Ah, so you do have another space for lounging/TV watching. If you're pretty much sure you'd rather have a TV here too-I'd be satisfied with a (say) credenza or something to host a smaller size TV, which you can surround with some shelving with books, or maybe art..you can bring in plants-a lot of them..lots of interest since some of them grow like crazy and are virtually indestructible..)) and they always look at home-any style, any room you take, you can't go wrong with introducing plants, Remember Clifford Simak's purple flowers? lol you can paint the walls..you can wallpaper them if you're brave..you can put a mural on-there are some amazing ones. there are many many ways to make this room interesting. also don't forget-you look at it now while it's empty. but when you'll actually live there-you'll have furniture, fabrics, books..now it's a blank slate but it won't stay this way. it will be you and your family plus this room. it will be interesting enough without the feature wall. which you still can decide to do-I continue to think these wood planks are way cool..but they might be too overwhelming..and I would think very carefully about how to incorporate them, and whether it's worth investing in. That's personal of course and you might find that yes, you really want it, TV or no TV. Then I'd introduce more of that wood around..maybe wooden frames on art? maybe woven shades in the window? maybe painting the mantle another color so it'll blend more with the walls? And I'd use this plank wall more heavily then if I decide to put it in..it's a big space, and it might be useful and very very cool to have more on it than just the TV. Whatever you decide-it's exciting. Lots of possibilities here. And yes you're right..you don't need to match the wood finishes. You do need to consider how they will look together..in rare instances mixing just doesn't work. Say red mahogany or similar very expensive woods..)) find it hard to incorporate lol. Passed on amazing nightstands several years ago..the most useful amazing high quality nightstands I ever saw(on Craigslist)) but they just didn't blend in, what can I say.. But I don't think that's your case.

Thanks! I put conduit (both flexible and rigid) inside the walls. Horizontal runs are through knock outs inside the blocks but I tried to keep this to a minimum. Plumbing is also inside (PEX and PVC for waste water) the walls. The main reason for the interior block walls was that I wanted a solid feel. The doors are fairly large (8ft tall, 3.5ft wide) and solid core so I was concerned that metal studs may not be massive enough. I used metal studs for a wall concealing a tank for a wall hung toilet but everything else is concrete blocks.

Sophie Wheeler, my budget is between thrift store and Target! I love to thrift and am patient enough to wait until the right piece comes along. The only problem is that I don't know what that "right" piece is just yet! I am also a shameless IKEA fan. m_gabriel, thanks so much for the info and ideas! Painting is fairly flexible - it's a small enough space that painting it back to white wouldn't be a big deal, though the landlord showed me other properties where the previous tenants painted. I don't think they're too picky. I looked up a burnt yellow and that would be perfect for at least some decor/accessory ideas, and would create flow with other yellows/warm colours I have throughout my place. I was thinking of going with copper accessories, but I actually like the idea of sticking to silver for all metals then adding a pop of deep yellow for contrast and warmth. I don't host a ton; my boyfriend cooks with me and my book club is over occasionally. But I'm now wondering if I don't have a great dining space because I don't host, or I don't host because I don't have a great dining space. In other words, it may not hurt to create that area so it's more welcoming to guests. However, I'm very used to having very little dining space so it's not a complete loss if the dining area is used in other ways.

Thank you for showing the rest of the room. Please do that anytime you post on Houzz. Trying to fix one "problem" all by itself isn't the way design works. Every element of a room has to work together with the "givens" of a room whether it's a fireplace, staircase, flooring color, wood trim. I'm with the other Commentors who find the fireplace beautiful and think you should work with it and devote your energies and budget to improving the entire space. I haven't read through all the Comments, but there are ways to bring out the beauty of what you have and not some painted mish mosh to cover up the fireplace. --Leave fireplace, mantel, and hearth as they are. They add character and texture to your room. I'm showing this room below because the fireplace isn't a knockout at all. But notice how well the art work, curtains, furnishings, wall paint, and bed cover harmonize with a not wonderful fireplace. This should be your goal as well, to focus on your wall paint--something warm many, many shades lighter than the lightest golden stone in the fireplace. Choose furnishings in warm browns, creams, golds, possibly one gray upholstered piece like the sofa. Think warm brown, camel, wood, and sofa cushions in warm colors. Leave your wood stairway for now and think about the whole room. Below is a perfect palette for your living room--grays, creams, bronze coffee table. Go in this direction but perhaps with more modern furnishings if this looks too traditional. Note how the wall color picks up the color of the golden stone but much lighter. On your hearth, add a big basket of long, chunky logs, and you won't be bothered by it. --When I look at your inspiration photos of staircase and dining fixture, I'm guessing you're falling in love with one item at a time and don't fit with anythng else. Pull your living room together first so everything in that space works together with fireplace. Then turn to dining room. One major, major thing we don't see in the photos that should certainly dictate where you go with the space is the flooring. What colore and materials are your floors? If they harmonize with fireplace and staircase, that's what to work.