I saw this on Ikea Hacker and thought it looked great - it could be customized with any kind of Ikea pieces, I think. Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea Hacker Blog

Great ideas @havingfun! Thank You! It's funny, we started physically moving some things around down there, and I'm starting to think the TV should indeed go on the far wall. I'm just worried about it creating a black hole at the end of this long room. Are you suggesting dividing the room into two sections? Like a TV section and a fireplace section? "face couch or appropriate chairs towards the tv. appropriate chairs or couch to fireplace" and then a rug in each section? I like Bohemian, vintage, rustic, industrial styles I think. I liked the first and third rug you suggested. Maybe light bright rugs and warm darker furniture? We really like the idea of leather sofa/s, like the kind with the nailheads. We have cats and friends, so any anti-stain, non-fur grabbing furniture is what we are looking for.

Neutrals are quite hard to decorate with, they pose no less difficulties than color, if not more..that's why it's hard. (Wood stains are easier. Not all of them but most of them. That's because we really see them as neutrals-lots of trees around)) Fabrics and paint..yeah, we consider such and such neutral yet it still bosses us around to a degree. They are warm, cool, light, dark, whatnot But. From what I see you like both earthy and luxurious elements..am I right? I think if you pull colors from your living. Light ones, whites, color of the sofa, colors of metal in your dining chandelier..And you translate it into textiles. Fabrics. But make them as earthy as your furniture-bigger and with a lot of texture, different texture, Yet a bit luxurious as well. Say faux fur. Add a throw, couple pillows. Go for different textures. Don't make these skimpy..should feel comfy, and break the expanse of furniture. And-you should love it. Really want to use it. It's about the feel as much as it is about decor. You can add an accent color you love. Actually you can add many. Start slow and see where it takes you. Just be generous about different textures, and sizes of things. Not a lot of small pillowsbut a coupe of really cool ones. Along these lines. Put books on yout table..if you like them of course. Or a tray. Bring in plants. You can add a rug, for interest and pattern and fun. You'll add curtains at some point, I suppose. You'll add art-no need to hurry. As you go you can decide to move pieces..say an ottoman, a small side table..you'll become more relaxed, will play with placement more, will add colors, will decide to substract colors. You'll figure out your comfort zone, I love your bunnies. The ones on the dining table. I look at them and see a sort of a clue. They seem cozy where they are. Is there a bird cage in the corner? It is intimidating indeed to start off..and no place can get done in a day, unless it was collected for years (or painstainkingly designed in advance like it was collected for years) and then you just called movers. (and even then will need tweaking and thinking and whatnot). But as you go you get more like a bird or a bunny:) More carefree. You start enjoying. You make mistakes-well it's not an open heart surgery, you know. You tweak it, you play with it, you have fun, in the end of the day.

Do you have an accent chair that you can move into the space? Deco had an excellent idea for hiding the equipment and cords in the credenza and moving the TV. Since that isn't in the plan right now, get an accent chair with arms so that your Dad has a place to sit and can get up comfortably without having to sit on the low sofa you have there now.