Maybe something in the turquoise/Tiffany blue family?

Brown would be boring, I think an orange with some yellow would be nice, not a true orange, more of a mustard orange. Be careful, yellows can get tricky, but I think it would look lovely with your pops of orange, in your decor, whereas simply orange would make the traditional mirrored piece you have look out of place and you would loose the lovely orange pops. Most definitely paint the entire room. In this space it will look unfinished if you do not.

Also, we need to go shopping for a ceiling fixture for you.

Now that I look at it some more, maybe a blue like the one that's on that patterned throw pillow might work too. But more subdued.

I agree with pinkllama about painting the whole room and replacing the light fixture. Also, maybe it's just the angle of the photo, but that striped chair and the little table next to it don't look quite right in that location. My eye keeps going there instead of anywhere else in the room. Maybe see if they might work better somewhere else, if you have the space? Other than that, I don't really have any suggestions for unifying the room.

I think you definiately need to paint the whole room because it looks odd where you stopped it.

Window treatments would help quite a bit.

You can unify the room by bringing in orange like your bar stools over to the sofas (throw pillow or blanket).

Your wall color looks a little peachy to me. I think it would be better to add a little brown to it.

I'd like to see the tan (pinkish?) wall around the windows painted the same color orange as the chairs. The rest of the room might be nice painted the same color beige (greige?) as the circle in the carpet.

Can we paint the gold frame on that mirror? :)

The horizontal mirror is making the room feel squatty - I'd take it down and prop it vertically against the wall in a spot that reflects the view, if possible.
Switch the sofas and move them in a few feet from the walls - and pair the leather ottoman with the linen couch. Add a few pillows in an orange/colorful print.
Hang ceiling to floor drapes between the windows (wouldn't want to black the view). My first instinct is leafy green for the limited amount of wall that you'll see - are you that bold?
Oh, and invest in a nice ceiling light fixture.

My first instinct is a nice leafy green for the small amount of

Wow, I'm so jealous of your view!!!!!

I second blue. Blue, brown and orange are awesome together. Also, some curtains (on the sides) or even just some molding around your windows would make a big impact, I think. It would make your living room look more done.

And yes, a new fixture!

Some sort of window treatments and a large plant (or two).

I actually think white would be a good idea - same color on the ceilings and walls to minimize attention to the ceiling. I concur that a new fixture would be nice, but whatever you get should be relatively unobtrusive (again, to minimize attention to the low ceilings). I think some floor-to-ceiling drapes (in a lively print, with some orange) would liven up the place. I assume you have to keep the bars on the windows? If not, I'd get rid of them.

Also that gold mirror and gold poster frame aren't working for me. I don't know why exactly. Anyone else feel that way?

I'm not sure how colors would help you frame the skyline so much as window treatment and interior lights/furniture placement.

I do think that the mirror over your couch is accentuating the low ceilings. I am not sure if lowering it would help of if it should be replaced with a series of vertical mirrors/wall art.

Curtains would be a great benefit to framing the exterior view.

As soon as I saw the second photo I thought of "William William's" small cool entry...check it out and see what they did with their treatment of the three windows, similar to your own. This will be the perfect way to make your ceilings look higher too. I am thinking to paint the walls white too maybe, and then do the wall with the other couch on it an accent colour - that you could pluck out of your curtains palette. The windows will "float" with the panes painted out, and the drapery will ad drama and personality to your space. Use the drapes to set the tone for the room. I think there needs to be a nod to the curvy lines of the credenza in the curtains, because everything else looks pretty modern.

Perhaps a modern looking chandelier for the central ceiling light.

You have some really nice pieces in your place, but there is a lack of cohesion, which is likely what you are feeling and why you wrote in...:) You need to consider some main themes and then use them to tie it together. IE do you want to stick with the orange - ok, then make sure there is some orange in the curtains, or replace the rug with something with orange; the gold mirror is great, but it needs to be acknowledged with other pieces in the room too, or it just looks too bold for the context. I think a different rug would really do a lot for the room, that and the drapes alone could be a really significant difference for you.

