I'm not sure what your desired color scheme is, but I would start with a large rug to anchor the room. I think the settee/daybed idea to replace the sofa (in the archway nearest to the dining room) would work well, and you then put two chairs across (near the archway to the tv room). Would a console table work in front of the radiator? I immediately thought of this house tour from AT:LA. Maybe this will inspire you:

http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/john-saint-denis-house-tour/item/198931

Good luck! (Also those wingback chairs are amazing.)

A beautiful rug, and I agree with small lightweight pieces. Maybe the two chairs with a small table & lamps in the middle against the window wall. Or a low daybed/bench, a mirror above with flanking small pedestal tables & plants. Embrace what it is... a living HALL.

I love this space - it has such huge potential! I think you are on the right track with your floorplan idea, but:

1) Coffee table - get something non-upholstered with legs. The ottoman piece is just too heavy and is taking up way too much visual space. There are so many pretty coffee tables out there, like this: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/furniture/accent-tables/focal-coffee-table/s651926

2) add a large rug that will at least go under the front feet of everything - bigger if you can!

3) If the radiator is visible you can hire someone to make you a beautiful custom wood and wire mesh cover.

Continue with the rest of your plan - Definitely recover those chairs in a modern, light fabric - The couch can be moved in front of the window and it will look as if the furniture is floating, which is good! If you can replace the couch or recover in a lighter material I think it would be beneficial. If you have to work with this couch, get new throw pillows in a fabric that goes nicely with your new fancy chairs. - I like the idea of a bench/chaise piece on one side.

I also have a living room with three doorways and a fireplace. I am similarly stymied, so I send empathy. But I notice you have shutters that are nearly black. We had the same (we have a 1929 cottage); they made the dining room seem so small and dark. I couldn't believe the transformation when I took them down and painted the woodwork white. Good luck!

Hmm.. that couch does feel a bit heavy for this room, especially where it is. Would it work better on the wall near the radiator, or maybe in front of the arch to the TV room? Then bring the two arm chairs to where the couch is now? It feels like the couch is currently blocking flow, but two arm chairs would allow for a natural foot traffic to the kitchen and dining room. Just a thought.

If you want minimal purchases, center the small sofa facing the fireplace and the chairs on either side of the fireplace. Bring it off the wall with the radiator for walking space behind it.

Just another thought...ever thought of switching the dining room and sitting room? The redundancy of rooms with sofas right next to each other with similar purposes may be clouding the layout. I'd then face the sofa towards the French doors as your focus. A great space all around.

I say you opt out of having a couch in this fireplace room altogether. A rug with 4 nice chairs and a coffee table would do.

Definately get rid of the couch. Two or three really substantial chairs would be better.

One of my favorite seating arrangements is 4 chairs around a round table or ottoman. In any home I've ever been in with this arrangment, it's where everyone winds up. And I agree with the commenter who said this may have been a dining room. The 4 chair/round table arrangement functions the same way because you can just center it in front of the fireplace.

I also agree that bringing in a large rug, (a 6' X 9' would be great!) is important to anchor the space. About the furniture placement, I suggest moving the sofa and the ottoman in front of the window close perhaps with a sofa console table behind the sofa. This way the sofa is not blocking the view into the dining room and it creates a cozy area around the fireplace. You'll have to play with this, because you'll need a transitional area to walk through easily and allow flow to move freely to the rest of your home.

Then place those two fabulous chairs either in front of the fireplace, facing each other, or to the side of the fireplace each one at an angle, facing into the room (looking at the sofa.)

From my perspective, the fireplace is considered the hearth of the home and represents the heart(s) of those who live in the space. Therefore connecting with the fireplace is always important, and by placing the chairs in the way I have suggested, you start to create a circle within the square room (this is harmonious) and at the same time you invite conversation among friends and family.

Most importantly, have fun with it and don't stress out too much. In my experience, re-designing our spaces is best when we take it in steps. For example, work with what you have first and then sit with other options.

Cheers!

Cheryl Janis
Feng Shui and Design Consultant
CherylJanisDesigns.com

What is the purpose of this room?
Where do you hangout with friends? In this room or in the TV room?

