The couple clients I had who did lots of shutters (their choice) never open the shutters, they only move the louvers. I didn't find the houses particularly dark if the louvers were directed to allow light in. I think removing them depends on what you need there for light control or privacy, what you need for view modulation, etc. I'll bet the previous owner installed this sort that do not fold up because they never opened them. From what I can tell the view doesn't look like it's anything interesting which may be why they chose them. That's not meant to be insulting. Most people's views are kinda ordinary if it's a yard and a fence.

I would probably get a deep gray/grape purple couch and deep wine red chairs and add some vinyard art, but if I had to pick only from your two samples I would agree with Suzannamcd and do dark on the chairs and the lighter on the couch.

I found it. It's the Safavieh Reflection Shine rug. https://www.horchow.com/Safavieh-Reflection-Shine-Rug-7-6-x-9-6/cprod60090023___/p.prod?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%2Fcategory.service%3FNtt%3DRugs%26pageSize%3D120%26No%3D0%26refinements%3D718%2C730%2C724&grpId=cprod60090023&eItemId=cprod60030186&cmCat=search&focusProductId=cprod60030186

I would put fish tank on the right side of the fireplace and the TV on the left side. It is too high over the fireplace to watch. Then I think I would put your new sofa where theirs is and get two comfy chairs to put one facing the sliding doors and one with it's back to the sliding doors....swivel so to watch TV. Art over the fireplace....take all the small things down. If you have enough room, a rectangular coffee table would be nice, I am assuming the white cabinets on either side of the fireplace stay. If not I would get a stand for the TV with storage and one with drawers under it for the fish tank. I would put a taller lamp on the end of the sofa and no lamp on the table going up the stairs.