Are you willing to replace the wing chairs? I would replace them with club chairs.

I would also remove the curtain in the living room. They are very traditional and formal. Maybe a roman shade there?

I am not usually a fan of rug on rug, but perhaps in your case it would add some color and pattern and also anchor the space between the chairs and sofa?

If you are willing to paint, perhaps a deeper shade for the walls? You can stay neutral, just go deeper in color.

You have a nice space to work with! (And I have that same curio cabinet.) Here are my thoughts on changing the style of these rooms:

• I would remove the formal drapes in the living room. With the shutters, you shouldn't need any additional window treatment and what's there is a bit fussy.
• Any piece of furniture with those Queen Anne legs is going to have a traditional feel, and I see you have quite a few things in that style. Are you willing to get rid of most of the furniture and start fresh? You do have some lovely things, but they are definitely formal/traditional.
• Hardwood floors would give a more updated look to your rooms, and would allow you to bring in beautiful rugs as another decorative element. I'm not a big fan of wall-to-wall carpet, but do have it in the upstairs portion of my home (and in the master bedroom downstairs), so have had to make peace with it to some extent. Still - I would prefer hardwood.
• I like your current wall color, but then I do think that a light neutral is very fresh and "today."

If I were you, I'd start with the Queen Anne-style furniture because I think that's mostly what's going to prevent you from going in a transitional direction.

eld6161 gave very good advice. The curtains in the LV give a very traditional vibe. I would also remove the statue and cloth from the dining table and find something else. I would also suggest a large area rug and remove the serape and large red object (candle) with surrounding greenery. Try putting some stacks of books there, showing more of the glass. The floor lamp and table lamp so close to each other look a bit odd. The high display case next to the screen looks very traditional. I would find a low, horizontal, more modern and not brown console to put there. I would remove all the objects behind the couch in front of the window and look for some large, modern ceramic pieces there. The small tables are very traditional, try something less spindly and more streamlined. Perhaps change the pillows for brighter, more modern ones after you've put in an area rug, should you choose to do that. Without breaking the bank you would have a whole new, brighter more contemporary look. Please post pictures after you've made some changes.

Edit: IdaClaire posted the same time I did so I didn't see what she suggested.

I had a carved folding screen like yours...loved it and used it in LR to hide speakers...moved, gave it to my son and he used it as a headboard in his guest bedroom...looked great. I know you love it...could you move it to another spot...like the wall between your rooms...to the right of your blue chairs.... behind the floor lamp....would lighten your living room. I would take down the curtains, remove some of the pillows and scarf on cofffee table. I am a miniumalist so for me, I would like fewer things on your tables and a tall plant in the corner where your screen is now.

If you decided to move the curio cabinet out of the room, what about hanging the folding screen on that wall as an art piece?

That's a great idea, Ida! Both pieces are great, but they don't work with each other (style and height).

Thanks for all the ideas. Had planned on taking down the drapes, thought of replacing with straight panels to provide color. Will post again after removing the "stuff" and curio.

A couple of thoughts for your rooms. Keep the chairs but move them and update with new pillows in a fabulous fabric.

Try the blue chairs as end chairs at the DR Table to add some color. The seats may not be high enough though. The two extra DR chairs could sit next to china hutch if there is room.

Another suggestion is to hang the room divider flat on the wall and move sofa in front on that wall. The two blue chairs could go in front of window with table/lamp in center. Floor lamp get moved to corner between window and sofa wall.

They currently block the traffic flow through the rooms.

Is there more wall space on the other side of LR? We are missing a couple of views which might help with more suggestions. Can you show a photo standing at the floor lamp looking towards the end of sofa corner and also a view beyond the blue chairs on the right? What is on the china hutch wall?

Is there a table behind the sofa or is it a bay window? The accessories could be larger in scale for that space. Think large lantern, planter, candles, etc.

Have fun and show us the updates!

Beaus Rose, you have me interesting in more changes. Attached the photo view you requested. The entry and stairs are the other side of the LR. There is a table behind the sofa. Rethinking artwork too

Thanks for the additional views. I have appointments this morning but will reply this afternoon.

One small change that would make a difference is to replace the lampshades with something less 'grandma'.

Drapes are down, tried suggested arrangement. Room seems bigger, brighter but also a little bare. Might be my adjustment to less 'stuff.' What are your thoughts? (curio in corner left of window until I have help move it) New chairs?

Will need to patch and paint so open to color. Look for new lamp shades or lamps. Of course mount screen on wall if we go that route.

Looking at your before pic's, my eye went right to the blue chairs and I envisioned something with a lower back. I like the idea of moving them as suggested by Beaus Rose and see if they'd work in your dining room.