Given your current furniture, I'd get a rug to anchor the sofa which would be facing the fireplace. The two edwardian chairs could flank the opening of either your TV or dining room. They'd have more of a decorative purpose and not so much functional.

Or if you don't really plan on lounging in this room, remove the sofa. Get a rug and a round game table that is to the scale of your edwardian chairs. And make it a pleasant pass through room where you might sit and read your mail or have a quick cup of tea.

I don't think its the furniture that is making it blah..its the colors in the rooms. We have a house with the exact same types of mouldings, doors and floor etc. The moulding are all painted white and the walls earthy tones of green, blue, beige etc. It looks amazing and very bright but still cosy. Also change the tile on your fireplace to a mosaic glass (small tiles) and paint the wood or stain it a lighter color (may be more difficult to stain). Your rooms will come alive and the furniture will be not as much of an issue (I actually really like your furniture, i really think its the color of the mouldings, doors walls and fireplace that are throwing you off)

btw our home was built in the exact same year, 1910

I REALLY agree with making this your dining room and getting rid of the formal sitting room all together, it just doesn't work that well

What about a built in unit on that back wall with the windows? Have shelves on either side with storage on the bottom and put in a long bench/radiator cover. then take the two wing back chairs and put them in front on that on the side facing the fireplace angled towards the center of the room.

Two identical sofas, parallell to each other, centred in the room on either side of the fireplace.

Hard to tell how the other rooms connect, but I definitely agree with a few recommendations:

1. Get a large area rug for this space.
2. Use it as the dining room!
3. Create an informal living room off your kitchen (more casual upholstered seating in that super well-lit corner where the table currently sits).
4. Use the room with the blue couch as your sitting room (again, get a good rug). I would love both of your couches in my own home, but I think you'll need something smaller and with better lines to hold up to "bones" of your house and the awesome tall chairs. Ditch the ottoman and get a small glass coffeetable, along with a tall/skinny decorative table for between the two armchairs. Finally, buy some small decorative pillows to lighten up the furniture. If you're using the formal chairs and formal velvety material, try something with a little whimsy to keep it from looking stale.

Some years ago Michael Caine was in a movie called The Quiet American. His apartment had a set of four matching club chairs around a coffee table. It was fabulous so I second or third that idea. The dining room idea is also good.

Here's another thing to consider: just a sofa and some end tables facing the fireplace. It all depends on what the purpose of this room is and if it's more than just one or two people relaxing in front of the fireplace it won't work.
Here's another thought, grandmothers chairs at head and foot of dining table? Might be too short or stylisticly wrong but who knows?

This is the perfect type of room for an arrangement of nothing but arm/clubchairs in the center of the room on a large rug:

I'd select 4 or 5 cozy armchairs and arrange them in a circle around a large round ottoman or cocktail table. Between each chair, I'd place an end table with a lamp or a floor lamp with a small cigarette table.

I like bepsf suggestion, I would make it into a parlor type of seating arrangement. The sofa and ottoman you have are way too large and the wrong scale. I do like your chairs maybe two club chairs and center table and rug.

How about adding a radiator cover to give a more finished look and give you a little counter space for potted orchids or nice pottery

http://www.eradiatorcovers.biz/wood_styles.htm

I'd suggest a settee with low or no arms, placed in front of the windows. Your chairs should be in front of the arch to the dining room with a pedestal table between, this allow good flow between the two rooms. A good sized area rug, perhaps an oval glass coffee table, your bench/ottoman floating before the entrance to the tv room.

I completely agree with the people who said this needs to be the dining room. Get a really nice rug and maybe retile the surround on the fireplace with better tiles. I would also paint the radiator to match the walls and might also paint the dark wood.

"Two identical sofas, parallel to each other, centred in the room on either side of the fireplace."

If the OP decides to go that route - she'd be better off with a pair of matching loveseats.

