caminnc - i was looking at 1068 (squire hill buff)but it was a little too dark. my painter lightened it up with some white and it's better. I'm just afraid it looks a little too orange or pink. I'm trying to find a nice beige color with a little gold in it without getting too orange. Someone mentioned bone white which I have in a bedroom and I really like. I was just looking for a little more color than that.

I think a rich cream color would look very nice with the rest of the room. I am thinking something very much as the pillows in the left of your photo appear. Then if you're not totally wed to the mirror above the fireplace you can bring in artwork and some candles to pick up the cream of the chair. I assume the recliner you mentioned is in the upper right hand side (where for some reason another commenter moved a television into place.). A pillow or small throw placed on the chair can correlate to the rich cognac color of your sofa and love seat. Good luck.

Sounds like a fireplace re-do might be a longer-term fix. In the meantime, I'd paint the mantle a dark brown, a similar colour to your end tables. It's not trim and shouldn't be white. It pops out too much in the white colour. Another idea that doesn't involve any ripping-out is to go right over the existing mantle using a mantle slipcover in wood. Here's one of many how-to's on the internet. If you stained your brick as well, you could have a whole new look. https://www.fwmadebycarli.com/2011/01/making-of-slip-covered-mantel.html

I think I would want a couch with low square arms that are equal to the height of new end tables. Low arms make it easier to stretch out on if used for napping and easier to reach drinks on an end table. I have a leather couch and a fabric covered love seat. The love seat is much more cozy, the leather is stiff. I got the leather because we could use it to take a break from working outside (dirt on clothes - mud on shoes). I would go with neutral colors and add texture and color with pillows, throws or fabric covered foot stool. Are you considering shades? I think Roman ones could look good. Also think about how many cushions for couch - one, two or three. I wish I had gone with two instead of three for the couch and one for the love seat. The plus side of more cushions is that you can move them around if one side of the couch is used more than the other. Also do you want to be able to remove the back cushions or do you want them attached. Do you want to be able to flip the cushions on the seat - I can do it with my fabric couch but not with the leather. Some stores have a basic model with customization - cushion firmness etc. Ethan Allen has some models you can customize. Also think about VOC's - Pottery Barn has certified furniture for those concerns.