The size and placement all depends on your furniture placement and walkways. You could make an 8' X 10' newspaper template and see how it fits with your furniture proportions and walkways or mark out that space on the floor with pieces of masking tape and stand back to judge it. You may find that you need a bigger rug or that it needs to be set at an angle in the room to best fit the area.

Wow thanks for all the great ideas and suggestions! I admit I hadn't thought so much about the lighting. We replaced a "boob light" over the dining table with that fixture when we moved in and you're right it does look a bit kitcheny, though it lights the table very well. Do you think the drum shade we have now in the LR would look good there (on a built in fixture)? I do see how a round table would work better visually but DH hates round tables and this is one of those areas I am OK with that - we do play a lot of board games there and the rectangular tables seem to work best. We hung the pendant light because we did not have enough lighting in the room there is no overhead light and with our furniture placement there was no way to plug in a floor or table lamp in the middle of the room where it's needed for reading and general light. For ambiance we have 3 table lamps in there and the bookshelf accent lighting, but we need something closer to the ceiling to get better lighting. I thought about running a cord under the rug but it would still be exposed part of the way, and that's considered a major fire hazard so I am reluctant to do that. Maybe we need to install an overhead light, but then the question is placement and style. I admit I know nothing about lighting as a decor component but I love it when I see it well done! I really need help on that one, clearly. Regarding the idea of opening up the stairway, that is definitely on my wish list! It would bring more light downstairs too because we have balconies on both upstairs windows (off each bedroom) that shade the downstairs windows. However that's further down our list, after this project, then kitchen reno and then some bathroom TLC. As part of the kitchen reno later this year we plan to open up that wall section from the pass-through on over to the hallway, and to the ceiling creating a breakfast bar area on that countertop, to open up that area. One thing that I'm trying to think ahead about is how to light the kitchen and peninsula when it's so close to the dining area. I was thinking can LEDs in the kitchen and over peninsula. I think we could fit in 2 full size sofas but I expect it would look a little crowded. We're just 2 of us (hoping to expect a third soon) and we don't really entertain a lot, so we don't need a ton of seating. DH and I really want to able to snuggle up comfortably on the sofa together - we've never done that on this one something about the size and shape just doesn't work! It is a Jennifer Convertibles - our first "real" furniture - and I was very disappointed that it didn't hold up structurally, we've had it for 5 years and the cushions lost support a couple years ago and it was sold as "genuine" leather but was clearly bonded. Normally I sit on the chaise by the window and he sits on the sofa, we feel too far apart. I'm thinking maybe a full size sofa with chaise on the fireplace side, and then a chair on the dining room side, either the existing one or a new one... and get rid of the chaise by the window since there would be a chaise on the sofa. A large potted plant would look nice but so far I haven't had luck with plants in here as the LR windows are all NE facing and overhung by a balcony so not enough light for most. Maybe right up by the window they would be OK. If not, I'm sure I can find an interesting item to put there. The fireplace wall does look dark in these pics, I think it's the contrast with the sun coming in the windows and of course it is the darkest wall, but we have electric candles on the mantel and hearth that come on in the evening, and the table lamp and accent lighting on the bookcases light that area pretty well. If we don't have the table and chaise by the window, I may put a floor lamp there. Maybe we should purchase the furniture first, then decide on lighting once we see how it ends up? We're planning to go shopping this weekend. Color and fabric is something we haven't decided yet, we were not happy with the leather and we'd have to pay a lot more to get good quality real leather, and DH says it's cold and he'd prefer fabric. With fabric I like slipcovers because I have allergies and dust sofas are awful - being able to wash the cover intermittently is helpful. I'm thinking a lighter color since the current stuff is very dark, but I'm pretty flexible on that, going to select the next sofa based on comfort and practicality more than appearance.

What I did was take a rope and lay it down to figure out what size and shape I wanted. I have a sectional 100X100, a square 40" ottoman looks best in my space.

It’s a great sofa! Unless you can identify the make, it is only a guesstimate. No tags on it?With the wood legs and frame, track arms, it is a mid century style, at the least.If I were shopping for a vintage sofa, I’d buy it, but the price would have to reflect that it would be reupholstered. Here is a similar look at etsy.com It is a beauty at $1650.00, but there is a shipping cost . Have you tried advertising it locally? Let’s say the upholstery cost would be $2,000.00, if I could buy yours for $500.00 and free local delivery, then for $2500.00 I would be in heaven. Reupholstering a couch costs $600 to $4,000, with an average cost of $1,750. You'll pay $50 to $70 per yard on average for fabric, with labor rates of $40 to $100 per hour. If you have a beautifully-crafted sofa with fabric that needs a little TLC, reupholstery might be a great option.Reupholstering a couch costs $600 to $4,000, with an average cost of $1,750. You'll pay $50 to $70 per yard on average for fabric, with labor rates of $40 to $100 per hour. If you have a beautifully-crafted sofa with fabric that needs a little TLC, reupholstery might be a great option.