Okay, it's been over a month, but real progress has been made. Here's the current view from the foyer. I still haven't figured out how to place the painting to the left of the hutch. There are still wires going to the wall to the right of the desk. The "drill hole in the floor and install an outlet under beth's desk" hasn't percolated to the top of DH's honey-do list yet. This is the view looking over my desk to the corner where the new reading chair sits. Delightfully, DD is happy doing work here while I'm at my desk. I really like that. This one is towards the bookcases, which DD needs to remove some of her stuff from and I need to add books and other items. (The fabric roll to the left is for the guest room.) Toward the window wall. This is what I used the Pottery Barn discount code for. I had to hem them 7", since my choice was to get them too short or too long. And just because, here's Malina-kitty showing how much she likes my setup. annie and others, I am so glad you pushed me to think about my furniture and how I use this room. The desk is so much more pleasant now that I'm looking out and can even look out the window during daylight hours. The new chair encourages both DH and DD to read or hang out in here. I still have accessorizing and wall hangings to work with, but I feel really good about how far this room has come. Thanks so much to this wonderful forum!

sheesharee, so glad I'M not the ONLY one :) I had my camera with me for the first outting with DH (and forgot to use it, kicked myself in the car after we left) because of course NOW I cannot remember the important details I need to for determining if it will work. We went out again last night and was very frustrated, DIDNT bring the camera or the measuring tape, went home telling DH that we are just going to keep the furniture we have and deal with it. (that was the frustration speaking) Nothing I liked was something he liked. Considered just removing the patterned couch, moving the green chair over in it's place, replacing the green chair with a round table/table lamp etc in that corner by the fp pulling down an ottoman from the attic that is 1/2 way redone and finishing it and just moving on. Oh well, we will see....I'm going to start working on those tables and see what I can do with them. I'm thinking about a darker stain. something along the lines of the colors in the frames on the pics I have in there now, would that be too dark? Eventually *much bigger, more involved project* would be to redo the ET center. I'll redo the legs on the chair and purple couch at the same time.

Can you post photos when the work is complete so design advice can be more helpful?

Where do the doors flanking the fireplace go? Do you entertain guests in this space and what is the maximum number you need to seat here? Is TV watching the main activity here, and do you watch when you have guests? If TV fits in that cabinet, it will probably fit on that wall, mounted on an articulated arm so it is adjustable for viewing. Do you enjoy board games? Since the fireplace doesn't get used, you might try something like this there with a table large enough for scrabble, chess, checkers, or just drinks. The right style of lightweight chairs could be pulled into a conversational grouping elsewhere in the room when needed.