I like a lot of the things you have in the room. For me, I like color and pattern. So, I think that it would be nice to have some color in the room. Would you consider painting the walls? Instead of using the mustardy color curtains, why not pick a color you'd like to accentuae? Something may be in the navy that is in your rug? Or bring out a color from the painintg. I think the unbleached linen curtain looks too washed out in room that is white with a white fireplace and white slip covered couch. Just my 2 cents, but hey, I have my own issues putting together room in my own house; so, I don't know if I'm one to give out advice! Good luck!

It's a beautiful room. I love what you have done with the hearth - I wouldn't touch that. My first reaction is that there are too many earth tones and you need some color to brighten the space. I think the Manchester Tan works as a calming, soft color. I'd bring in something different with the curtains -- a soft baby blue or maybe another color that plays off the rug? I don't mind the IKEA ones you've brought in but I'm not sure they work with the rug.

I would also get rid of the chair that is blocking the doorway - it doesn't seem like you need it there and you have enough seating in the room for the space.

I'm not sure about the artwork above the table with the cream vase. It seems to small for that space -- perhaps consider getting a B&W framed piece or something that has a little more height?

I'd also like to see a tall, green plant in the corner where the tall lamp is. The lamp is a little too short and you need some more height on that side of the room to balance out the frames on the other side.

Lastly, would you consider changing out the hanging light fixture? If you didn't want to find a new one, you could always spray it white or another color. I spray painted a chandy in my house and it gave new life to it.

Have you tried the setee on an angle facing the couch where the clock currently is; and putting the clock on the other side? Also, what about the settee facing the couch in front of the fireplace. I would use the couch, leather chair, settee, coffee table, rug and clock and definitely more green plants. I like the curtains you currently have and would reconsider using the mission chair for the rooom.
The room is very nice and the bones are there, just narrow down the use of side tables and the chair.

I think you have too much furniture in the room. I don't see a TV, so assume that's not the purpose of this room. I would remove the white sofa and replace it with the settee. Then bring in a chair on the side of the fireplace where you currently have a table and plants. I like the original drapes that you have up. Your tables are too tall for the furniture.

I know you said that you just painted the walls, but the too contrast-y comes from your dark trim that washes out the wall color. I have dark trim in my old house too, which I would not paint either. But a warmer tan would do a lot to bring your room together. The large white sofa next to the settee doesn't work. And the chairs in front of the doorways block the view. You have some nice pieces, I just think they need to be rearranged and edited.

I would be inclined to put the chairs across from the white sofa so that the pieces flank the fireplace, but it is hard to tell if there is room for that.

Can you draw out the room to scale? The birds-eye view? It would help us determine how much room you have for pieces.
Diane

Can't get a good feel of the size of the room. Could you position the leather chair and the wooden chair opposite and facing the white sofa - where the dogs are sitting in the last pic, with the end table with the white drawer knob between them, removing the settee from the room?

I like the orange curtains better than the white.

What a fantastic room! It just screams "character". It just needs some tweaking.

I'd change the following:

1. The collection of small photos is adding to the
cluttered feeling of the room.
A single item on the wall there would calm the area.

2. You are covering up the beautiful woodwork at the top of
your windows with a curtain rod. If you must have
drapes I'd hang them higher and wider.

3. I'd eliminate at least one of the end tables.
4. I love that settee, but not if it has to stick out in
front of a doorway.

I like the wall color against the dark trim myself.
I love that chandelier and I wouldn't touch it.
I'd put a chair in the corners on either side of your dining room doorway.

I have a hard time arranging furniture in pictures, so I usually avoid these posts but I love your room so I'm going to tell you what I would do if you invited me in and asked me the same question. Move the leather chair to another room. It doesn't seem to belong. I would definitely want to keep the settee and the light colored chair that is in the dining room doorway. I could make an argument that the white sofa could go, too, but I understand the need for a full-size, comfy sofa! So I would basically pull everything out of the room and then start over and see what you can come up with using the sofa, settee, and chair. The goal should be to not block the doorways with any of the furniture, though. The chair in front of the dining entry, and the settee that is half in front of the other doorway, are not working.

