How about an old gnarly mid century or rocking chair?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Antique-American-Rocking-Chair-1940s-/180521262635?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item2a07e7de2b

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mid-Century-Chrome-Rocker-Rocking-Chair-/350367148427?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Antiques_Furniture&hash=item519382698b

I agree that the placement isn't good. If you were to keep the Poang chair in the room, I would move the sectional to the wall with the horizontal window (if possible), then angle the Poang inward to create a conversation area.

If you decide not to keep the Poang in the room, I would replace it with 4-6 ottoman/chairs that can be moved around the room for entertaining rather than one large new chair. Or, if you are going for comfy, use poufs in camel leather or fabric in punchy colors.

For the window, I wouldn't place curtains unless they are sheer. Your view is beautiful (from this angle, anyway). Just replace the white blinds with light bamboo ones.

It is hard to say because we can't see what is going on opposite the sofa.
It is too bad the sofa chaise is not on the right instead of the left (then you could put the chair in the corner and have the chaise extending where the chair is currently).
Maybe just shift both sofa and chair to the right slightly and put that little white table in the corner--maybe you need something long and low under that long window instead. Something about the sofa being in the corner is bugging me.
I like the colors--it has a fresh natural feel.
Looking for fabric? This one springs to mind:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/49264257/heather-bailey-nicey-jane-welcome-road

I vote for something bright and graphic, since the rest of the room is neutral. I'm thinking something fun and comfy like the Anthropologie Astrid Chair. Of course you could find something similar for MUCH less money. I think Target has some fun upholstered chairs.

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=66016&catId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY-CHAIRS&pushId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY-CHAIRS&popId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY&sortProperties=&navCount=30&navAction=push&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=one&colorName=Naive%20Tropical&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=B1

By the way, I love your couch! I've been looking for something this size and shape. Where did you buy it?

I love your sofa, windows, huge floor lamp - great look!

I'm frugal. To me, the Poang's biggest problem is its color. The cushion color has too much yellow for the walls and sofa, and the light wood isn't echoed elsewhere. I'd first try to simply recover the cushions - maybe in a pattern that includes that awesome green color you have going. Then if that seemed like a good step, I'd consider painting the frame.

I agree with other posters that perhaps a reorganization would also help.

this room screams ikea to me.

I think the Poang is a fine, but it's looking a bit awkward at the end of the sofa. Perhaps if it were pulled away from the wall a bit, maybe a bit more perpendicular to the sofa? But with the back of the chair being so high, it might interfere with the view into the room, which looks so nice and uncluttered.

A more radical change would be to move the sofa out of the corner, turning it sideways and along the dining area (the chaise portion of the sofa would run along the wall) If space allows for it, you could then run a credenza behind the sofa, which would act as a console as well as storage for your dining area. You could then put the Poang in the corner

I recommend a small bench. It adds extra seating, will divide the space (without losing the openness) and depending on the style add extra storage!

Your chair is out of place because your furniture arrangement is awkward.

The sofa needs to come out of the corner and the chair should be placed out into the room facing the center of the room and the sofa - Next to the low white cabinet with it's back to where you took the photo from would be a good spot.

As far as type of chair, I'd consider something with a high back and curves to contrast with all the low/boxy furniture. Perhaps something like this wing chair from Mitchell Gold:
http://www.mgbwhome.com/randolph_uph_ch.asp

I second the opinion that a dash of color is what you need. My vote would be for one or two wooden armchairs upholstered with bold prints or interesting solid colors to pick up the greens in the room. As hunted pointed out, everything else in the room is relatively low, so a high-backed chair is going to tower over your other furniture. Also, another completely upholstered piece is going to make the room look full of fabric. The closest thing I could find is this chair at Anthro: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=960085&catId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY-CHAIRS&pushId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY-CHAIRS&popId=HOME-UPHOLSTERY&sortProperties=&navCount=105&navAction=middle&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=072&colorName=YELLOW&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=B1
However, something similar could be obtained for a lot less by having a thrifted chair upholstered.

What hunted said about the furniture placement. Although the change in flooring material doesn't give you much room to play with. So, if you don't want to center it under the window, I would at least move the sofa a few inches away from the far wall. Maybe line the edge of the sofa up with the edge of the window? Or is that too uptight?

And if this were me, I would get rid of the Poang and replace the coffee table with something that can double as seating. Maybe a couple of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370398472461&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=f7d097d21270a0265343d393ff8b1db5&itemid=370398472461&ff4=263602_263622

Although it would be nice to see something round in there besides the lamp.

A bright fiberglass shell chair could look nice.