You need to figure out what you want to use your rooms for. (Maybe you already have.) So, people telling you to make it a dining room - that's OK if you want a dining room. I see you have a tiled floor in your current dining area, so my guess is that you want to keep that as your eating area. Two dining areas right next to each other makes little sense to me (though some do it.) Others would make it a dining room and make the tiled area off the kitchen into a family room - this is common now. This is a possibility if you want it. Some find two seating areas next to each other odd - but I find that more useful than two dining areas.

Me, I think the room is what I call a "connector" room - there to open space up to other rooms. Many brownstones have this sort of room, with the fireplace - as a central parlor between the two larger rooms on the parlor floor. They aren't huge, and with the fireplace, doorways to other rooms, and sometimes stairs, they don't hold a lot of furniture. Sometimes (in Victorian design) they held a smallish central table (not considered of much use now) and functioned as a sort of reception room. Other times they functioned, and were called, music rooms.

But I think you are right to call this a sitting room, and my sense is that you want to use it as such. I wouldn't use it as a dining room because I think you are onto something when you say the room needs "flow" - this is crucial because of its function as a connector room. I don't like walking around the dining table just to get through a room. Just as I think the couch where it is totally blocks flow - I wouldn't leave it there, and I wouldn't put a daybed or similar piece there either - I'd like flow into my dining area.

So, if you want a couch, of whatever size, the place for it in this room is in front of the radiator and window. It doesn't look to me like the room is wide enough to do this with a walkway behind the couch, as another suggested - as then the couch is in the middle of the room and you still have to walk around it. So put it closer to the window.

Place your couch there. Imagine or place a rug in front. If you like the look (and I think you will), the place the chairs whereever they fit - over by the fireplace, partially in front of an archway - and go from there. I think your couch will be fine. You can pick a rug with colors to add some color to the room.

I think you will find that this arrangement will give you the best flow to the other rooms. While I like chairs around a round or square coffee table, I think that arrangement in this room will impede flow too much, just like a dining table would.

You can still leave a little room behind the couch it so as to not block the flow of heat from the radiator - a little room for air flow, not a walkway. If the couch blocks the view of the radiator, you don't need a radiator cover. (Radiator covers, while I like them a lot, do impede heat, so if you don't need one, don't use one.)

If you like the idea of a console table in that space behind the couch (if you like the way that looks in front of the window), then get one that you can just set over the radiator. This will impede the upward flow of heat, so the area should be wider to allow it to flow out around the couch since it can't flow up - which is fine, as it is hard to find really skinny console tables.

You may need to get the table made to fit - I finally found a really skinny console table to put over my bathroom radiator, but it took a few years of looking online to find a size that would work over the radiator.

Me, I'd skip the console completely and use some end tables. I'd get some antique ones, or reproduction ones, that are in a similar shade to the wood on the fireplace surround. This will tie the room together nicely. (It worked for me with a similar fireplace.) Don't make them the same - don't go for that matchy-matchy look.

You may want to put an end table, the height of the couch arm, and close to the depth of the couch, on the side by the TV room, and something shallower on the side by the dining area, so as not to have it stick out further than the partial wall to the dining area. Or, on the dining side, perhaps a different piece - like a somewhat taller cabinet with doors (but not taller than the half wall to the dining area.)

Agree the tiles on the fireplace look like they've replaced the orginal ones. If so, and you want, look to replacing them with the beautiful old colored glass tiles original to such fireplaces. If you aren't looking to do anything that extensive, placing things (colorful vases, vases with tall branch-like arrangements) on the tile when not in fire season (and all year if it is just decorative, or you don't use it), will hide some, and soften the look of the rest of, that stark tile.

A word on the ottoman: I have a couch against the wall in a similar width room that is also a connector room, a with a coffee table in front. Whenever I move the coffee table for some reason (lots of company, usually), I later find that before I put it back, I find the room much easier to walk through, and like the sense of spaciousness without it there. Having end tables, at the height of the couch arm, gives you space to put stuff on so you may not need the ottoman. You could put it elsewhere.

I keep my coffee table where it is because I like to put my feet up on it, moving it only when there are a lot of people around, to create better flow. I find an easy to move coffee table works better in connector rooms - like small tables that fit together to make a larger one - works better for moving than one clunky, hard to move one, as mine is - it's a trunk - but I bought it for a prior living room..but if I were buying furniture for here, I'd get some smaller, easier to move tables, that can combine to one coffee table when wanted.

