is one of your objectives to create an entry-way and block off The View into your sliding glass doors? If so can you supply more pictures? You've gotten great advice so far for the TV wall. I'm also a huge fan of sliding a piece of art in front of the TV, they have nice rails you can install above your television.

Your curtains don't seem bad, but please before putting up art change your rug to one that is much larger, close to the size of your room, and with warmer colors that harmonize with your beautiful warm brown wood floor. You might consider an Oriental or transitional Oriental with red in it to coordinate well with the curtains. The walls are a very stark white, and I wonder whether you can paint them a softer white, which will tie your room together in a much more agreeable way.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I've considered closing the niche above the fireplace, but that will leave only 6" on the mantle which isn't much space for decor. I agree that it would allow more options for art up above. I do have a large chest to the left of the fireplace right now. The trouble with that is there is little space for traffic between it and the end of the sectional. If I shift it left, it looks off balance and is facing a direct walking path. And I don't really want to rotate the sectional against the windows although that would improve the narrow traffic problem. All the above pics were taken after the wood floor was refinished, but before I put any accessories, decor, etc. back up. I wanted to show a "blank slate". (I am working on getting an area rug) If I stick with everyone's suggestions, my next questions are: How high up should I try to decorate the fireplace niche? And should I do anything behind the tv? I've had nothing there and it looks blank, and I've put up a very large piece of art and it looks too busy. It seems like there are too many focal points. Here are some pics that show earlier attempts at decorating. The silver vase with floral is probably close to 48" high. Please ignore the floral behind the tv, that is not normally there. Pic #1 was right before they moved the furniture out for the flooring, so all my extras were already in storage.

Not a Pro. You said this was a lake house. Do you use the fireplace for heat? I would move the fireplace and place a very large piece of art there. I would also hang the tv and hide all the wires and add a shelf for all the boxes and remotes. Nice and neat.