I don't know if you'll end up using the end table that is close to the dining room doorway, but the lamp seems too big for that table. The table seems kind of random in general -- too far from the chair to be used, and a bit too tall for it anyway, it seems.

I really like the lighter drapes. Once you've figured out your layout, you might try to find some pillows and a throw that pick up some of the reds and blues in your rug.

It is such a comfy, beautiful room! I know people don't like the back of furniture toward an entry, but your room makes it difficult to avoid, so I'd put the white sofa facing the fireplace, centered as much as possible and close enough that you can easily walk behind it. Where it is blocks the visual flow to the window, which bothers me more. A small coffee table with legs (maybe a glass top), or two small square tables might open the area up some.

I would take out the leather chair and settee and put the white chair angled a bit toward the sofa in the corner where the gallery pics are. I agree that they might be too cluttered right there. You might want to try them with the clock (and I'd paint that vent by the clock).

I love the painting over the table, but agree it's too large for the table, or the table's too small for the painting. I love the mantel how it is, but might try the painting on the mantel, just to see if it works there, maybe along with the vase you have on the table added to the two already there. If you like it, then you might be able to use the gallery pics and work the mantel ones into the mix and use where the painting is now. A gallery arrangement might not need to be grounded by a piece of furniture.

If you like how it works, I'd maybe then put the clock to the left of the window, next to the gallery and move the table under the painting to the corner where the clock is now.

Eventually, I'd look for another lighter scale chair to put in the area where the plants are, maybe another with wood arms and upholstered seats.

Great room; it certainly does not seem too "done" to me. Don't worry about its peculiarities as that's part of its charm, though I can see how it might be a bit frustrating to make these pieces work. You've accomplished a lot already in bringing balance to your arrangement.

I too can see the sofa facing the fireplace, but it may be too large. I'd try it though as it makes sense for the fireplace to be the focal point especially as the weather cools, but you'll have to scooch the rug closer to the fireplace. If it works, then turn the chest so it's parallel with the sofa again. I love the settee, so if the sofa facing the fireplace works, I'd place the settee where the sofa is now and put the pillow that's currently on the white chair on the settee. If you don't like the sofa facing the fireplace, then the brown chair works better than the settee in your current configuration.

Regardless of where the sofa lands, maybe it's my monitor, but the slipcover seems too bright for the rest of the elements. Would you be willing to tea-stain it so it harmonizes a bit more or get a different one for winter? I'd move the sofa accent pillows to the chairs, and toss a toasty brown with bit or rust and/or olive and cream paisley, ikat or some other print throw on the sofa to introduce a bit a color and texture. Then you can try out a few pillows on the sofa, probably in solid colors, tone on tone prints or a combo. If that doesn't appeal, then I'd find a solid throw to coordinate with the the pillow on the white chair and place that pillow on the sofa (assuming the settee stays upstairs) and let it serve as the anchor colors for a couple of new sofa pillows.

I'd drop the large painting down several inches. I suspect it's too large for the mantle, and its heft will detract from the lovely chimney angles so I'd leave your mantle as is. If the proportions of the art and table bother you, then you could try opening the dropped edge and running the table the other way.

Try angling the clock, but then you may want to stack three small prints on the resultant open DR wall. Depending on the sofa placement, perhaps the table and lamp vignette can be placed in front of the window adjacent to the fireplace and the white chair angled in front away a bit from the dining entrance.

I'm sorry but I don't think the new curtains are the right tone for the room; they have a grey cast which doesn't work with the rest of the room. Your existing drapes look great, but if you want less contrast you might consider tone on tone panels a shade closer to your paint.

I like it but it looks like you fear pattern. In order to fully carry out the 'accumulated" or as-it-went-along vibe the rooms seems like it wants to have, you need some more pattern: pillows and things that don't "match", and some accessories that are a bit off, I think.

LOVE thee house!!! Is it 1910-ish???

I would first paint the walls 2 values deeper than the Manchester Tan. Use Manchester Tan on the ceiling & FP. The deeper color will richen the room & create less contrast with the woodwork. The tinted ceiling will raise it & erase so much contrast.