My, those shutters are dark. And it looks like they open into the room (not fold), which is why the couch isn't there now - they'd bump the couch. I get the idea you leave them closed a lot, as it looks like there's house nearby. I'd take them down and store them, and put up something in an off white color to let in more light - I'd try those silouette shades with fabric vanes that can be open or closed for privacy, or perhaps honeycomb shades. Your room will be a lot lighter, a place you will actually want to sit in.

There are many options that allow light to filter in while allowing you privacy at the same time. You could do honeycomb in top-down bottom up style, so you could let light in the top as in the picture while maintaining privacy below, or you could do as you have here and just cover the bottom part.

Yes, you need a rug. But you need to choose it carefully. I have found that having the rug end in the middle of a walkway to a doorway (to your kitchen door or hallway door) is odd when walking to those doors. So you need a smaller rug that stops short of where the doorways begin, and is just between the couch and fireplace, or you need a really large one that goes almost to the edges of the room.

If you do the large one, unless you want to take down the hallway door and plane the bottom of it, you will need a thinner, rather than a thicker, rug. Something flat, like a kilim or similar style weave. Either smaller or larger would work - but something in the middle won't. You don't want a rug line across from the doorways to the window walls - you either want a rug, or wood floor, there.

And then, after you get a rug, pick up a color from the rug and paint this room something other than white!

So, move your couch there. Place or imagine a rug in front of it. If you like it, then place the chairs where they fit and don't block the archways and doorways too much, and you are mostly done. If you don't like a couch there, then start with the few chairs ideas. I think you will like it there, and I think you'll like your current couch fine. It looks neutral in color, so unless you like all netrals (which I don't think you do from your other color choices), get some color in there in the rug. You can later pick some paint colors

Yes, you need a large rug - that's obvious.

Yep, make it a dining room! Use the other room as an office/play place/storage for the kids etc.

Take a look at the picture with the fireplace- take your two chairs, it would be nice to have them matching but if not get two small tables for each..then a small round coffee table and you could do a small love seat opposite..so what you would be doing is flipping the arrangement so the two smaller chairs are in front of the fireplace with end tables on the outside or one round larger table between them

see photo -
http://www.houseofturquoise.com/2010/12/happy-new-year.html

I don't like that upholstered bench/coffee table at all. You need a glass and metal coffee table.

Having the two chairs share the same corner doesn't work. I'd get two more substantial chairs and have them face the sofa. Barring that, have the two parlor chairs you have take up separate corners.

COLOR!
Ok, aside from that I would float the DR in the FP room (next to the kitchen) thus, no conflict w/ doors.
The LR should move to the front room...Get a rug & paint the shutter a light color.
These rooms lack personal touches. Minimalist or not bring in some treasured items (art, photos, etc)

I'd go with chairs and small tables. A couch seems like it would be too much. With chairs and small tables you would have so much more flexibility and I think that's what this space needs.

Lots of great ideas above, I will echo that 2 sofa areas are redundant. The kitchen designer in me is hoping that you will paint your kitchen cabinets black or charcoal, easier on the eye for coordinating with the fireplace and the kitchen floor. I'd not hesitate to paint the woodwork on the chairs the same color if you think the ancients would be cool with it, esp. if you are thinking of modernizing the fabric.

I'd support the idea of switching this to become the dining room. (Think of dinner with a fire in the fireplace!!)

However, if that's not an idea you like, I would put a sofa (maybe not this one) in front of the radiator (which I'd cover), facing the fireplace (which I'd fix up.) Flank it with two table lamps on end tables, or floor lamps.

I'd take your two "grannie" chairs and recover them, and place one a bit off the two corners of the sofa, slightly in front of each arch, but NOT blocking traffic flow (which the sofa does in your current set-up.) I'd get an interesting, maybe oval, vintage (or vintage-looking) coffee table for in front of the sofa, and a pair of little side tables for the chairs. (Move the leather bench to the foot of a bed -- it's too stark for this room.)

