I see the challenge the open plan foyer provides. And the ceiling height change. Can you post the view from the bay?

All you need to do is get rid of that word chair get new area rug, ottoman and better pillows, that vintage sette is a great accent piece to mix things up

Hi pjay123 I love the colors you have and I think a coffee table would go great with what you have! I know someone who builds furniture, like coffee tables, from scratch with wood.

I'm not looking to sell anything, but I would love to get some insight on what types of problems you face when adding new pieces to your furniture. If you're available, I'd love to chat!

Thanks for any help.

Please do not change a rug and do not go 50 shades of teal.

Lol - the colours get changed out every few months - just happens to be those right now - re cushions - in a few weeks they’ll be a bright green with another to tie in the wall colour. I usually break up the colour with soft furnishings- the settee is actually a deep red - but needs to be recovered- the red will “bleed through” a cream cover. Hence the blue. The rug is new. Closest to what I wanted. The blue wall brings the vaulted ceiling down - the cover on the couch is courtesy of the fellow in the painting

View from bay window

The far blue wall (reading Aqua) - but same colour as the living room is a small accent wall again making the windows and cream fireplace ‘pop’ - the rest of that room is the same taupe colour as the rest of the main floor - kitchen is white cabinets with the dark island

I’m thinking that you could take the little table and basket out or the corner by the bay window, put the bigger stand that is under the cathedral mirror on that longer wall, move the corner cabinet into the corner where the mirror was. Then add the little table and lamp between the sette and couch.

Would the settee work where you have the measuring tape if you moved the console and mirror to the wall where the red chair used to be? i just think a solo chair looks suspended in that spot and 2 chairs would take up more space than the settee if you used a table between them.

Unfortunately we’ve tried the settee there without the table and it still feels really congested coming into the room from the front door - the settee has a beautiful but busy back - looking at that from the other side of the room is too much I think

It would shine in a larger room 😢

It is also incredibly comfortable

Interesting thought re moving the corner cabinet and larger table and mirror- did I try that? Hmmmm, don’t think so - it would also solve the lighting issue in that corner - I can obtain a matching side table (the one with the brass lamp if that works better - someone just happens to be selling it for next to nothing. (Ethan Allen vintage). The little table with the lamp is an inherited piece from Ireland- so I can try to find it another room to reside in.

Re moving the settee…I’m still pondering that - two chairs in the window might work- would the corner cabinet feel like a monolith if it’s moved to that space by the front door? - see comments above

And would it all ‘shrink’ the room?

If you add a new chair I would avoid anything "leggy". Instead perhaps go for an upholstered swivel chair.

Ok the settee only works in the window, BUT - this is interesting! I’ll replace the end table on the right and lamp with something more symmetrical- and the mirror back over the table - it’s a DOG to hang - but you get the picture

I might paint or refinish the corner cabinet - my forte (sorry all you milk painters - not the way I refinish 😊)

Thoughts?

Have you tried moving the settee to the right on that short wall then perhaps a chair or 2 in it's place or one chair there (where the settee is) and a matching one across from it?

Yes, it just looks weird- I’ve tried it where the chair is, everywhere except for where the couch is. On that shorter wall it looks like whoever sits there is completely unsociable 😂. I like the idea of a chair or two in the window but there is no other spot for the settee and I love that piece - it’s been in my family for about 40 years - lots of memories, not to mention the most comfortable piece of furniture, even with needing recovering.

You guys rock! Such great input!! Thanks so much, if you want to weigh in, please don’t hesitate

Adriana, you’ll need to change your privacy settings on your profile if you want my input re wood furniture :)

I love the change of the corner cabinet! The sofa wall looks much better, and I thought it looked fine before. I know I'm being a pain in the arse, but would you show us the settee in the place where the red chair is? People might have suggestions for tweaking it so it might work :-) I'm thinking that with the corner cabinet being angled that it will open up that passageway from the door both visually and physically. But if you know you'll hate it, don't go to the trouble.

I really like the look of this storage coffee table that Olychick posted in your room. The color and texture complement the kitchen stools. I also think your art looks better lowered a bit.