Perhaps bring the side table more into view, perhaps on the other side of the brown couch - you already have a lot of natural light on that side anyway.

And, at the risk of saying too much :) Get a couple of plants to warm the room up and give it some life. Maybe place a plant near the end of the white couch and beside the credenza under the art.

Hope this helps!

Paint the entire room a clean, fresh light gray color (think BM gray owl). It will draw your eye towards the black window frames and the beautiful view. It will also tie together your couches and rug.
I would also recommend that you change out the light fixture to something with some modern character and paint the mirror frame a dark silver color. You seem to be drawn towards modern, clean design but are tripped up with a few warm brown and gold items..
You have a beautiful palette and some good furnishing to work with. Good luck!!

Upon closer examination, I don't think that mirror works at all--it is traditional in style, while the rest of the room is very contemporary. If you don't bring in additional traditional element, the mirror will simply look, sorry, ridiculous.

Also, paint color to go with a solid orange chair and brown rug isn't the best way to choose a color. You would be better off picking a color out of a patterned rug or picture that you want to highlight. If you don't replace the rug, I would choose a hue based on one of the framed posters.

Third, the couches are very similar in terms of weight and style, yet different. I think you should explore either having two identical sofas, or either have two contrasting ones. Or, to play up the sofas as you have them, perhaps you could consider putting the same patterned pillow on the black one that is on the white, and alternate it with white pillows.

I agree about the 2 gold frames. To my eye, they don't belong in this room. Perhaps you can paint them another color? I would also get rid of the floral pillow in the center of the white sofa. Maybe what you need to do is pick a theme and stick to it. If you like the orange chairs and the mod geometric carpet, then stick to that theme: orange/brown/contemporary. If you're into the gold frames and the floral pillow, then get rid of the orange chairs and stick to a more traditional look for the room. I think it's the contrast between the two styles that's throwing me. If it were my room, I'd stick with the orange/brown/tan combo. Then I'd have a nice framework to work within. I'd add a tray to the ottoman as well. Look for ways to accent the room and reinforce your theme choice.

I think you should paint it all one color. I agree that it breaks up the space too much having a different color. Also, flip the mirror and tame down the gold.

A blue or blue/grey paint color would be appealing. Paint the entire space for a cohesive look.
Flipi flop the couches.
Put the Central Park/Broadway artwork above the linen couch (where the mirror is now). Make sure it's not hung too high.
Stain the mirror frame to tone down the gold and stand it vertically where the stripped chair and desk are.
Move the ottoman to intersect with the corner of the rug where there is no furniture. It will be positioned close to the TV but not against the wall. Partly on the rug and partly on the floor. Additional casual seating that is nimble to move around as necessary.
Find a cocktail table or tables that are curvlinear. Lots of straights lines with the couches and ottoman and windows so mix it up with a central group of a cocktail table or tables that has a different line. The Noguchi table would rock.
Love the orange bar stools. Accessorize with that color. Make sure that color is reflected strong on the chocolate leather sofa and is complemented on the linen sofa.
Eventually add white sheers to your windows to soften the industrial feel.
Change out or cover the white fabric lamp shade. This is an easy opportunity to add color and/or texture. it looks a bit tall to me in terms of scale/proportion. Another opportunity to introduce a curvlinear element might be cool.
New lighting fixture. Artichoke or a knock off would be sweet.
You have some really great basics (art work, tv cabinet, couches and bar stools). It won't take much for this room to be the kind of space you fall in love with........

I too think a deep, deep mustard color with a grey undertone would look good. Some yellow/gold drapes or white would really help soften the windows, lets face it back metal window casements are not pretty.

yes, take that mirror away, maybe lean up against the wall near that hutch piece and take out the gold framed poster.

yes agree get a better light fixture maybe something gold in it tie in with the mustard paint and yellow gold drapes if you go in that direction.

pull both sofas away from the walls, make a more inviting group seating with the big ottoman accessible to both sofas get some black or dark wood end tables and lamps.

