Cubes where the room is not wider or longer in at least one direction than the ceiling is high are not particularly comfortable, similar to how large rooms with low ceilings are not particularly comfortable. In a cube, the room tends to start feeling shaft like, where a large room with a low ceiling often seems to sag or press down in the center. Also, cubes are static and rectangles are not. It might be better if the ceiling was 15-16 if 24 is the largest dimension of the room. Peaks are a little different. I lived in an apartment where the original parlor floors were essentially a golden rectangle. They had been lofted at one end (about 1/3 of the space) and it made the high ceiling in the remaining area kind of elevator shaft-like. The apartments that maintained the original proportions were more comfortable spaces. Of the above pictures Mutiny and Rufty seem fine because of the length of the room and the ability to experience the height from the opposite end of the room in some sort of perspective. I actually find the Shades Creek kitchen proportions unpleasant. It makes a good picture but I don't think I would like working in that kitchen. I am curious as to how many people with 8-9 foot ceilings vacuum or clean them on a regular basis. I am not sure the extra height makes rooms extra dirty? That said I had to clean my 14 foot LR with elaborate plaster cornices with an extention pole with brushes on it...I purposely did not have any lighting in that ceiling. I think the people who bought the apartment from my buyer put in recessed cans. (Not right in a 1830s house and very hard to change. A ten foot ladder is much harder to manage than an 8 foot ladder).

The coffee table, chairs and sofa should definitely stay. They are the best pieces in the room and are well suited and well scaled for the space. The reason I don't care for the armoire is that is a large, bulky piece that doesn't accomplish anything other than hiding the t.v. IKEA's Besta can be custom configured to meet your needs for t.v. and book storage. Quite a few designers on here recommend them. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/10475/ Or you could do a simple console and surround it with art. What do you think of something like this for the t.v. The open shelving gives you a place for books as well. https://www.crateandbarrel.com/austin-62-media-console/s339530 You do have plenty of space for a gallery wall behind the sofa if that's a look you like. I agree with you that the console table doesn't work under the window. I think that window is better suited to some lovely drapes. A linen drape would be pretty on the windows. These are Pottery Barn linen/cotton drapes. Either the ivory or oatmeal would be a good choice I think. https://www.potterybarn.com/products/emery-linen-pole-pocket-drape-white/?pkey=e%7Clinen%2Bdrapes%7C148%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C48%7C%7C8&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH I love my jute area rug. It's from RugsUSA. Some people say they don't like the feel of jute because it's not soft, but I like the way it feels. I think you need to add some other lighting as well. Perhaps an end table with a table lamp to the left of the sofa and a floor lamp to the right. I love your choice of accent colors. Once you get the t.v. and book display situation down, I think pulling the rest together will be simple.

Nicki, we have those Seagull splicers on 2 of our chandeliers. One is high and one is just plain heavy, so to change it out would require some kind of sawhorse deal (on top of the dining room table) to rest it on while we disconnect the wires. The splicers work very well and are available in clear, gold and black (when I bought mine, anyway). Also the two halfs just "unplug" if you need to disconnect in future... Whatever you decide to do, don't fear the scaffolding! :) We rented from home depot. It was very reasonable, it fit in the minivan, and it was easy to put together. I have climbed a ladder to my 16(?) 20(?) whatever foot ceilings to hang drapes, but the scaffolding was MUCH steadier and easier since we could paint a large section at once before we had to move it. Your next light should be led bulbs so you don't have to change them so often...if you get a dimmer, you will need one specifically for LED's. Also, it's a shame you don't like that one. I think is smashing. Although I would want it in an easily accessible area as crystal has to be cleaned more than once a year :-/

Better too much light than not enough, thats why we have dimmers. I have 12’ flat ceilings in a large family room and I have 6 3500k Wafer lights. It does the job. I also have lighting in shelves flanking a fireplace and art lights mounted in the ceiling , the point is to consider all of the lighting going on. I live in Florida and I wanted a chandelier too but the fan practicality won out. Good luck with your build, I hope it goes smoothly.