Ditch the draperies & replace with woven wood roman shades with side banding in a burnt orange. If you can inside mount, great. If not, mount to the bottom of the crown moulding on the trim. This will instantly add more texture & lighten the feeling of the room.

Keep rug, plants & clock where they are.

Take out white sofa & the table to the right of it as well as the leather chair. Just don't work.

Angle the settee on the walls in #4. It will sit to the left of the window spanning the wall to the right of that window wall. Take the small table that sits to the left of the rocker & place that under the window to the right of the settee. I think you'll then have room to place the rocker to the right of that table, angled in the corner. The chest will sit in front of the settee. The drop leaf table can fill the corner behind the settee with a vase of TALL sticks in it. To the left of the settee, you can put a small round table with a swing arm lamp over it. The table under the window will need a lamp also, size-wise somewhere between the small & large current ones. Then look for another vintage occasional chair for the corner where your plant stand is, placed in front of it, angled so that it doesn't block the doorways.

If, however, this is the room where you sit all the time, you may want to use the slipcovered sofa instead of the settee & the rocker may have to move where the "new" one would've gone & a smaller one put in the window corner.

Your mantle is done very nicely (put some taller beeswax candles in them) & I like the artwork & photos!!!

Your hoiuse is just wonderful!!!

~Jeana

Thanks everybody. My head is spinning with all the suggestions. One thing I notice right off is that pretty much everybody agrees that the room isn't quite right now, but there's not much agreement on what's wrong. So I have lots to think about and distill.

We do not watch TV in this room...we have a TV room in one of the bedrooms upstairs. I love how the TV room pulled together. We hang out in the living room mostly in the mornings drinking coffee and playing on our computers, and on weekends when we have a fire going in the fireplace. This room gets used daily. We hang out here and want it to be comfortable and look inviting. Some of the furniture pieces in this room are old family pieces so I'd really like to make them work (or find another home for them elsewhere in the house).

Lots of people suggested moving the white rocker that is in the doorway to the dining room. That's going to be a tough sell because it's my husband's chair and he loves the view out the front window. I could possibly move the chair and table to the opposite side where the clock is now, but I know he'll insist that it face the front window. I'll play around with it later and see what I come up with.

I have a second slipcover for the white sofa, it's more of a warm tan or camel color. I'll pull that out and see how it looks with the room. My guess is that it won't go with the linen curtains but I'm not sure that they work anyway. A while back I had the sofa and the settee switched, with the settee in front of the window and the sofa on the wall faced toward the fireplace. It was just OK. The sofa always felt really awkward there, like I was trying to make something work that really didn't.

I can try moving the leather chair out. I'm not wedded to it being there. I'll also try angling the clock. It really helped me seeing photos of the room rather than just seeing the room itself. I know that sounds silly, but it's different. In photos, the wall space to the left of the couch looks bare to me. A couple of you commented on it. Would it help if I added a simple framed mirror there?

Anyway, lots to try. I like the idea of bringing more blue into the room. And pattern. I never thought I feared pattern, but maybe I do. I think I've gravitated more toward texture than pattern. Interesting...

Anyway, thanks. It's a work in progress.

You have pretty things and the room seems quite charming to me. Can't wait to see what you come up with...please share pix of your journey!

I love your room! PLease post pics as you try out some of the great suggestions above! :)

I suggest placing the white sofa on the wall under the wonderful colorful painting.

Then place the settee (gorgeous BTW!) under the window.

Place the drop-down table under the collection of artworks. Add lamp. This table will be sitting to the right of the settee.

Place the spindle-leg table to the left of the settee. It will act as the corner between the white sofa and the settee. Add another table lamp.

Place leather chair to the right of the fireplace (where all of the plants now sit) Add standing lamp. Add tiny table and basket for reading materials.

SEND THE CLOCK TO ME ......whoops -- thats was my outside voice! Just teasing! LOL! Gorgeous clock!!! :) Could you find a spot in the dining room for it? If you can -- then try the Arts & Crafts chair in that spot ......

Again -- just LOVE your home -- please post more pics when you can! :)

I love your room. I agree with the changes you've made. I hope you keep your existing curtrains, the color is great.

honestly, I wouldn't change much else ...