I would try to find a low slung wood frame lounge chair, something midcentury that you can pick up most anywhere for very little and reupholster in a fabric that has some pattern, with brown, gold, cream, orange, colors in it.. you need pattern to break up the large solid pieces.

That black sofa could use some large cushions with a pattern, again what ever color you paint pick up that color in a pattern.

My eye keeps looking at those flimsy orange stacking chairs and the other odd one next to the black sofa. Sell them and use the money to pick up some dark wood dining chairs, check craigslist I see great ones all the time. The scale of the furniture in both areas need more cohesion. Looks like patio furniture on one side and heavy big sofas and big ottoman on the other.

Here is the color mustard I see, see the bedspread for possible drapery color or grey and white would work too-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44713708@N00/3279550530/in/set-72157613786728665/

i think it would look great in all white. you have some great stuff and that would make it all (and your views) pop.

switch the leather couch and the tv. Paint the mirror black and hang virtical by the front door maybe. Leave the ottoman in the very middle or get rid of it, it seems a little to large for the space. paint all the walls the same color, maybe the color in the carpet. Shears on the window. If you can't move the tv, switch couches, and get rid of the black couch, keep the ottoman, and put two armchairs in the window. The black couch and the ottoman just don't look good in the same room.

Initially I was thinking you should paint your walls orange like your chairs. But now I think you should paint the walls white and get an orange rug and some window treatments that will unite the rug with the couches. Also, I definitely think you should take down the mirror or paint the frame.

Hm... light blue on all the walls.
It's neutral and compliments the warm colors you already have, plus it looks great on sunny days and not-so-sunny days.

I like the idea of a blue like Benjamin Moore's "Pale Smoke" which looks amazing as a backdrop for black and gray. If cohesion is what you're after, what about going all out and painting the ceiling too? You might search for photos of rooms whose ceilings have been painted in the blue end of the spectrum--blue recedes visually, and might be preferable to white for your low ceilings.

Soft blue walls may make the gold of the mirror and picture frame actually work, since the contrast between the soft color and the glitz would seem more deliberate. With these colors brown just doesn't work and you would part with the brown pillows on the white sofa and go instead with touches of gold embroidery on blue or leaf green (your orange pieces will also coexist happily with this scheme) and maybe a painted tray for the ottoman. The brown buffet or credenza against the wall could be painted blue or gray to match the wall--with a dramatic piece of furniture that can be a playful effect, irreverent. I like that you have this vintage piece in the mix, but right now it's alone in this mod setting--can it get some vintage objects for company?

nothing that hasnt been mentioned yet but...

not a fan of the mirror and would at least paint the frame and the frame of the print on opposite wall. but the scale of the mirror is just off. maybe swap it with the print & use mirror vertically instead of horizontally.

new light fixture. some curtains would be great.

probably move the peice below your tv to another spot & replace with something that goes with your other things better. or replace the rug but i like that with your other items. same with end table and lamp.

bring paint over further or paint whole room. if white, you've got some good colors to work with & get some more colorful accents. if a color, then i also think an orange would be good, but maybe a deeper/richer one.

good luck & you should post a link to after pics when you're done :)

I am a big fan of bright colors, which may or may not be your thing. But you have one REALLY colorful pillow on your couch. You must like it for a reason, is there a color you could pull from that cushion to paint the whole room?
Also seems like you have some GREAT light, if you have a greenish-thumb I would get some plants to put near the windows, maybe some mother-in-law plants or a Peace-Lily both are pretty big, easy to keep alive, and good for your air quality. I think it would way liven up the space, with a few window treatments, something breezy and white would look lovely, and maybe grab a slightly more colorful area rug. You might not even feel like you need to paint anymore.

