I would definitely get rid if the mantle. It is too high above the fireplace surround. I agree that a large piece of art or your tv above the fireplace would be great. I really like that green we can see in the background of one pic. I would bring that into the living room and dining room. More substantial draperies would help and a pattern might be nice as long as it is something you love and won't tire of in the near future. One other idea would be to add a good-sized area rug in the living area even though you would be putting it over carpet. That could bring in enough color and pattern to pull everything together (still get heavier draperies though). Add a throw over the back of the chair or couch, a tall vase with flowers or tall fern fronds on the hearth, bowl with fruit or veggies on the table and go from there. Show us what you try! It is going to look great!

Here's another opinion. I am only 5'2" and I love a counter height table. A bar height stool is a climb, but counter height is just a matter of sliding my butt on the seat. My mom, who's 78, is 4'11" and has no problem with counter height seating, as long as there is a rung to rest her feet on, which most have. The idea of having your island stools and DR chairs the same height is very practical if you entertain a lot. People will often pull another stool or chair up at a casual gathering to join a group for appetizers and chatting. I will concede that most DR counter-height furniture does lack in construction and timeless style. I do think it looks trendier and not like investment pieces. We went with counter height in our lake cottage (where we plan to retire) because it really lends itself to how we live and entertain there. In our house here in suburbia I would not put a counter height set in our more formal dining room. Just wanted to offer up that, for me, as a shorty, I really find counter height seating very comfortable.

Laurel, do you want a gray monotone look or would you like some color? (i hope you don't live in Seattle because that's a whole lot of gray in that room) Let me post a grip of pics to give you a few ideas. I may need to continue them w/the next comment. as for your chair choice,,,,any way of getting those in a diff color or maybe w/a pattern? With the gray sofa, gray chairs, gray walls, gray tile,,,it's all so similar. a pattern or something like warm leather, would go a long waysHere are two. you have nice light so see if you can do a tall tree in the space closest to the window. that will draw up the eye to your tall ceilings. Ditto w/that fireplace. have you thought about doing something w/the wall the tv is actually on? either darker paint color, some trim work, maybe continuing the tile? I'd love to see that mantel stained a bit darker and warmer. Right now that focal point(the fireplace) sort of dies out once you hit the mantel. Some ideas to consider, warm wood shelving on each side, or some other type of chest, artwork to finish off that main wall. look at the diff in this fireplace just by continuing the tile and using the warm wood shelving. this is a very gray room (take away the wood and the aqua accents, and you have total gray) but look at how a few colorful pieces/warm wood, give it lifesame idea. This is basically your room w/o the bookcases or the dark wood table. very monotone. Is this the look you want? if so, then keep everything gray and white and bring in texture w/natural fabric rug. same neutral, but the bling light and nice artwork, glass table and patterned chairs, keep it from being boring. ditto w/this one. another idea for the sides of your FP. this would allow your floor vents plenty of room if you did floating shelving. I also like the look of the tongue/groove and the bordering trim work above the mantel on both these pics. It might be a nice addition to your fireplace if you did something like this (instead of the tile). notice the colorful rug and greenery, plus the artwork, that gives all the neutrals some oomph. you could easily do a console like this, with key pieces, or some art hung above it. or mirrors. Again, very neutral. but look at how the wood consoles, wood framed mirrors really warm up all the white/grays. the other pics I can't fit on this comment show floating white shelving and some other rug ideas. if you want to see more I can post those and rug suggestions. just let me know if you like any of these ideas for your space.

Stay with it Keli O, i had some of same issues wanting to make my living room more of what makes me happy and keeping a lot of what I love but using the furniture in a better way. These current and other willing and so very talented people helped me to the utmost, to say the least. I love what has happened to my new living room, still need to make some suggested changes to curtains and accessories, but so more than happy with the outcome. Could not have ever ever been able to make the changes myself, cannot say enough about HOUZZ helpers and patients they had with me. Yea, lol, i was moving and changing and re-arranging night and day, even stood on my head and jumped through a hoop but it was necessary and so worth it, ok I put in my 2 cents....looking good