I also love your room ... and your existing curtains. The white couch sticks out at me ...

Most importantly, I love the dogs decorating the middle of the room!

OK, I'm back with a few more pictures after tinkering a little.

Based on some of the comments so far, I changed the slipcover on the couch to the warmer tan one I had. This slipcover makes me like the orange curtains more, I guess because the contrast isn't so stark. The current location for the couch is really the best one; I've tried it parallel to the fireplace and it just doesn't work. I don't want to move it out of the room because I want a big couch in there, plus it's a sleeper and I use the living room as an additional guest room in a pinch.

I angled the clock in the corner. I moved out the leather chair and raised the other leaf in the walnut table under the picture. I swapped DH's rocker with the white cushions for a very similar platform rocker that we will be getting new cushions made for and draped it with a blue towel to simulate what blue cushions might look like. I scootched the chair and the table next to it over a few inches to minimize how much it's in the doorway. I know, I know, it's still in the doorway but that's why this room is so difficult.

Then I went shopping in my house. I brought in a hitchcock chair (another old family piece, and one of my favorite things...very wonky with lots and lots of family history) and an antique cloche that didn't have a home. If that stays, I'll have to figure out what to put inside.

So here is where I am now:

I have two options for pairs of pictures to hang vertically next to the clock. First, two architectural sketches. I'm not sure if these have enough presence:

The second option is two woodblock prints DH got many years ago in Spain. I like these a lot and they're different than anything else in the room which could be a good thing, but I don't know if they're too heavy for the space.

So that's where I am so far. Is any of this an improvement? I'm looking for ways to bring in more color and more pattern. I've had a very hard time finding throw pillows that I like, but maybe I'll have more luck now that I'm looking for something a little different. I know the space in the corner by the floor lamp needs something. I doesn't get enough light to keep a plant alive, but I agree it needs something. Any other ideas?

Much better! I said that the sofa didn't work. Well it works with the darker slip cover and even the walls look better. The pictures are an opportunity for color. Can you find some that don't have a dark frame and where the subject has more color?

I have the exact same layout as far as the doorway opening to the dining room. I have a chair and small table there too. But I moved both closer to the window so that the chair doesn't seem to block the doorway quite as much. I also angled them a bit towards the middle of the room. If you move the plant behind the chair, could you move the chair and table over just a bit?

For pillows, can you find a print that has the curtain color in it?

Keep us posted with your changes. I like what you've done.
Diane

I found another possibility for pictures next to the clock. These are a little on the small side and I don't like how they're framed, but I like the pictures a lot and they're even a little colorful! These were painted by the aunt of a friend of mine of the view outside of her New York apartment in the 1950s. If you like these, how should they be framed?

A vote to put back the leather chair -- so very cozy for a firelit evening .... please?

Move out the plants from the right-hand window .... angle the table and your DH's chair closer into that corner. Try the plants on the other side of the fireplace. Move the dark table lamp over to the sofa's side of the room .... and use the tall standing lamp by the chair.

Try the heavier dark lamp on the dark table (and try the dark table under the collection of artworks) Move the smaller lighter end table and lamp to the other side of the sofa -- by the leather chair .....

Try the dark prints from Spain by the clock ....

Very nice. You are on the right track.

Can you pull the blue chair out of the doorway, and place it with its back more to the corner, closer to the fireplace and couch? Maybe some of the plants will need to migrate to the other window next to the couch. The table and lamp can then go next to the blue chair in the spot by the window.

A dollar says DH then will like sitting there to read and look out the front windows.

Based on the first photos, initial post:

picture #2: Remove the end table with lamp and the red footstool. Move the white chair towards the window and put a new standing lamp behind the chair. The red footstool is too small for the chair, I would not use it at all.

Take out the green velvet settee. Maybe replace with the windsor chair, but not the leather one.

Unframed painting on wall to right of unfinished wood doorframe with two prints one on top of the other.

I like the darker curtains better than the linen Ikea curtains.

I love your room! I agree the sofa is in the perfect location. The new slipcover works better especially for fall/winter. I like your current drapes- they work well with your carpet.