Lovely room with terrific potential. But you are correct that it has no "sync." That is partly because you have 2 competing styles going on:

Traditional: The couches, ottoman, table lamp, mirror, framed poster, and buffet (under the tv)

Modern: Rug, Red dining chairs, striped Eames-inspired side chair, black/white art

You need to decide what sort of feel you want in the space, and stick with that. My sense is that you lean toward the traditional (a streamlined traditional), since most of your furnishings are of that ilk. If so, embrace it, and infuse the apt with the warmth that is associated with traditional decor. It is great to have a few pops of modern, but right now it just feels a bit schizophrenic. Some thoughts:

---Paint the entire space the same color. Right now the color variation is adding to the disjointed feel of the room. I'd keep it fairly neutral. Absolutely no turquoise.

---Install window coverings. I'm not usually a curtain person, but I think these windows are crying out for drapes. And not flimsy little see-through tab tops from IKEA... Real Drapes. I'd keep the hardware very simple, and use a substantial fabric with lining.

---Improved lighting (as many have said). MORE lighting, and from different sources. I would try to avoid the ceiling fixture if at all possible. It is less than idea in a living area. Perhaps you could put in a very simple ceiling fan (with NO light fixture attached); you'd need to use one designed for low ceilings. Or, you could install a low-hanging candle fixture for a very romantic and traditional look (only if you wouldn't bonk your head on it).

---The leather sofa and ottoman are creating a bit of a black hole feel. Can you replace the sofa? Adding a throw or pillows would help a bit, too. And maybe you could put a wood tray on the ottoman, with some simple accessories (how about those books under your buffet?). Right now it is a very large and empty expanse of leather.

---The gold mirror should be taken off the wall and leaned (or hung) vertically. You may need to use that in another part of the apartment. (And if you decide to go modern, then the gold doesn't work.)

---The buffet (under the tv) feels a bit too tall in relation to the other items in the room. Height variations are good in a space, but this is not quite working. You could replace it with something lower, or you could bring in some items with more height to complement it. Perhaps a tall plant. Or even the gold mirror, placed vertically.

---Whatever style you choose, the black and white artwork will look great. It gives a nice and much needed graphic "pop" to the space. Keep that. A piece of similar size would be nice over your leather sofa (but not black).

Agree with above comments about painting the gold mirror. I did something similar with a large metallic framed mirror I bought off Craigslist. Simply tape newspaper on the exposed mirror and spray paint the frame. I used a spray primer first, then a few light coats of a glossy white paint. It turned out fabulous and was very easy.

If it were me I'd get rid of the gold frames and bring some red/orange across to the living area (probably through cushions, window treatments or art). I wouldn't add any more colours in personally, I like the current scheme. I'd probably paint the whole room too, either a soft neutral/white or a really really soft grey (lighter than the rug). I'd add blinds or curtains even just for the decor (if you don't need it for the privacy). You could also add in some patterns. I'd perhaps change the buffet and floor lamp to something more modern if you're looking at spending a bit of money too.

I think it's already a nice room though. It really has loads of potential even with very few changes.

the room is very nice & just needs to be pushed a little further. painting the walls, minimal window treatments, & esp. a traditional crystal chandelier (but not too fussy) would look great. it would complement the more traditional mirror & wall unit as well as bring some tension to the mainly contemporary ambiance & furnishings, esp. the severe shape & texture of the leather couch & ottoman/coffee table. be sure to go with a dimmer on the light to give some atmosphere.

First off I really like your room. I love the chairs and the NYC themed artwork but like your sofas too. I think they are fine and don't need to be swapped out.

I think either painting it all white. Or (and I don't normally like blue rooms) a blue shade..Any color in the striped chair you have against the wall should do it--even orange.

If you go the white route then I agree that you need some window treatments. the perfect way to bring your room together is to get some orange curtains to match your chair. then make sure you have an orange throw pillow or two -- it needn't be all orange it could be a print. I also might lose the floral pillow its the right shade but isn't working somehow.

If you go the blue shade then you would need to get a print curtain with some orange not a solid. And make sure you have a few blue accessories --could be a pillow again, a vase etc.

