Kaye, hello! Can you provide the room dimensions (or even sketched-out floor plan)? I'm sure you'll get plenty of suggestions from the peanut gallery...

There is no rule that says electronics have to be near the outlets. They make extension cords, etc. for that. Embrace flexibility.

Kaye, I agree 100% with Max on ALL counts. One of the suggestions that I have is to install the tv on the wall, and I would place the dvd player and cable box on a shelf that gets installed on the wall (12inches or 30 cm max), If your dvd is deeper than that, then wider shelf is needed. In our apartment I have these things installed under the tv, but on your case I would install it over the tv (if it;s smth that doesn't bother you) then the space under the tv is open and visually you create quite a flow.

The other thing is, do the ottoman's have plastic covers on? I am sorry, but it looks that way. If you get a light color rug, which I think would be a nice contrast to the floor, you would need a color on the ottomans.

The sofa issue. Please do not hate me for this, BUT the back of that sofa is so deep, you are wasting 1/3 of the entire depth of the sofa with the back. (just a thought to consider on your next purchase)

That beautiful angular chair in the corner, must come to the front, at an angle toward the sofa, and maybe upholster one of the ottomans in a different color from the others...

would those cubes fit snuggly under the dining room table (i think for sure) and they can be the dining chairs as opposed to the end and coffee tables. then the cool chair can come out to play! i'd flipflop the tv/sofa so the tv isn't the first thing seen when walking into the room. and flank the sofa with some nice end tables w/ lamps, and put the cool chair more into the room on the window wall. it'll be showcased! i can't tell what other pieces are in the room (is that a chest of drawers back there?) but i think you've got some great pieces to work with!

ok, somehow i missed a whole half of your explanation of what's in the room, jeez. i guess scratch most of my suggestions ahaha :)

I agree that the corner chair deserves more prominence, but I also feel the apartment's owners are doing well and should be content to wait until the right rug and artwork appear. I'm confident they'll "know it when they see it" judging by their choices so far. As for blahness - well, I rather like blah. I think their unease with a TV shrine speaks well of their impulses. And the floor - the floor looks like it might be pleasant to walk across in one's bare feet.

Obviously, you don't want to block access or turn your back on the view, but don't be afraid to treat that wall of sliding doors as just that... a wall. That gives you a third wall option, although I agree sofa and tv are at optimal position.

And I think you have to think of "nesting" some of your elements... like tucking the cubes up under the writing desk, as a an example, or finding a coffee table where some those cubes would fit underneath.

Do you eat at that dining table? If not, perhaps replace it with a more narrow counter, to serve as an island and divider, perhaps with a counter-top base (as opposed to the legs of a table). If you still need eating space, consider mounting a table top at table (not counter) height perpendicular to the "island" so it extends slightly into the living room.

Any chance you could pick up another one of those chairs? To me, it needs a mate, mate. :)

So, Ms Lady J, where would you suggest the extension cords take the TV?

The only benefit I see to swapping walls for the TV is perhaps a slightly more optimal viewing angle when working in the kitchen.

Hello

Is the outside covered at all? I like the layout of your apt. I think it needs to be a bit simplified from the ottoman standpoint. I would suggest to remove all the ottomans (maybe create a sitting area outside that way you can still access seating when guests come over), flip the couch with the TV, add a light carpet and see how you like the room then. Where are your light sources positioned?

I like the idea of tucking the cubes under a solid coffee table or the existing dining table (if they are tall enough to use a dining chairs).

As for the rug, why don't you extend the lime color from the soffit to the rug?

And definitely hang the TV. Even if you keep the entertainment center (why not?) it gives you a place to put some nice pottery or low sculptures to give your room some more subtle color.

I would even consider using some of those ottomans outside (if they can handle it) and extend the living room outside.

One last thing, some curtains. Even if they are always open (mine are) they help frame those great big glass doors.

if you hang the tv, is the piece it's on is low enough to be a coffee table?

I don't know if this is feasible at all, but I'd love to see the sofa facing the windoes, then you could have the tv (with extension cord) in the right corner of the window wall and the nifty chair in the left corner. I'd also ixnay a couple of the ottomans and then maybe you could fit in a mate for the cool chair (maybe where the sofa is now-ish?) I am trying to visualize this space but without measurements it is tough. Just move stuff around and see how it feels! I like the idea of facing the windows more but you also may want to consider some curtains for them (seems a bit exposed in the heat of the day, but maybe that's just me), I would think that would help soften up the room along with the rug. Just thinkin'.

Maxwell is so good. I would iron those ottoman covers. No starch, just a good pressing. Maybe fill that large jar with multicolored gum balls.

Whoops, missed Chris's post. I totally agree on the curtain idea though, framing the space a bit more. And do you have any art? Or is it just not up yet?

