I love your new drapery - gives a more finished feel around the windows and softens the 'edges' a bit. Of course, I would never close them, as I dream of having all that window area in a room! What are you thinking of as regards a couch? Leather or fabric? Color? Style? Does the black floor screen have a purpose (and is it painted or louvered as it appears? Are your shelves adjustable? They appear to be, as I see a couple that are of different heights. Take advantage of that as you rearrange things, so that all the shelves are staggered. It will help make the whole wall more interesting. As for what is on the shelves, you need to take everything off, and group it as you do. Collections like tankards, or figurines that are related, or related colors, all the books by size in one pile, or by subject matter if there is a strong theme with some of the books, all the sets of candlesticks. You are kind of setting up a store around the room, which you wil shop. Then take a critical look at what you have. Are there things that just ended up on the shelves that have no particular meaning or value to you? Maybe it is time to pass them along or sell them. Do you have too many pairs of candlesticks that are totally unrelated? Could some of these items rotate out periodically? Would some of them look better elsewhere in the house (say in the dining room hutch)? And, while you are at it, are there things elsewhere that you would really love to see in here? Now measure your items, and see what the tallest shelves you need might be, and roughly how much space. Do the same, just roughly, with all the things you have to see what you need for a majority of the space. Always be sure to leave a little space above items, so they don't look wedged into the shelves. Breathing room will show them off better. Then re-set the shelves, and try to stagger some of the heights from one section to the next, so that you have a some smaller shelf heights mixed in, and in different places. Now you can start putting things back. Maybe try placing the larger items that have less flexibility, and the larger collections of things that need more space, and the unique pieces that need to find the best 'home' on the shelving to show them off. Then perhaps put books on the shelves in varioius spots. Finally, you can fill in with the smaller things that can go in more places, can sit on books, etc. As you place things back, don't forget to stand things against the back, like plates or even small pieces of art. Books can stand or lie down in a stack, and small items can sit on a stack of books, larger ones act as bookends. Try to have a variety of things that carry your eye through the shelves vertically - don't line up books on the left, bowl in the middle, candlesticks on the right on every shelf as you go up a section, for example. Think of a meandering trail that brings you through the shelves. Try to mix up color a bit, and leave some space on some shelves for resting places for the eye. It will take a while, and you will likely have to tweak a little once you have done the first placement, but it will be wonderful! It looks like you have lots of great things to use, and lots of space. You just need to re-group and re-arrange to let everything show to its fullest advantage. I am also looking at your room arrangement. How many people normally use the space, so how much seating do you need to watch tv? Do you use the game table and chairs in the corner often, and for what purpose? The reason I am asking is that I am wondering about taking the single bergere chair and ottoman, a side table and lamp, and putting them in the corner where the table/chairs are now, to create a reading corner. Taking the two matching chairs and putting them on the end where that chair is currently (the bottom area of the pix, if you will), with a table between them. Then moving the table and chairs to the area where the two chairs and black screen are now. People at the table would be able to sit there and play a game or have a snack and enjoy the fire and the tv, and it would give the grouping a bit more room, rather than having it feel isolated in the corner.

Have you ever seen bachholster tiles. They are gorgeous. They were often a statement piece of a craftsman fireplace. (look them up on line)The originals are very expensive but you can buy reproductions. I would stay with the craftsman look( which was not white tiles) and forget the stone. Craftsman fireplace tiles had subtle earth tones and may be under those white tiles. Stone would not look good with all the wood details of the craftsman look

I am glad you liked it! :) Sorry for the late response, I've tried to think about alternative solution with more passage space. It's not so standard as previous two layouts, but it does give more space and maybe it give you an inspiration with your living room: I've choose the red stools to balance the red chair and to define and highlight central conversation area, but at the same time to keep view at fireplace unblocked (when they are not in use). I had to change color of one chair, since having the chair in the corner in the same red color kept kicking the space out of balance. I don't know if you like that trend of layered rugs, in the case you do, I think it could help in your case to break a bit long, rectangular shape of the room. On the short wall I though buffet with a mirror or art could provide a focal point for seatings placed by fireplace. In this setup I've put two rounded coffee tables instead long rectangular one to avoid highlighting the length of the room. @Kim, thank you :)

You would first need to find out if it is possible to extend the FP around the corner--I have seen pictures of something similar in mid century homes--try googling "modern corner fireplace". I would not do a photo gallery over the mantle--you need a large piece of art as in your inspiration picture.