I'm updating my formal living room, but really I don't want it to be overly formal. We entertain a lot, have young kids (and 2 dogs) and want people to feel comfortable sitting in this room. However, we do have another room that is our family room.

Right now, we are painting the walls a neutral color (BM Soft Chamois) to brighten it up. We plan to buy two neutral fabric sofas to face each other next to the fireplace. Something like this possibly:

We are also looking at buying two chairs that will face the fireplace and we have an eye on leather. We don't want to be too trendy, because we really want our choices to last for a while, but we don't want it to look drab or not with the times.

Our cabinets/furniture is mainly black (cabinets flanking fireplace and entryway) or brushed brass/gold (coffee table and side table). We don't plan to change those. Also, the fireplace has a white mantel and a white/gray marble surround (original stone). We live in a 1940's stone colonial.

Thoughts on the sofa/chair combos? Would that works for a "formal" living room?