Hello the days are brightening up by now and I'm sure the room is looking less drab for it. However I think furniture rearranging will work wonders. You seem to have nice low window sills: show them off. If the sofa goes to the left between window and built-in unit you'll have a view out to the garden and more light in the room. Equally: can you fit the piano between the radiator and the double doors? Again: more light through the window. Low sills are a god-send, and so many of us are stuck with high ones. The room will feel more spacious with a good view to outdoors. The armchairs then: one to the left of the fireplace and one between the other window and piano. TV then between the two windows. (No shine on the screen) Does that fit maybe? Or do you need all five seats facing the TV? I rather like those stripy cushions. Can you find a striped wallpaper in matching colors and with an irregular pattern repeat for your accent wall? if going with wood floors how about a sheepskin rug for each of your doggies? Black or white. One last detail. A lower table for your side lamps would be good: At sofa arm or seat height. Coffee table could work in corner between window and new sofa position. Btw: I liked the suggestion to replace the cupboard doors above the fish tank with full-height ones. In some kitchen shops you can find ready-painted, wooden, panel doors that might fit. It's a long shot but you could be lucky. It would brighten up the corner if you got a light colour.

I second Carolyn's motion to check out IKEA for a media cabinet although I feel you will need something around 30-36" tall with this particular TV. It appears to me that you have two matching loveseats or small sofas. Is this correct? In any scenario, if you want cozy, several have already offered thoughts that will help. First, although ideal, I do not feel that your cocktail table has to center on both upholstered pieces. You could center it on the fireplace and work from there, whether parallel or perpendicular. I agree that the upholstery needs to come forward and that the two large pieces should create an L formation. the chair should go to the left of the fireplace, at an angle. I know: Now it is partially in front of the TV. If the TV is on an appropriately scaled media piece, this allows TV viewing over the chair back from all seats in the room except the chair. At risk of being presumptuous, I would suggest that the TV need not be visible from EVERY seat in the room. Greys are definitely hot right now and I love them, but choose wisely. Greys combined with this intense red and black can plunge you squarely back into the 80's. Consider very warm greys, mocha's or green-greys. When you land your color, paint the walls, out onto the underside of the tray and onto the front facing edge of the tray all the same color. This will enhance the architecture of the tray and unify it as an architectural UNIT, enhancing the volume and dimensionality of this feature. As for the pale blue, I must say, I don't understand that at all in this room. (No offense mforr) Now, add a texture to the highest central section of ceiling. Think, grass cloth, faux finish or just a deeper version of the wall color. I agree with Carolyn that the panels are covering too much of your window and that you should consider losing the tie-backs, which are a bit cutesy. In a perfect world, or if you are up for it, I would replace them with something visually lighter, something with a large open airy pattern. I would make the cocktail table metal and glass or wood and glass and modern, even sculptural. (maybe a Noguchi repro?...) Large scaled art on the long wall, as suggested earlier and some greenery. You have a great foundation on which to build. Good Luck!

Hello aoifej, Firstly that is a good sized room... The fireplace is very interesting indeed! It is the main focus and so perhaps you want to consider painting it a darker shade still. The base a very dark shade of charcoal so it is separate and looks like a base stand....... Put a fabulous mirror over it... Something simple in design and squared or full circle like a convex. The red and wood box shelving, don't discard but consider painting it and then you could, if you have enough create a screen/divider for floor area arranged with gaps so it's not solid. Or mount in an interesting configuration on the walls for storage, and painted to match the walls... This then gives you something textured on the walls... that is somewhat bolder and would sit well with the fireplace which is really fantastic.. The sofa is the wrong period style for this room really as it's not old enough or rustic..for french style.. Also the french doors are very modern, so the room takes on a far more modern feel... So you will find it hard to make it sit right such as it is..... It would be best to place it to face the fireplace and leave the french doors free.... You want to be able to have them open so you can easily walk outside... So try situating it in the bay window but not too far in... You may like to have a console table behind the sofa in the window with a table lamp... To take the ornate feel of the sofa away and to make it blend more... Try a sheet over the entire sofa... Then add a throw over the back and both arms... Something you could layer perhaps to disguise it's design more... I think then it will sit better in the room... You then at least can use the sofa, whilst you work out what to do as a sheet will protect it, should you wish to sell it... but I think if you keep it, as it is you will struggle, so re-upholster would be my suggestion.. So have it upholstered in a dark plain fabric and a colour to blend with the wooden frame, charcoal or something dark like mole, earthy tones........ This too then makes it really solid rather than ornate... It will help to blend it into the room and allow you to coordinate furniture to go with it.. Old and new can sit well together if you know how and what to do to make it work..... So some ideas for you to consider if you modify the sofa accordingly.... With a bit of artistic licence as I have used the fireplace as a focus twice and brought the garden in.. simply to cover your sofa, so I could add a similar one in a darker colour to show you what I mean.. I have added a whole array of styles to illustrate how you can integrate many styles to create something interesting.. In reality you will have far more space... as you won't be looking at duplicates! It's done very quickly merely to offer you some ideas as to how to work with what you have, rather than start again! Good design is about working with rather than against what someone has... ... NB: The hare pictured is merely for styling purposes as I like to use it.... BUT I would always recommend natural expiration or accidental expiration for taxidermy as opposed to acquiring by any other less humane means! . : ))

I'd put another set of sliding doors between the lounge and the playroom rather than a solid wall. Reason being is that it gives you more options. You get to sequester the mess and noise when you want and you still get a good flow later on when the kidlets aren't such mess monsters. I'd make both sets of sliding doors have full-length frosted glass inserts. That will let in the light. Or you could use shoji doors if that suits the decor better. From your plan, I'm assuming the house is semi-detached, so windows on the right wall aren't possible? Also, you might consider a pocket door from the hallway to the lounge and from the hallway to the utility room. That way you don't have to allow space for door swing.