I would tuck DH's rocker into one of the corners opposite the sofa- either by the fireplace or where the clock is currently located. I would laos consider a few pillows and a throw that incorporate the navy and pumpkin colors in the rug.

For wall decor I prefer the first set of prints.

Your home is beautiful! Such amazing character. I hope you keep the orange curtains as they tie into the rug so well and do a lot for your room. The IKEA drapes are dull in comparison. The tan slipcover is a keeper. I also like the contrast of the new wallcolor with your dark trim. IMO, it's fantastic! My vote for art is the the two color block art pieces if the sizing is right. As others have mentioned, I would move DH's chair closer to the fireplace and angled into the room. The proposed blue for the cushions would be very nice. I really enjoyed seeing your room. Thanks!!!

Much better!!!

~Jeana

Your house is charming. :)

I have a similarly frustrating living room. Small with no wall space is *really* hard. It took me a long time to find a furniture arrangement that works. But keep working it, you will find it!

My thoughts are along with a couple of other posters: pull the rocking chair more into the living room, and the side table beside it is very tall. Is there a practical reason for the tall table? If it would still be functional, I would swap the floor lamp over there and use a very short table, like a 24" tall plant stand, beside the rocking chair.

I haven't read all of the responses (I hate it when people say that) but could you possibly swap out the chair/end table arrangement and the clock? Just have them swap sides? That way, the chair is still in the same area, facing the same direction, but won't be blocking the door? It seems the space you have suits that arrangement better. I love the changes you've made so far, and it's a lovely room! You have great stuff!

I much preferred the sofa white, unlike most here I'm afraid. I liked how it went with the wall color, and with your fpl style it felt kind of San Diego-y

Kitschy me too...I was wrong about the lighter drapes though as they are too grey but I still think that drapes that match the whiter sofa with the light walls and the dark wood looks stunning.

I don't usually like the all white rooms that are so prominent but for some reason in arlosmom's house I like it ...probably because it isn't the whole house that is everlastingly white.

I would use pillows and throws for "pops" haha of color and leave the light colored cover on the A and C chair. I don't care for a color on that style of chair.

This is what is so nice about all of this...you can get lots of opinions and none are right and none are wrong. Makes asking and receiving answers and suggestions so helpful. Lots to pick and choose. c

Kitchy and trailrunner, fear not, the white slipcover isn't going anywhere. Now I'm thinking that I may end up with a summer look and a winter look for the living room. That's the beauty of slipcovers, no? I like the tan slipcover with the orange curtains for the winter, but I think it will be too heavy for summer. For next summer I'll switch to the white slipcover and try to find light color/white curtains. For now I think I'm digging the cozy winter vibe.

So I made more changes and I'm maybe close to calling it done. With the tan slipcover, I decided I liked the leather chair so it's back in. We don't have a family room, so I feel like we need as much functional seating as we can get in this room.

As so many of you suggested, I moved the plants to the other window and pulled the rocker and table out of the doorway. You were right. I didn't think it would make such a difference, but the whole room feels bigger. DH hasn't seen it yet and he might put up a fight, but I think I can convince him it's better.

With the plants on the other side, there wasn't enough room for the side table on the right side of the sofa, so I moved it out. I'll find a home for it in a different room. I switched the floor lamp to that side and put the table lamp on the side where the floor lamp was. Now I need to find a new home for the cloche. I hung the woodblock prints next to the clock.

The only thing I'm still wondering about is the wall space to the left of the couch. It looks bare to me, but I also don't want to fill up every available space with stuff. I have a mirror that could go there; I just don't know. I'm keeping my eyes open for pillows that I like (with pattern! and color!). Not sure what fabric we'll end up with on the new cushions for the A&C rocker.

Bungalow house, there's no specific reason for the height of the side table. I got it many years ago at the flea and just always liked it. A couple people commented on the height of the table and/or the lamp, but I really like the whole stacked combination. There are details that carry through the footstool, the tramp art sewing box, the table and the lamp (which is made from a cast iron lamp post) that might not show up in photos, but I love how they work together.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. As you can see, I incorporated lots of your ideas. And thanks for your kind comments about my house. We love our old girl. I know my taste is a little funky and not everybody's cup of tea, but it feels good to me.

