Hey Janel,

I suggest getting a single piece sofa (not sectional) with a small ottoman so you can sit you feet ontop and placing that facing your fireplace much like you already have. For your bay window, I'd get a smaller occasional chair with with a smaller table so you can look out and see your awesome view.

For the opposite wall of your bay window, I might get a nice glass top desk with a mirror above it to reflect the window/natural light you have going on. I saw this really cute table lamp the other day that would so work for that too...only I don't have any pictures lol sorry.

Hope that helps!

You could have one part of the L facing the window and one part facing the fireplace. Then you could push the desk up against the back of the sofa so that it's facing the window, too. Or you could put it against the wall, by the window without a view (but at least it's a window?) to balance out the bookshelves.

Actually, looking more carefully, this place looks too small for all that. How about a regular couch placed diagonally to face the corner with the bookshelf in it. Then have a beautiful small table with two chairs by the window that you clear off to use as a desk with all your supplies nearby on the built-in bookcase?

Or build a window seat to fit the space under the window with maybe your bed against the opposite wall and your desk in the other room. Actually, I don't even understand this layout--is the other room the bedroom? Where is the bathroom? Is there a kitchen?

Congratulations on a beautiful first apartment!
I'm not a fan of L-shaped sectionals personally, they always make a room feel small and there is rarely more than one place to put them. Go for 2 couches, or a couch love seat duo. One facing the fire place and one facing the window. The window next to the fireplace seems like an excellent place for a desk to me (as long as you aren't looking directly into the neighbor's place. The visual weight will help balance out the bookshelves on the other side.
I'm a little confused though, is this a living room? Or a loft type living/sleeping area?

I would get a nice couch and place that in front of the fireplace. Then two chairs (small sofa or accent) to put facing each other on each side of the fireplace. Top off with a rug underneith and a coffee table.

Desk can go between the bay window and the far left window (bedroom?) Bed can go against the wall/window in the bedroom area.

If you wanted to watch TV. I would do the same thing as above except only do the couch and one accent chair. Then place the TV, entertainment center on the opposite wall of the bay window.

YOur new place looks lovely. I would keep the sectional, and either push it forward toward the fireplace so you're not blocking the door so much, or can it turn from 3 2 to 2 3? If so, maybe you could try putting the long end against (or at least parallel to) the 12 foot wall next to the fireplace, and have the shorter end facing the fireplace.

I think this space is perfect for two love seats facing each other and flanking the fireplace.

Then, you can do a console along the "south" wall, and a demilune table with two occasional chairs in the bay. The desk should go under the window in the "northwest" corner. (using directions to describe orientation in the drawing, not the actual direction).

A day bed along the "east" wall, and a round dining table in the transitional space. (assuming the kitchen is on the other side of the doors somewhere).

Now THIS is what the phrase "good bones" is all about when poeple talk about raw spaces! Score!

I like the idea of the El, with its full back to the opening between rooms, and the other side with its back to the bay.

On that side, a sofa table/desk tucked up against the sofa, for lamps, and bill paying.

If you don't want a full El, consider a sofa with a chaise on left side (when you are facing it), although that would preclude the desk up against it.

To balance the sofa, a darker colored upholstered chair (with a higher back than the sofa) on the left of the fireplace diagonally oriented back toward the corner of the el. That corner to the left of the fireplace would be a perfect reading corner, so include a pharmacy lamp with the chair.

Is the adjoining room a bedroom or dining room?

Just because you want a sectional doesn't mean that it's the best choice.

I'd get a sofa and place it with it's back to the bay window, a pair of matching chairs facing the sofa and a large square or round upholstered ottoman as a coffee table in the center.

The best place for your desk is against the wall outside the living room opposite the entrance - place a lamp on the desk and a large mirror above so that it doesn't feel like you're facing the wall...
...or as an alternative, place the desk to the left of the fireplace so that you're looking out the window.

You have a beautiful space; I'm sure whatever advice you take the room will turn out great. If you have any idea (not sure if you painted the walls) will you share with me the color name that is on the wall? I'm looking for some blue/gray paint and this looks like it may work for me. Thanks!

p.s. I like the chandelier, think about adding some shades and/or crystals as you could turn the look into contemporary or classic with the right pick and not have to spend a lot of $$.

Good luck,
Donna

Yeah i am slightly confuse as well: Is this the whole living room? Or a living room/bedroom studio space with separate kitchen and toilet?

Just because you want a sectional doesn't mean that it's the best choice.

We can always rely on bepsf to cut to the heart of the matter :)

The sectional in the picture is all wrong for the space, so what makes you think any other sectional is going to be better? Get a good 2-3 seater couch and position it facing the fireplace. Put an armchair or a small loveseat in the bay window. Have another armchair or a big structural ottoman under the window next to the fireplace, then put the TV on the wall opposite the bay window. The TV is then viewable from several positions, but the fireplace is the visual centre of the arrangement.

Put your desk in the little nook near the closet, but with your desk chair in the corner, so that when you sit at the desk you are facing the view window. The area under the smaller view window can then be a reading/music/dining space.

Love the wall color and the old world charm of your place.
How lucky that their are drapery rods! If it were my place I'd be going elegant, formal French Country.
I will echo some of what others have said. I would buy a small scale couch and then I would have two bergere (sp)
chairs. I'm not clear on the which door is the entry so I will assume the one that is straight across from the single living room window next to the fireplace? If this is the case then
since the space is tight I would try to create a divider so that when you enter your forced to look straight at the single window. Between the entry and the single window I place a mirror on the wall to reflect the bay window under which I'd place a low slung narrow parsons table or an open sofa table with a shelf on the bottom or a long narrowed drawer chest.

I would buy a good sized octagon rug and place this in front of the fireplace I would anchor the small scale couch to face the bay window and have the two chairs with their backs facing the bay. If the living room is truly the only spot for a desk then I would put my desk in front of the bay window. I would try to find another spot for the office area if it were me. Have you seen the hutches with closing doors that lock to put your office area in that?
My sister has one in her den and they did a black French
country look to it. I'd also use in conjunction with your drapes either cafe curtains on the lower parts of your window or bottom up shades. If you end up putting your
desk in front of that bay then from the outside even though your not at street level your computer equipments backside wouldn't be visible when the bottoms up are partially up.
I would also examine the fireplace area. The hard edge of the mirror sides need to be softened and the stark white of the bricks might be toned down. If the don't allow changes to the brick then I'd hand some metal art object grills to flank the side of the fireplace opening. Or going from under the mantel suspend three or four good size tiles to match your decor. A few cup hooks? then some neat cooper wire to hang your art objects off of. I'd like to suggest ribbon but that is a real fire danger - so copper or other wire. Or the two side grills and one nice rustic concrete tile with perhaps a quarter foil or fluerdelis on it in the center?
Have you thought about getting some foam core board cutting it to the size of the back shelf of the bookcase and covering the foam core in either wall paper or fabric?

Looking forward to you posting your photos when your all moved in.

Sofa-cater cornered between the front door and fireplace
Ottoman-use as a coffee table under big area rug
Desk-facing bay window
Dining Table-facing secondary window
Bed-use a daybed and have it against the wall by the closet

Voila! You have dining, office, sitting and bedroom areas complete. Hope this helps and congrats.

The OP needs to be more clear if this is her entire apartment (as in does the bed need to fit in) or just simply the living room and dining areas. Only then will he/she get true help.