Have you tried the blue settee facing the sofa, but pulled away from the wall a few feet? Not centered on the sofa, closer to the window. It would probably be completely on the rug.

Or, at an angle, directly facing the blue lamp beside the sofa?

Your whole room looks better without the cabinet in the corner. You seem to have a lot of display furniture, maybe some of it could be moved to a different room.

Unfortunately that blue settee is bigger than it looks - yes I have tried that. - it just doesn’t work with the front door where it is - the room looks lopsided- it might work in a larger room? It makes the room heavy on one side - especially if I put chair(s) in the window, which would be the whole reason I would in the first place.

I was wondering about this one instead of the one in the pic above

Olychick, I did try it when I moved the corner cabinet and it looks like a traffic jam with what’s behind it. Really didn’t like it - just too much going on. I think the reason the settee looks better in the window is because it has so much going on with the shape, legs, etc. If you look at the back of it above - it’s just way too much going on looking from the kitchen area toward the living room

I like the Claremont ottoman. It will look really nice with your other furniture. I really like your style and colors. I also like your latest layout with the console and corner shelf switched too. The only things that look out of place are the red chair and the black chair. Perhaps you could just take them away? And maybe keep a much smaller dining chair by the console wall, to be pulled out if needed? Or another small ottoman that could be used as either a drink table or perch if needed?

Looks great! Leave a nice, open path from the front door through the living room to the dining area. You may need to slide the red chair to the side a bit. Great job with your space and pieces. I like all your decor.🙂

Here’s a visual of the Claremont. You may want to consider an ottoman or table with no legs, as there’s already a lot of legginess going on.

I wondered about that as well - I can always return it to the shop if it doesn’t work - might go shopping tomorrow and see what’s available locally

I now see your issue regarding the space near your entry. Thanks so much for posting all the additional pictures. I see now because of them that you didn't have the space I thought you did. My camera makes my space look bigger too.

I love how you change the colors. I would love to do that and hope we get to see the coming change. I'd love to learn from you!

I agree with others that moving the corner cabinet was helpful. And I like that you centered the table on your short wall. I'm excited to see what it's like when you hang the mirror over it. You had them together before and I thought they looked great. I hope it has the effect I envision, reflecting the light from the window and angeling it into the room. Sorry it's going to be such hard work. I hope you can get a helper.

You hung the painting over the sofa at a much better height. You've been hard at work!

The settee centered on the window is a primary focal point. Can you pull the sofa from the wall just a couple inches to help with that? That way it looks like the sofa is less afraid of the settee and wants to have a conversation with it. Then I like the table and mirror as a secondary focal point. I like the red chair facing the settee! You have a little table with floppy ears that might look nice next to the red chair if you think there is room. I'm wondering if it could replace the current end table with it's ears up to be shared by the red chair and sofa. And the other end table moved to be shared by the settee and sofa. The heights of the two tables relative to the seating is guiding me here. I'd like to see some sort of table accessable from the seating. I think having the table ears up might be helpful, but you can correct me. 

Then the big question is whether or not you still need a coffee table, and if so, what kind. The closer together you pull the seating, the less a coffee table is needed. It's a big commitment. I think coffee tables are still hard to reach. I wonder if nesting glass tables might be more useful for you. They'd be easy to move apart for use and easy to pull back together for show. They'd also bounce light from your window into the room and would not crowd the space. There are lots of shapes and frames to consider but here's an example.

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/tanner-glass-round-nesting-coffee-tables/

I am wondering how often you and/or your guests use the front door? If rarely used, then don't let that entryway dictate your living room layout. However if you use it frequently, I did notice a couple things that may nor may not help.

1. Remove any furniture to the left of the red/pink/orange chair. Use the rug to define the living room. Shift it towards the bay window. Does this leave a walk way to the other rooms? The idea is to direct foot traffic to the edge of the room without walking on the rug.