So here's how the room looks now. The dogs approve. : )

Clapping hands and cheering!! :)

Very well done indeed! :)

A very warm, welcoming and charming room! :)

Hoping you will post more pics of your house! :)

Love to the dogs too! :)

Thanks teacats! I'm happy with my new and improved room. This house has been a long hard journey for us, but little by little we're getting there.

There's actually quite a bit of my house lurking around gardenweb...probably more than anyone wants to see. Here's my front entry and stairwelll: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg081325351877.html

hall bathroom: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg1013290313440.html

kitchen: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg050701199223.html

pantry: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg021356163059.html

master bedroom: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0112063832005.html

Arlosmom, I didn't contribute a lick of advice, but may I applaud your final effort? Cheers! Love it!

Your house and your decor are so beautiful. I am particularly fond of those great rugs you have. Your style is lovely, personal, and as many have already noted, very charming!

Now I'll have to go snoop in your other rooms you so nicely linked!

PERFECT !! I love the warmer look and the readjustment of a few pieces made ALL the difference.

The idea of a 2 season room is brilliant. Great job!! c

Only one other tweak that I could suggest. The table to the left of the white chair appears to be too tall to be comfortable to use with that chair. Could you switch it out to the shorter end table that was to the right of the couch in the earliest photos? That square table with the shelf below seemed to be a more comfortable height for someone to rest their coffee cup or book, without having to reach up to do so. And I'd switch out that tall lamp now on that table with the lamp that now sits on the round table by the painting. Otherwise, I love what you've done and the room is very welcoming and warm feeling.

Nice!!!

I like that the space isn't crowded, yet it would be easy to pull a chair from the DR for extra seating if needed. Flexible = good.

I like the chair (white, blue, whatever) moved that little bit. I do believe it is better to have your back toward something rather than toward open space. Just feels more grounded. Calmer too, because there isn't a sense that something could be happeneing back there. Sounds paranoid, but creatures are more comfortable when they are secure.

So tell us: is DH fighting it or liking it or neutral?

Perfect! I think the space to the sofa left is fine. It's always nice to have a place for the eye to rest. Hope you both enjoy the new arrangement!

I love the changes, and the bones of the room.

It was fun to watch your room evolve! Looks very nice : )

Wow, it looks great! The leather chair is perfect now, the spot and the color with the table next to it and the darker slipcover. The drapes also add to the warmth. Very comfy and cozy.

Beautiful...glad you kept the drapes, too!

DH likes it! (I think he also likes that the changes didn't cost a dime.)

You owe me a dollar

Ha! You're right celticmoon. So I guess it wasn't a totally free make-over after all. : )

I've been following along and love the changes you've made. You have a beautiful room.

The room really looks lovely. I didn't see anything really wrong with the before pictures, so it was interesting to read the suggested changes and see the difference they made. I'm amazed at the talented people on this forum who can help so much with only pictures to work with.

It was also nice to see pictures from the rest of your house, including my favorite GW kitchen!

Your room looks so nice and uncluttered now...so comfy and just the right place for a cup of coffee.

That red ottoman is sticking out like a sore thumb..Maybe you coul have a cover made for it that would blend in with the rest of the room. Loved the lighter slipcover and the pillow on the rocker goes more with your drapes. Is that cushion white; maybe it went with the white slipcover? Do you have one to match the existing slipcover on the sofa? Seems like that would make it blend in more.

My sofa is a camelback style but it is 15 years old and I recently noticed that the cushions need to be replaced with firmer foam or whatever it is that the cushions are made of.
It is a Clayton Marcus sofa and I am getting tired of it and have thought about having it reupholstered and my DH thinks we could buy a new sofa by the time we have this one recovered and I don't agree. I love the shape and length of this sofa. I thought my neighbor had a new sofa and she told me it was a slipcover. It fits like a glove. She told me the name of the company that did it for her. I'm very tempted to have them to come out and see what they can do for me.

I absolutely love, love, love your room! It's so cozy and welcoming and just brimming with character. I think the changes you've made are just perfect!