Yet another vote for turning this middle room into a dining room. Whatever you do with it you will clearly have to pass through it quite a lot, and it's very difficult to make a "corridor room" a comfortable sitting room. A dining table (placed lengthwise, parallel to the fireplace) will work much better and will also separate the two living areas and make it easier to give each a separate identity.

One other thing, five photographs are no substitute for one floorplan drawing - it might help you if you did one up to get a literal overview of how the three rooms work together.

Note to byn: it's not the only throughway, so though your endnote was really cute "Embrace ... (your) living HALL", it's not the only route through to the rest of the house.

Second idontdobeige's comment above. Floorplan would be ever so helpful!

I like many of the ideas above... convert to dining room; or 4 tub chairs (or 1 loveseat and 2 chairs) in a conversational grouping.

I've been reading apartmenttherapy for a long time, but this is my first post!

I think the room is too large to act as the dining room. I think it should be a more formal living room and the other room the "family" room. So to me it's OK to have two rooms near each other with couches...if one is more formal and one more casual.

I would do the 2 identical loveseats facing each other idea (or 1 couch or loveseat with two opposite chairs). The backs of the loveseats should be lower rather than as high as the couch you have in the room right now.

Then in the corners of the room,start adding some things with height--a tall tree, a bookshelf, etc. One might have an accent chair...

i think you should look at this area like a spot for after-dinner drinks and conversation -- it's not formal dining, but it's also not flop-on-the-couch-and-watch-tv. it's the perfect in-between room.

cover the radiator. heck, if it were my house, i'd just make a shelf that runs the length of the room, and make some low built-in storage (no higher than the window sill). you could even wrap it around to the corners, if you can't stand an empty corner.

put the back of the sofa-thing towards the room with the other sofa, and push it closer to the radiator than the fireplace (creating a walkway close to the doors and fireplace). place the ottoman in the middle, and put a tray on it for drinks. float the chairs on the other side, NO table between them, and again, closer to the wall with the radiator than the fireplace.

Since this isn't the TV room you get to go past the hardest part - fitting a TV in. Rotate the sofa where it's under window - move it away from radiator at least a foot and allow it to face fireplace. I'd keep both chairs and get them reupholstered and flank them on either side of the fireplace away from the entrances enough so you can easily pass through them. A nice rug and you're done.

As many others have said I think a rug is necessary.

I'd try the couch in front of the window/radiator (maybe leave a few feet behind the couch to access window etc - hard to tell if this would work without trying it), a coffee table of some type and chair on either side, or both chairs on one side, dependin on how it felt.

I also think the dining room switch seems like a good idea!

Wow, thank you everyone! This is the first time I've posted a question and your responses have been great. Lots of inspiration and ideas to help me get this room done.

A few things which are on the to do list;

-A rug (I've been wanting one and my husband finally had his "A ha" moment after reading the posts :)
-The tiles on the fireplace are going to be restored to ones more like the originals would of looked like.
-An acrylic/glass/lucite coffee table
-The radiators are going in to be sand blasted (their detail is gorgeous) and they'll be repainted the same creamy white as all the trim
-Wing back chairs re-covered
-The existing couch and ottoman will be relocated in favour of some lighter pieces
-Actually buy some of the art I've been coveting

Originally I had thought this would be the dining room but our family dinners of 12+ make this room too small. I like having a room with no TV to sit with the kids/friends/family so now just to decide on all chairs or a smaller settee with the wing backs!

Thank you again everyone! I'll post pictures of the progress and the final result. Now off to hunt, browse and buy!

Love the white walls, clean and bright for the sunlight to pop in and the wooden tiles. However, when you bought the dark furniture, they made one to room to another darker and bland. what i would do is to replace the windows into white(you could repaint them to save money), take off the tiles from the chimney, paint the chimney beam white. The table in the living room doesn't fit well with the couch. I would move the couch from the guest room to the living room with the brown couch and table to the guest room. I admire the chairs in the corner but add the coffee table for balance. Finally, add few plants in the corners to bring up the energy in the furniture.