I understand about having your back to the busy windows feeling strange. I'm sure someone with feng shui expertise could say why. I'm sure some good drapery to partition your home from the outside world (not sheers!) will put you at ease. From the floor plan and photo it's hard to see how a sectional won't take up the entire living space. I like the Tillary style, but wouldn't load up on it. Definitely utilize the corner between couches for a small table or storage. That's all I've got for now. Good Luck! If you need a great art display solution, try www.wexelart.com ;) We're great for small spaces.

It seems these days that every other comment is from a decorator or website or designer or whatever. There should be a rule that you can't self-promote in the comments. It's ruining AT.

I would stay away from a sectional or even a 3-seater sofa - your space is simply too small.

I'd consider a short credenza/low media cabinet centered along the 12' wall where the floor heater is for the TV, an @ 60" loveseat with it's back to the staircase & facing the windows, and a pair of armchairs at the front of the apartment with their backs to the windows, a small coffee table or upholstered ottoman in between - and an 8x10 rug beneath the entire seating area.

Rather than a table and chairs in the kitchen area, I'd choose a 30" high/30-36" round pedestal table for between your armchairs (wing chairs?) where you can easily turn the chairs inward and use the table for dining. A pair of stools at the existing counter would be fine for casual dining & breakfasts.

A small rolling island cart or butcher block could be used to add workspace & storage to your kitchen and help delineate the kitchen space from your seating area - but stay away from a large piece as your space is very small and you need to account for circulation paths and flow throughout your space.

The front door's hardly a focal point--do you really want to be looking at it, while sitting on the sofa?

Why not sit with your back to the windows--this isn't on the ground floor, right?

I disagree with husg; any intelligent comment should be welcome on AT. And design professionals (or wannabes) are more likely to have acute opinions than the average visitor.

Place the couch along the wall that you say has heated baseboards...just don't push it all the way up against the wall, leave a few inches. It should be just fine. That way your back is facing a wall and not a doorway/window. Place a chair with its back to the entryway and then if you have a TV or cabinet or whatever place it under the windows. Granted the best view from the sofa is now the kitchen...you gotta pick which is the best of the evils.

I would really rather face the windows than face the kitchen; I don't like looking at appliances.

I'd make sure the sofa I chose had a low back -- sitting with your back to a door isn't creepy if you can glance behind you. Or better yet, a daybed! These are really versatile:

http://images.crateandbarrel.com/is/image/Crate/SimoneDaybedViewWalnut3QF9?$lg$

The reason you feel uncomfortable with back to the busy street is too-fast moving ch'i rushing by outside (and perhaps there is worry of a stray bullet on New Year's? jk).
It's usually preferable to have a solid wall behind your back when positioning your desk, your bed...not so much with the couch. If you can put a "soft barrier" at the windows such as your window treatments whatever they may be (ie: the heavier drapes @wexelart suggested) plus add a standing tree with the bushy part in the window behind the couch---could be a faux silk ficus or whatever and then place your couch out from the wall a foot or two (you can add a table behind the couch next to the wall so you can place a lamp on it, objets d'art, etc. The tree would soften not only the light, the noise, but also the ch'i energy from rushing in, thus calming the atmosphere inside your space.

I would not put a tv on a window wall as it might create too much glare. BTW, it looks like you have a tall counter on the left hand side of the lower corner of your floorplan near the radiator? Would not a couple of tall stools solve the dining table dilemma?

I might consider getting an L shaped couch and put most of the length along the long wall and some of it along the window wall. Then group chairs facing the corner L and a great cocktail table.

But ebanfield, there is a difference between a designer giving tips and someone hawking their ugly picture frames, etc. If you had said, "Hey I have some great prints of my art that would look amazing in this room." --- I'd say you were crossing the line. Might I direct you to the annoying post immediately above yours.

I may not be fully envisioning your space well, but from what I see I would be tempted to use the countertop to the left of the fridge as a place for the tv; put a chair in front of the radiator (and effectively blocking off/utilizing a hard to use space); put the sofa in front of the baseboard heater (just pull it forward during the winter); and put a small dining table to the side of the sofa closest to the 5'3" wall. Maybe(?) have one of those tiny ikea freestanding butcher blocks to demarcate a corner to the kitchen - and make up a little for the counterspace.

The space seems a tad small for a sectional. A sofa and a lounge chair would work very well. As for the table and chair situation; I'd suggest a small bar table with stools. This should take up less space.

Lastly, RE: the comment complaining about designers input on AT, this site is for the public but obviously used as a platform for designers to communicate with one another.

This is our profession.

my place is a tad smaller, but i have essentially the same floor plan in my "loft style" apt. this is how i went with it (in relation to your "floor plan" pic)

-tall bar table in lower right (by radiator)
-3 cushion sofa against the windows
-love seat on the right wall
-minimalist entertainment stand on that little 5'3" wall (though i think mine may be 7 or 8 feet)

seems kind of backwards, but it leaves the middle of the area kind of open and roomy

oops, i meant bar table in lower left

hiya, lovelly apartment!
Ive been living in houses with low sash windows for some time. Ive found the sofa arrangement that worked for me was having a 2 seater sofa and matching 2 seater chaise, both low slung. A modern sofa still works well in this era space, as a low slung sofa has mid century proportions. I added sheepskins to it for winter (but Im from New Zealand maybe thats a local thing).
I found a geat combo was the chaise under the window, sofa, on an L angle into the room, rug to "join" the spaces and a very large coffee table which doubles as a floor level dining table with friends (ours seated 12 people comfortably! but that might be more than you need). Then bar stools in the kitchen for more intimate dining.
Also dont be afraid to angle furniture as often this solves loads of dilemas. A very large framed mirror, leaned against the wall is a great way to lengthen a space. Me I would have a small rug and bean bag in the corner where the radiator is and a series of photos running down the narrow wall, that would be my place for chilling out, or the cats spot.

I am not sure if that lone cabinet with tile around it would support a tv. If you think it will, make that a focal point. If you choose an oversize loveseat, place it in front of baseboard heating- away from it a bit.. that I assume would be your favortit place to sit. The area in front of the windows, closer to radiator- 2 smaller armless chairs with small round table between. Under the far left window area a low book case with a cushioned top for additional seating. The area across from this kitchen (in front of door) could become the eating area. Good luck... also, in small space look for items that do double duty. The oversize loveseat could turn into a bed for unexpected guests. Any coffee tables could actually be storage space. Good luck, I think the room has a lot of potential, it looks very nice.