the carpet will make the room even more cozy and "pulled together". I like them in the order she shared them. In fact, if you choose the WI rug over the the first one, I think I might bid on it. Is that tacky? I am thinking it is tacky LOL.. if so, sorry! Just to be clear, I wouldn't bid against you.

What about putting the couch with its back to the dining area, the loveseat in front of the window in an 'L' formation with the couch, with the end table and lamp in between.

Then put the cabinet at an angle in the corner (where you now have the loveseat) and put the armchair on the wall to the right of the fireplace.

The chair won't crown the armoire, you could add a nice floor lamp or small accent table there, perhaps something in metal and glass to lighten up the room a bit.

I am just not fond of the armoire being the item next to the fireplace - it feels like you are putting two disparate focal points adjacent to one another.

I would like to see some more substantial accent pieces on the fireplace mantel, including some red up there to carry the red from the seating level up higher in the room. A cool lamp hanging over the armoire in the corner would work, too. Perhaps something like this that is not hard-wired:

swag chandy

I was just going to suggest what Les said, lol, no I wasn't haha. But I do think a rug is in store and I saw some really nice ones here. I love that lamp Les showed. It's gonna be great!!

http://www.homedecoratorsoutlet.com/
I've bought at this site and was very happy with the items.;

I like Les's suggestion too. It balances everything out very nice with the armoire in the corner. Also it allows the chair to be used either for TV watching by rotating it some or conversation.

Les - I was hoping you'd drop by. You're something of a celebrity around here. :)

I tried the loveseat in front of the window at a right angle to the sofa earlier and it kind of crowded the fireplace. How about this as sort of a compromise, with the chair still in front of the window but the loveseat along the wall next to the TV cabinet in the corner? (You can't really tell but in a similar earlier layout the loveseat and sofa were switched so the sofa was close to the cabinet.)

If I go with this layout, what would you envision for the blank wall to the right of the armoire?

Should a floor lamp go between the loveseat and cabinet? What kind would look nice in the room? I posted a few pics as ideas but don't need to stick with any of them.

How about ideas for arranging family photos on the wall over the loveseat?

Les - You mentioned wanting to see something more substantial on the FP mantle. Others have suggested the mirror come down and go in the foyer instead. (Glad it's not getting tossed! I just bought it at Kirklands.) What kind of art or decorative pieces, etc. are we thinking about here?

I tend to like the pics of vases with branches I see in catalogs. Should I try something like that for the top of the armoire to give it more "height"? I've got 9 foot ceilings throughout the home.

As for paint in the open LR, DR, Kitchen area I'm looking at shades like SW Believable Buff, Whole Wheat, Macadamia...

Thanks again for all the help!!

Let me amend my earlier praise and thank Les for finally appearing on the scene - I like THIS arrangement the best of all! Let me put my inept decorating foot firmly in my mouth by asking one question, with this layout, is it even necessary to angle the TV cabinet against the corner? How does it look if you have the cabinet placed where it originally was in the very beginning, which is flat against the first wall to the right as you enter the room. I'm just curious to know. Perhaps it would make that end of the room look too crowded.....I was just curious....

Since you added the additional chair from your living room set into these later pictures it's opened up much more seating possibilities than were first shown.

One attractive way that I've seen family photos displayed on a living room wall was by having all the photos done in black and white casual poses, (not yearly school photos), with wide mats and substantial frames all of the same style and color. In your room, I think black frames, (or a very dark stain that matches your cabinet and mirror frame) would be the only choice.

Heidi

Is it at all possible for the loveseat to go where Les suggested? I think it would make more sense over there- it looks kind of on its own against that wall, and I think it needs to be brought over to the conversation area, and have the coffee table within reach. It seems that a chair is better suited off a bit on its own, still close enough to talk, but will look like a reading chair also. A side table could be put next to it, and maybe one of the floor lamps you're looking at.

How's this? (DD made her way into one of the pics. LOL)

I don't know what I would do without you all! I agree that having the chair in the room opened up so many more options. Can you believe I originally moved it to another spot in the house because I didn't think there was enough room in the LR?! Just shows how limited my vision for this kind of thing can be.

I'm still at a loss for lamp & end table placement, or what to do with the wall to the right of the cabinet. I used to think of myself as relatively creative but when it comes to home decorating I don't trust myself and rely on what I can mimic from magazines, etc. (Hence, the PB-esque decor.)

It's hard to tell in the photos -- is there plenty of space between back of sofa and dining table/chairs ?

There's enough space to comfortably walk between them and to pull out the dining chairs for seating, but not enough room to add a sofa table or anything behind it.

I don't care so much for the way the loveseat sits in front of the French doors and overlaps the fp -- are you going to be able to use them that way?

Can you play with the angles of the sofa ... something like this? mirroring the angle of the corner tv cab. And move the chair away from overlapping the fp also.

Oh, if only I could find the unanimously popular layout! Every option has something "not quite right" about it. :)

Squirrelheaven - The loveseat is in front of a large window but not french doors. (So no need to go in and out.) It can't really be pulled out at an angle like in your photo b/c the arm is only about an inch from the sofa arm. Tilting the loveseat forward would pull it out in front of the sofa. I can't slide the sofa down any farther or it would block the pathway from the entry hall into the dining/kitchen area. I can't tilt the FP-side of the loveseat back at an angle b/c there's already minimal space between it and the window behind.

Right now I think I prefer the chair back where the loveseat was and put the loveseat back along the wall to the right of the FP, but maybe that's just b/c it's so bare without a table or lamp yet. (?)

I agree with you, Jess.. it's a little crowded at the fireplace but I think it is a great arrangement for tv viewing and conversation.

Why don't you live with it for a week before you start filling in with accessories and see how it feels to you in a practical day-to-day sense.

OK, after seeing more pics . . .

I like:
(1) the TV on the narrowest wall (across from the window)
(2) the sofa along the wall of the fireplace
(3) the loveseat facing the sofa
(4) the chair by the window, on an angle
(5) some narrow bookcases (same height as armoire) flanking the armoire

The only problem with (5) is that it might make the room look like it is squat . . .giving no height.

How do you sit in there? Is the sofa and chair usually enough for tv watching or does all seating have to be facing the armoire? I'm wondering if you can put the loveseat on the short wall and still have the tv cab angled into the corner. And maybe another chair could go to the right of the fp still. It looks as if the cabinet is new, as in no thoughts for a console instead for the long wall?

ok, have we tried! the sofa along the window and loveseat flanking the other side of the fp. Chair angled, across from the loveseat towards the angled tv cab in the corner. ?

I def prefer the love seat angeled on the far wall with the chair under the window and the tv cabinet across from the couch. I'm assuming that you use this room most for tv watching so why not make it as comfortable for that as possible and yet still stylish! :) Can't wait to see this room come together with the little details. :)

I really like it the way rhapsdy described above, too. The chair can be centered in the window (loveseat can't), you'll see the tv great, and you'll be acknowledging the angle of the fireplace with the loveseat. And there's no crowding. Right now the cabinet is darker than the fireplace so it sort of dominates it, but with paint or decorating, you can bring that focus to the fireplace. And when you enter the living room from the entryway, the fireplace is open and has a real wow factor. Great work!