Curtains! Curtis has a Curtain thought: picture it: two twin L-shaped hospital curtain tracks that meet in the middle of the fabulous window wall, so that each of the curtains can completely bank on the walls, allowing there to be times when one half or other of the window wall is completely covered while the other is bare; and so there can be other moments when the entire window wall is bare and the curtain provide color to both the walls.

But I know that wasn't the question at ALL. But if you did that, you'd just need to get the furniture away from the walls a little, which would make it all just a little cozier.

I seriously love that dark wood floor, but I think a rug would give some focus and warmth to that area, no kiddin'. If it's something like a total circle or oval, it would be geometric, and therefore, still very modern, while breaking up some of the straight lines.

I think that extension cords are kind of a necessary evil by the way, but not one that need be embraced here, from I'm seeing.

Thanks for all the comments so far! Apartment Therapy is pretty quick - I submitted my question before bed, woke up, and here it is!

Just to answer some questions:

1. The room is roughly 3.5 metres wide and 4.5 metres(ish) long. You can see in the second picture that the area towards the kitchen is angled, but the rest of it is rectangular.

2. No plastic covers on the ottomans. They're from Ikea and have white covers - it's probably a trick of the sunlight. Not even I am so foolish as to submit something to AT with plastic covers on! =)

3. The ottomans are indeed the dining room chairs (for anyone considering it, don't - they are slightly too short to be comfortable). They don't fit perfectly under the dining room table - 2 of them stick out a little.

4. We occasionally eat at the dining table - but we're not very invested in it as it was just a cheapie Ikea one we bought secondhand. It's more of a filler table for until the right one comes along.

5. The outside is unfortunately not covered.

6. There are downlights in the ceiling, and the room gets lots of natural light all year - in fact it gets too much light so the outer two blinds are almost always down. I'd like to one day get a decorative lamp, but I'm not sure whether the Arco would look good in our space.

7. The entertainment unit (hello again Ikea) is low enough to be a coffee table but slightly too large for our liking.

Oh, and for all those who enquired about finding my chair a mate, I bought it at a flea market and was told it was a one-off. Seems like it'll have to be lonely for now. =)

Kaye--

Then definitely replace the kitchen table with something more "islandish", with two or three stools. I'd find something bentwood and similar in tone to the lone wood chair.

I'd also run a long, low, wall-mounted shelf down the TV wall, mounted high enough to tuck the ottomans underneath.

I also think a white marble Saarinen side table would be a lovely complement to the wood chair.

I also like the idea of repeating the overhead lime color in a rug. Or something off-white but plush.

Just in case Kaye returns:
1. Lose the ottomans
2. mount the tv on the wall with a small cabinet under for the dvd etc
3. I don't think Kaye included the kitchen in her measurement of the length of the room. Also it isn't a step, it's vinyl with a bit of a bump.
4. If Kaye goes here www.hafele.com.au and then goes to page 1146 she will find steel screw-on legs with braking castors. Hafele sells direct to the public, and last time I checked a set of 4 was A$80. Attaching them to a thick piece of timber, or even the existing top makes the table versatile - it could roll onto the balcony for al fresco meals.
5. By having a dining chair in the bedroom, you can assemble seating for four easily.
6. Or have 4 stacking plastic chairs on the balcony. When you bring them inside, use slip covers or chairs pads to dress them up.
7. I have 4 'dining' chairs 'hidden' in my place, and two Sebel sunchairs on the balcony. www.sebel.com.au I put cushions on them when I bring them inside and the 'eyeline' of a seated person matches my living room chairs, so no-one 'dominates'.
I have posted a floorplan here flickr.com/photos/59481749@N00/474411949/

Oh, I have an idea that's either really terrific or really bad! What if you leave the couch where it is, and then make an L out of all the ottomans, half against the right window and half against the right wall? Then curtains could be pushed over behind the window ottomans when they're opened. Wait--there are four ottomans--put three against the wall opposite the sofa, pushed up against the window "wall", and the fourth making the L against the window wall. (Why is it so hard to describe something so simple?)

Thanks again for all the comments everyone! It's definitely given us some ideas with how to work with the space. We're going to be patient when buying stuff, but that doesn't mean we can't have a play with rearranging the furniture this weekend. =)

I sympathize with your TV-shrine apprehension. I have a similar layout and can't mount the TV on the wall, since it's a rental. I'm going to add a tall plush plant to the side of the TV, which would be a nice contrast and subdue it a bit.

Narrow spaces such as this force the TV into the seating area. In a better sized room the TV could easily stay peripheral.

Hi Kaye. Did you try www.erranger.com? If you have a floorplan gif or jpeg file (you can create one in any graphic s/w package if you don't have one), you can import the file into erranger and create furniture icons (they call them "ficons") to arrange your room. Also, if you give your id and password to a designer, they can do it for you and create several options, and you can see the results.

I use it all the time (we are re-arranging the living room) and it works for me. Good luck!