Now it's beginning to work! Luv the rug! A few more red showstoppers, and I luv the post about matting your family pic, and larger frame for it. Looks like you might be a bit uncomfortable with the great post idea of moving your sofa out into the room away from wall. If so, could you accept putting it diagonally from the entrance doorway, across that corner where it is, stopping at the edge of your window? That's a bit of a move outward, still can see the fp and tv, and show off your new rug, which could go diagonally in front of the sofa. Then, if you like that, after a while you could move it on out as Deb K suggests. Sometimes intermediate steps are more doable for us than those big changes.Same with painting; if you could first paint just the fp wall, then later paint other walls...seems some color would really make it more homey. Would you cosider a quite contemporary fixture for the light in the center ceiling? Maybe a bit of red could go there!

You have a great opportunity here. I do not recommend placing a tv over a fireplace. Yes, we see it often, but it is not practical for two reasons: 1, the tv has to be placed too high and 2, it is hard on the eyes to be looking at the fireplace light and the tv What I would do is to remove the plaster and re-expose the brick. You could paint it an interesting color or resurface it. Then, I would add a unique mantle.If you have the funds, ideally the threshold should be removed (more contemporary) or resurfaced (more traditional style) The wood store could be a book shelf or display shelf. In the right corner, I would place a comfortable reading chair. The TV I would place on a different wall. Without seeing the entire room, I am not sure where.

Okay, so I like it simple and modern, big stripes, big blocks, love this and this I really like uncluttered look. like this to https://www.houzz.com/photos/murphy-beds-modern-rendering-phvw-vp~24435627 , and I like my dark grey's and browns not to mention light blues, yellows, oranges and reds clashy aye.(not sure if these colors will work with the wood, really like the idea of staining the wood darker to more like this https://www.houzz.com/photos/rubin-residence-contemporary-bedroom-san-francisco-phvw-vp~5202610). But really interested in your ideas.

These houses were designed to look good from the street, regardless of what the orientation was for the Sun. Everything depends on your budget and how far your prepared to go. A friend's house in Queenstown faced the street, the toilet and bathroom had the best view of the lake and the Sun. They got a house removal Coy in, jacked it up put it on the truck drove out and turned it around and reconnected all the services. It then faced the North and West great views and warmth, doubled its value in 3 days!. I replaced my storage water cylinder with a outside gas one, picked up enormous space in our laundry. Another tip is to draw up your "dream" plan, then overlay it over the existing and see what you can really do, your then not influenced by what is already there, and often get a much better insight and removed from the existing. Good luck, its very rewarding and make it fun!