Again thank you all for the suggestions. I am now leaning toward a warm white vs. a beige! Out of 12 samples (mostly beiges), I've narrowed it down to 4 (1 off-white, 3 beiges), now just trying to figure out which looks best with the kitchen backsplash. (I think they all look fine with the countertop, various woods, & living room, so it's coming down to the kitchen.) If anyone would like to share their opinions on the following choices, I'd appreciate any input: SW Creamy SW Canvas Tan BM Gentle Cream BM Dulce de Leche On the countertop Earlier in the living room, with other samples. SW Creamy is at the top. BM Gentle Cream is on the bottom. Earlier in the living room, with other samples. BM Dulce de Leche is at the top. SW Canvas Tan is 3rd from the top. I've discovered it is very hard to capture beige on camera! Hopefully you can see the subtle differences in these photos.

It’s a small space. I would do a sturdy farmhouse style table that can double as a workspace for the kitchen. I don’t think you have room for an island and a dining area. A buffet/hutch where you currently have the table marked will give you more storage. I don’t think you have room for a L-shaped sofa either. Maybe a sofa with accent chairs. You could have a dresser/chest of drawers double as a console table behind the sofa for more storage.

Yeah, I did wonder if this room needed to serve other purposes, being in NYC, but we all know a coffee table can serve many purposes! :)) If you need a real desk (and can't squeeze it into a bedroom), I think I'd suggest drawing your room to scale, on graph paper, and then cutting out the various pieces to try. Here are some places I would start: 1) If you give up on the fireplace as a decorative element, you could put a desk against the kitchen wall and get a desk chair that has a swivel (so that it can be turned away from the desk when you have company. (Keep a loose runner you can throw over everything on it, heh.) 2) If you keep the couch toward the window and keep it "apartment size," then there should be space between it and the hallway for a desk. It may have to be a little narrow to not cause a pinch point there, but you could tape it off and see. 3) you could get a small workstation-size desk just a couple of feet wide and put it in the window/white wall corner, facing the windows. then just start your couch ensemble a little farther down the wall and put an end table and lamp at the kitchen end. or I guess you could use it anywhere, and roll it away when company comes! While I'm thinking about it, the trick to tiny apartments is to make everything do double duty. Coffee table with a drawer underneath for remotes and coasters (and placemats); end table that hides a cabinet for computer gear; etc. Good luck! hope this helps.

I like those rug choices -- I like symmetry and items that are not too "busy" -- but it is your taste that matters. Take your time choosing -- enjoy the search -- (and, more importantly, since you're going to be living with your choices). To "turn up" the not-plain vibe, use furnishings that are less "permanent" -- costly -- for that so changing those out as the seasons change and/or as your taste evolves is an affordable option. As to chairs, would definitely sit in any of those you're considering -- not just choose based upon looks alone -- before buying. Also, unless a room is really large, some care might need to be take to ensure that any chairs you're considering do not have splayed legs that could be a toe-stubber problem.