My instinct would be to divide the space in two - One part for fireside lounging, and the other for TV. Does the sofa need to be up against a wall? I mean, for the cushions to be supported - I can't quite tell.

If you leave the sectional where it is, you could get long, floor-length (or even just couch-length) drapes to hang on the windows, which would give the illusion that there's no gap between the windows and the couch. I agree with theserovingeyes, though. It might be nice to have a space for each activity if the couch allows.

From a design point of view, I would move the sofa closer to the fireplace. This would allow for a small table to be placed under the window, or two bookcases to frame the window. Long curtains would also give an illusion of more space, as well as a corner floor lamp, and plants.

Pull it away from the wall - and swing the whole thing 90 degrees so that it's facing the fireplace.

You also need to go back to WestElm and get the Corner Cushion if you're going to do a corner setup:

http://www.westelm.com/products/f554/?pkey=csectionals-couch-sofas
(See under "You May Also Need")

i like the color palette -- the sectional/wall to wall are like the clash of the beige titans though. good luck!

if you are on a major budget ikea has hemnes tables and bookcases in a gray wash that are beachyish. they are new for summer so might not be in stores yet.

the sofa is kind of a grayish-brown correct?? my boyfriend's photography studio has that same sofa!!

i agree with everything above..that being said... what I would do is, first of all, lose the carpeting. i would go with a medium or dark wood flooring...if budget allows....(maybe not now...but in the future just something to think about) i think that green color would look good on the walls...and that would be your pop of "beachy" color...and then keep EVERYTHING else you decorate with in the gray and gray/beige(like the sofa) color range...this will keep it modern like the sofa yet still beachy....you could use glass or hammered silver vases n accents...i would also use a sleek, lined, linen floor-to-ceiling drape in a color that matches the cube ottomans!!

any plants...i would use straight bamboo stalks in a tall vase but nothing to leafy...it could lose your modern look...and any artwork you want for the walls...i would just simple n solid colors...if you choose anything too cliche "beachy" it might look like a hotel in the bahamas!! but i would defintely keep the walls as your only color...and dont' introduce any new colors...i would stay away from rattan and wicker as well!!

as for the layout!! is the tv really that large and cumbersome (sp?) i take it it's not lcd/plasma so it can't go above the fireplace?? it would be nice to have 2 different sections...i'm not sure how to do it either with that large sofa....what is the other space??

i don't think it's been said yet, but i think losing the current window coverings would be a great first step. adding some lightweight curtains will give you a fresher updated feeling.

the rug/couch colors aren't working as well together as they could. you could remove the rug or place a large area rug just under the feet of the couch and i think it would help a lot.

i don't think the placement of the couch is that bad, but you could pull it away from the wall a little bit and i think it would look better. this would also give you some space to hang curtains to the floor.

sorry - it was said! anyways. i agree.

,to emulate the ocean-side breezes, open your windows a crack and hang lightweight, translucent cotton or silk curtains, hung on a wire, with a silvery driftwood plank or stick mounted in front for a valance.

also, an inexpensive cotton woven rug (ikea usually has them) in the blue or green will help a lot to break up the grey-beige-just-moved-in look, and also be beachy.

In your color range are also sea glass and glass fishing floats, don't know where you live but they are not hard to find on the west coast. Look here:

http://www.westcoastseaglass.com/GlassFishingFloats.html

if your sectional is beautiful from the back you can do whatever you damn well want want... floating it out in the middle of the space is sometimes so dreamy in a hipster retro miles davis listening what kind of man reads playboy way.

I love doing beach in the city

We have a similar sectional and small living room. As it turns out we really loved it when we turned the "chaise end" out into the living room.... as in not in the corner. The chaise is meant to be used from three sides so try situating your sofa so that it sticks out and defines your space a bit.

I have this same sofa. In my old apartment it looked really nice sitting in the middle of the room. The back cushions slide a little bit, but they are generally pretty comfortable. Getting a few extra pillows seemed to help keep them from sliding. In my new house, the living room is too small so the sofa has to go against the wall and I don't like it as much. To make it worse, we have wainscoting on the wall which is higher than the sofa. I don't like the wainscoting so I am thinking of removing it.