Either way you just need to bring the orange from the solid chairs, the striped chair and the bowl into the other side of the room. the single cushion you have just isn't enough to do it... perhaps because its a floral perhaps because it needs some reinforcement from a few other similarly colored objects.
I have to concur with the comments about the gold frames-- swap them out or stain them so that they look a bit more modern.

Plants and/or fresh flowers, cool colors to balance the warm, and art and/or personal photographs.

Paint the entire room, and paint it white. But not one that matches the ceiling or trim exactly (let's say that's Benjamin Moore White #01).

The white I really recommend for the walls is a BM Aura color called 'Gardenia'. What's great about it is that it will really open up the room, but it won't be the same as the ceiling, and it will be a WARM white. The grey/blue suggestions are nice for a photo of the room, but probably too cold to live in, especially with all the cool-colored furniture/rug. Let us know what you do!

Firstly, great space.

You haven't said if you're happy with your furniture, so my opinion is based on the premise that you are. Apologies for the length of my answer.

FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT:
1. The room seems large enough that you could bring the sofas in away from the wall. The view from the windows looks wonderful and being able to circle the room (actually walk upto the windows) would be a nice feature.

2. Move both sofas on a 90 degree angle to the right. Still keeping the right angle of the arrangement but now the black/brown one is in front of the windows (at least 60 cm in from the window so you comfortably walk behind it) and the white/cream sofa is facing the current mirror wall (again move it in away from the back wall with enough room for a sofa table and walk way comfortably behind it). The black/brown sofa looks shorter than the white/cream one and so you might be able to bring it in this way.

3. As said above a shallow sofa table for behind the white/cream sofa. But up against the sofa not the wall.

4. Lamp table to the side of / between the black & white sofas.

5. Because the sofas are such large pieces you need a more subtle coffee table I would suggest something with a glass top and wood base, smaller than the ottoman and round or oblong but not right angled.

6. The mirror emphasises the lack of ceiling height. Also, I think with the huge expanse of views it's not necessary. I'd move it to another part of the home and use in a vertical position.

7. I'd now move the tv and cabinet against the 'old' mirror wall.

8. I'd move the large street name art work to the wall behind the newly positioned white/cream sofa to off-set the newly positioned tv on the opposite wall. And move the glass gold frame artwork to another room.

LIGHTING:
My philosphy is each seat should have access to a light source (except of course the middle of the sofa).

1. I think because of the low ceiling height, a non-intrusive light fixture should be used here. So something similar to what you have but flatter or more shallow.

2. A dominant 'statement' lamp on the lamp table between the sofas. I'd go with your 'pop' colour of orange in either the base or shade (not both). This would stand out nicely against both the black/brown & white/cream sofas.

3. The floor lamp can stay where it is but change the shade to maybe a patterned white/orange one (great fabrics to recover current shade).

4. Then I'd get perhaps 1 or 2 more lamps for the sofa table, but subtle ones, thin stemmed, perhaps like a desk lamp in chrome.

PAINT:
1. I'd actually paint the whole area in the colour of your current rug or perhaps a shade lighter (it looks like a grey/brown, nice). The colour works well with all your furniture.

ACCESSORIES:
1. Rug - Change to an orange/white graphic one.

2. Curtains - assuming privacy is not an issue, I'd stick with sheers as a decorative frame for each one.

3. Cushions - I'd go with a mixture of plain & graphic in the orange, grey/brown, black, white maybe even a pale blue.

I think that's it. Again apologies for the length of answer.

I think a light but very vibrant blue. I like the one in rita konig's apartment. It has the effect of a white room, but with more interest.

Where did you get the orange dining chairs/ Are they comfortable?

If it were my place....I would copy and print arroyo's post. There were other great ideas posted as well, but I think the thought of finding your 'style' should be the first decision you have to make. You have some great stuff, they just seem to be bouncing off of each other rather than blending together.

I think a shade of grey would work well.

I see where you tried to define the space with the paint but the only thing I see you need is some light. Maybe get some cool lamps, and definitely a little color on those windows, try some curtains.