apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think we're going to need at least another photo of the room to be of any help...

I was going to suggest leather, too.

I'd go for some color. With your neutral sofa and dark table you could handle some brights. Two, I think, and I wouldn't make them a matching pair. Smooth modern shapes in bright colors -- like one red, one mustard yellow.

Home Court in Brooklyn has some great pieces. Arm chairs are $300-$500. You choose the fabrics.

I wish we could see the rest of the room, but I agree about a red or even orange/terracotta to pick up on the color from your lovely color coordinated books. That would go well with your curtains and the pillows on the sofa too, I think.

Maybe later on you can add a rug with hints of the chair color? You'd pull it all together and cover up that long cord in the photo.

I even think that a pair of mid-century upholstered wood armchairs would add some life and color into the room. A nice green color would compliment the and enliven surrounding pieces, while a nice danish/modern frame could offer warmth and contemporary styling, maybe something like these, but with nicer and greener cushions:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/fur/392143404.html

Agree with Boomer on the leather wingback and ottoman - not normally my cup of tea but think they would look lovely, and have enough room for books, cat, and ...cup of tea! Either that or something more similar to your sofa. Looks like a lovely place to curl up with a book!

Yellow. The first thing that came into mind when I looked at the picture was yellow. Specifically, a greenish yellow--not so far as chartreuse, but a yellow barely cooled by green. Two smallish, tidy armchairs with linen slipcovers in the aforesaid yellow.

I like your color-sorted book collection (I think those are books)...it looks like you have room to add another shelf though.