Your questions are all on what WE would like and that should not matter in your selection. Your couch has to fit your needs. Personally I do not like a deep couch that I can't rest my back on, but others may like a deep couch if they use it for laying down and reading like so many do. Skirted couches do not seem old fashioned but maybe the one you have your eye on looks too feminine with the skirt and your DH thinks it looks too 'old lady-ish'. Or, maybe he wants a Modern look and not Contemporary and this is the way he is wording it. Firm or Soft?? What do YOU like? That is what matters. Personally I insist on firm because they are easier to get up out of, but I am older and not a fit teenager or a guy. Regarding the Rust color for a couch..........I do not consider it a "neutral" and see a possible clash with mahogany (depending on what other colors and styles are in the room). If DH is worried about a couch being old fashioned or dated looking the Rust color might be what makes certain styles look '70s. Personally, if I had to go out and buy a couch today I would go for a Slate Gray or Charcoal. Still, you can make a Rust color work in any room depending on other elements. I could make a pink and orange room work too, but it would be a lot of work and expense to do it over that way. You say mahogany and beige walls. Is there other furnishings in already or is this really a blank slate? What other furniture, curtains, or art is in place already? What style are you aiming for? Southwestern? Beachy? Victorian? Craftsman? I'm not talking about a theme room, but it's leanings. A rust colored couch may or may not work in certain styles. You mention a mahogany floor but are you going to put down a rug also? You may want to take in the rug considerations when making the couch purchase. If you are looking for a fabric that will wear well with heavy use go for a Bouclé. You say you are going for a couch and loveseat for the family room. Have you considered going with a couch and two chairs instead? This give more room arranging options and would give teenagers and DH 'their own space' when seated.

I would pick the stripe in the first row of samples as I wouldn't want to have a literal translation of the wall art, it would look better with a more graphic one so as not to compete. I'd do two reds with the two striped in front of them.

This is with the table the width of the room. It's hard to get a good shot, but the room is quite large.

something like this for living area then pull the blue or green from it for the dining area horchow.com $700 9x12 Simplify the TV area. I would not put anything on top of the entertainment center. Paint the vents the wall color