Lots of ideas....couldn't resist adding my two cents. i copied your photos and did a little cut and paste- it's messy, but hopefully gets the main idea across. i'd put your sofa in front of the large book case, chair by the fireplace, tv on the stand on the wall opposite the fireplace - so you can either look at the fire or the tv. Someone suggested using frames of one color for your photos - an inexpensive way to do that would be to spray paint them all a dark color-black goes with everything. Since your shelves are a medium tone wood, display things that are dark or light so that they contrast against the wood. Limiting your display items pallette to a few values usually helps to unify things. (I think that's why so many people want to paint the shelves or put inserts in the back to help your nice things read more clearly...some get lost). If you want to "splurge" -you may consider having a carpenter make a few solid tall cabinet doors to provide a visual break in the shelving. I'm showing 3 doors - 1 on the right side of the fireplace and 2 on the left to leave two open vertical shelves for display on each side - with things arranged to frame the fireplace as the focal point. To add some height to your big vases, consider stacking some books beneath them. Enjoy experimenting untill you get something you're happy with - good luck!

Have you thought of combining treatments? We do a lot of Hunter Douglas shades for privacy and light control coupled with stationary panels to give softness and luxury to the treatment. Combining textures such as woven woods provides interest both inside and out. Stationary panels allow you to have the soft treatments you want without worrying about the needed room for stack-back when the drapery is open.

Hello Jen, I am so surprised that no one has mentioned vertical blinds to you? They are very much back in fashion and work beautifully in a room such as yours. They come in 3.5" veins, which mean they will fold back and tuck into each recess when fully open. They turn to let as much light in as you need and then close when you want full privacy. They will be fitted in the recess above the windows. You can either have one complete rail length or two so you have a separate section over the door. You can have what's know as a middle split, i.e: half goes left and right. Personally I would suggest one length that opens to the left, therefore leaving your door completely uncovered when open. The pulley system is very much like a roller blind and are safety fixed to the wall so children can not get caught in them. They come in a huge rang of colours and materials and better still they are very affordable. I am working with a number of new developments in Hertfordshire at the moment and these are what the clients are all asking for. If you would like some idea of price, please email me your measurements and I will give you an idea, amanda@propertybydesign.net Good luck and enjoy! :0)

I have to agree with nudejude regarding the upholstered furniture sizes and positions. The room looks long and narrow, so placing 2 chairs or a 2 seater sofa opposite another 2 seater would allow you to enter through the door and walk, unrestricted, through to the opposite end of the room. An area rug between the sofas, large enough to fit under their front legs and perhaps a clear coffee table in glass or Perspex between would make a great conversation area. There may be enough length to the room to use a console table behind the sofa nearest the double doors with 2 small occasional chairs. A pair of lamps would provide light for the sofa and for the chairs. If the chairs are needed, they can be brought into the main conversation grouping. A Roman blind, with or without the curtains, would set off the window. Throw cushions in a variety of patterns and colour, will add interest to the upholstered pieces. Good luck and enjoy your home.