NEXT

2. Shift the rug so more of it is beneath the sofa. Maybe even all the way to that wall. This will open up floor space by the entry way thus directing traffic off of the rug. Now you have offset the rug which re-defines the space. Now if the back of either the sofa or the settee is to the entryway, people wouldnt feel as if they were being blocked from the room. If the settee back is too busy, then perhaps the sofa would work. Otherwise two chairs and a table. Would it look okay if the sofa and settee were directly across from one another? Put 2 chairs by window with table between.

3. Or, angle the rug. Arrange furniture on same angle to minimize seeing back of the sofa or settee. Added bonus, you may have a clearer path to the other rooms.

I hope this makes sense.

It does make sense. Stay tuned…

Also, we use the front door as our only point of entry from the street (little house woes). I’ve had to move things around again - due to structural issues (heat registers, air intakes etc). ALL of these suggestions have been SO helpful!! So just tweaking again 😏

KL I have been wondering as well regarding the nesting glass tables - coffee tables really are a big commitment- I refinished one this summer to go in my ‘beachy’ family room - just couldn’t find one that I was willing to commit to. And love the end result- but it was a LOT of work!

I must confess. Coffee tables and I don't get along. I am embarrassed at all the shin scars. I don't know what's wrong with my steering system.

KL 😂. I feel your pain! Here’s some updated pics - I had to move the corner unit due to it blocking an air intake and vacuflo outlet. Also that table and mirror are used a lot for a place for keys, mail etc as well as that ‘quick check’ before going out the door. I moved the rug, added an end table and lowered the painting- I like how it feels more defined. Still not sure regarding a coffee table…but if I do it will most likely be an ottoman- the chair may be replaced as well but I’ll keep it there for now. And I’ll need to replace the lamps…. that won’t take long to find - not.

The rug is quite a bit closer to the window - it doesn’t intrude on the traffic flow from the front door now.

What a bright pretty day. This looks nice. You've been busy with staging too!  I understand sometimes function has to win. Well it should. :-)

What are you thinking about for an ottoman? Round? Square? Rectangle? Leather? Fabric? What color?

I loved your room from the beginning, but it's getting better all the time! Looks wonderful. The one thing that still seems 'off' to me is the floating pink/red chair. Maybe nudge it a bit toward the sofa and put a small table on the left side of it? It would help it be a little less lonely looking. Even a stool size table. I tried to find some without legs, but not sure how that works with that chair. I'd do round so there is no worry about bumping a corner, or ??

obviously too modern, but it's cute!

O

This vintage ottoman could be fabulous in your space.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1393167611/beautiful-vintage-leopard-print-large?click_key=5a41d6c7c057523a304ff25e4f24f3772434488c%3A1393167611&click_sum=299b4929&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=animal+print+ottoman&ref=sr_gallery-1-26&organic_search_click=1&cns=1&sts=1&from_search=1

It's coming along nicely! I really like the blue lampshade and if you find a set of lamps you like you could always add the blue shades yourself.

I still think you are lacking pattern and something in the center, especially since you have such a neutral rug.

What do you think of something like this that ties the colors together?

(the proportions might be off)

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/andover-mills-kappel-36-wide-square-floral-cocktail-ottoman-w005160678.html?piid=

Or this one that's more neutral but with some pattern & storage?

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/house-of-hampton-faredo-tufted-storage-ottoman-w006882566.html?piid=

If getting an ottoman, yes, I like storage. But maybe that's because all the antique little tables I have and love have no storage. I need storage. Sigh...

I agree that the lone chair needs to be invited to the party. How about moving it towards the entry-way, with all 4 legs on the rug, angling it towards the other furniture, and I agree a small round table would look great. I like when every piece of furniture has a flat surface nearby for a beverage, book, or place for eye glasses to set on.

I agree that the room keeps getting better and better. One last hint, an interior decorator once told me every room needs something green in it. Can be as easy as a plant or a vase and up to a throw pillow or piece of furniture.

Final update- the only thing missing is a coffee table/ottoman- that might happen if I find something that works - the love seat and chair still need to be recovered so until that happens, it doesn’t make sense to get an ottoman. The cover on the sofa is to protect it from a dog who likes to use it as his personal face washing station 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️