Wowza! You work fast with the changes! I like the more open look for your LR. Where is that nice floor lamp now? It could go in the corner between chairs and sofa. It will give a higher point of view to that area.

Move the table and lamp between the two chairs. Angle the chairs a bit so they aren't lined up side by side. If you are considering new lamps look for larger ones. The current ones seem more suited to night stand tables.

It's hard to tell if there is enough space for that layout to work so another idea that might also work...

Leave the wall
divider on the sofa wall. Leave it slightly angled as it is shown now.
Move the two blue chair to that wall. Place them with a slight angle.
Try the large lamp in center "V" shape of divider. Add one of the end
tables between the chairs. Sofa goes back in front of window. The floor
lamp could go behind the divider into the "V" and be used as an up-light
if you have enough room to do that. I use an electrical cord with a
dimmer switch for easy on/off.

Do you use 4 or 6 chairs around your DR table? Are there arm chairs? You can put an arm chair under the picture on right side of china hutch. It will anchor the picture and that space. If you like the arm chairs at the table simply use the regular chairs. Will one fit on the other side also? Small lumbar size pillows on the arm chair will bring color into the space.

What colors are you considering for pillows, fabrics, or paint? What do you like? Start with a great fabric and then find a coordinating paint color to work.

Example of table lamp size to consider. Good luck!

Much better!

Totally convinced we need new chairs and curio will go. But played with arrangement. Like the openness, seems a little bare so artwork or drapes maybe? Have to paint so could add a little color there. Appreciate all the ideas.

I like the sofa with the screen behind it and maybe even the side tables could stay if you put more modern lamps on them and got rid of the chairs. The curio cabinet unfortunately does have to go. Side panels on the window, maybe in turquoise and cream stripes, and colorful art work would look great. Two new chairs in front of the window and the floor lamp to the right of the couch would be nice. I still think the drama of an area rug would give this a great feel. I have an area rug on top of another rug and I think it looks good.

I like the screen behind the sofa the best so far.

I'm personally don't like the two chairs next to each other. Why not put one on the other side, so they are both flanking the sofa? Keep the sofa on the wall with the screen behind it, just move the chair.

I wish their was another place for the screen. For me, I would rather see it used for it's purpose which is as a divider.

How bad would it look if you left the sofa on the long wall, have each chair facing each other on each side of the coffee table and put the screen back in the corner where it originally was and put the curio catty corner on the other side of the window.

This is my favorite configuration so far. (husband even likes lol) Can visualize new chairs (low), lamps and artwork (big and colorful) above sofa. Everyone's wonderful comments have helped highlight fresh possibilities. Thanks for the fresh eyes. Any more suggestions before the shopping challenge begins?

So far, it's also my favorite configuration. My only suggestion with the arrangement is to turn the curio more into the corner so there isn't as much wall space between the window and the curio.

wow! what a difference! i love the latest.

I came across this chair today, it's lower, but I'm not sure about the arms.

Do you have a different room where the curio could go? Maybe it doesn't feel this way in real life, but in the photos it looks like a giant towering over the other pieces in the room. It's a beautiful piece of furniture, though! I'm wondering if a chest of drawers or low cupboard with a mirror or artwork hanging over it might work better. Just a thought.

https://www.wayfair.com/Three-Posts-Lacefield-Arm-Chair-THRE2464.html

Im not necessarily suggesting this particular chair but perhaps something like this as opposed to an overstuffed club chair.

Yes, I like the lines of that chair k9arlene

I do feel that the curio cabinet doesn't belong in that room. I would suggest having the chairs face the couch and have a love seat under the window. I'm sorry, but I don't care for the screen in the corner, one just wonders why it's there.

Ingrid if I have chairs face the sofa I'm facing chair backs entering the room. Hmmm did see a low chair with awesome back details. Question having space to add in a love seat. Would you like the screen on the other side between living and dining room?

I don't see a problem with the screen being in the room. Sometimes a screen is used simply as a decorative piece. It doesn't necessarily have to hide or divide anything. I also wouldn't start filling the room up with seating that you don't need.

I actually like the blue chairs with the Queen Anne legs (and I'm someone with very modern tastes!). Those chairs look like they have been well-loved and passed down through generations. Plus, they are such a happy pop of blue. I would think about replacing the sofa before replacing the chairs. Or, perhaps, reupholstering the sofa in a lighter color? (the current color blends into the carpet).

I would first remove the curio cabinet and find a wonderful, colorful rug to give life to all the neutrality. Curtain panels that go with the carpet, the screen behind the couch, with colorful art on each side. New lamps and then go from there.