Also, count me in the anti-color category. You have such great windows and nature prints, I would hate to see them upstaged by anything else. I'd go for texture rather than color in this space. But that's a personal preference.

The room has a lot of potential. I think it just needs to grow up a bit. That long narrow window at the top of the room is WAY cool, very Japanese. Not everything has to be all matchy matchy, and as several other posters said, the sofa could float a bit so things don't feel heavy/cramped in the corner there. If this were my space, I'd be allll about that cool narrow window and start looking at Japanese design stuff and try to incorporate some of the more (for lack of a better word) "wabi sabi" aesthetic that is not so obsessed with perfection and matching. What is lacking in that room for me, are items with character, and also wood/stone/natural. That would really warm the place up. Key words would be tatami, raku, ceramic, stone, cairn, tea.... I love the potential in your room, seriously, and I think the sort of matcha tea color you have going on is really pretty, how about a fainter version of that for a wall, or maybe an opposite color like orange?

Oh, and you won't miss the Poang chair. My boyfriend allowed me to get rid of his set Poangs and all of the sudden our apartment didn't look like a college dorm anymore. Honestly, they are not even comfortable. I woudln't even bother to replace them, just enjoy the extra space or maybe a couple of floor cushions...

I totally disagree with that IKEA comment. I think you are doing a great job! :)

OK, to me the scale of the chair is a bit off with the couch, but I like the chair and would consider repositioning it a little and reupholstering it in something like this to better fit the room: http://www.fschumacher.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?sku=54801

Also, one more little thing. If you take your finger and "remove" the potted plant you will see that the room actually looks better. I would consider a low bowl of flowers or greenery on the coffee table instead.

I hope that helps. I love the uncluttered look you have going! Steph.

P.S. I wouldn't put anything in that cool window, or on that wall at all (the photo hung below detracts from it), make that window the centerpiece!

Great room! Great suggestions. You're well on your way.

Thanks for all the great comments!
After taking the pictures I was also thinking of centering the sofa with the window, so that the arc lamp does not suffocate. Funny how seeing my space in pictures makes me notice things I have not seen before.

@tampabound1: I was thinking of hanging curtains for decor purposes only (and balance), as I have a pair hanging around the glass sliding door (going to balcony) just to the right of the picture wall. I can see it working better especially if I center the couch with the window.

@hunted: I agree about getting a chair with the same height as the cough. Husband's very happy to have a head rest though :-o so it may be difficult.

@emilykayeb: i like the chair, but so not me! i like things more quiet.. I'd rather add color with things like pillows or art. the couch is ikea's kramfors - i love it! unfortunately they discontinued it last fall. they still sell them at european ikeas or you might find something on ebay.
@funkia: yes, but i don't care anymore. it's our first house and i like ikea's style and prices. slowly i will add pieces that will bring more variety. hopefully original art is changing that a little.

@ lazy_lurker: yes, not sure about the color. maybe we need to check out the green cover instead.. we are planning on painting the frame, to make it a little darker - to go with dining room table (which you can see just a corner of in one picture).

@k2yhe - i'm willing to try turning the sofa sideways, i just think it might "kill" the openness i like so much.. hmm.

the couch is facing a tv. i had the chair closer to the coffee table at first and also when we had company a few days ago. i do think it looks better closer to coffee table, minus the ottoman of course.

thanks for all the tips!

All I know is if I was your guest, that would be the chair I would sit in. Perfect place to set up camp and people watch with out having to touch anyone.

thanks for all the suggestions!

@ChezKim - LOVE the chair! (not the price), but I'll keep looking.

@unabridged - like the idea of the coffee table that could double as sitting, and adding something round-shaped.

@VioletVeil - my dream chair! hope to own one someday, just can't afford it in near future.

@SpehpanieBurns- agree about the plant - thanks for making me see that. Still playing with that area..

How about a bamboo- or wood-framed chair or two? Something that's light enough to move easily. Thay can both face the couch. Craigs List.

Additional suggestions that won't break the bank:

The horizontal window would be fantastic without art, maybe paint the wall pale slate blue to contrast the white? Home Depot.

Glass coffee table? Craigs List.

The accessories would work better if they didn't match - The smaller pillows were a great choice. How about adding more color, pattern and texture? HomeGoods.

The art is hung a bit high, and the darker frames look better than the natural. Ikea.

Baskets or pots for the plants? Homegoods.

Sisal area rug? Pier 1.

BTW: Great lighting, plants, sectional and shades!!!

sunan, i'm thinking of introducing another color to accent pieces.
i hate glass coffee tables :(
i am looking for a rug for that area. thanks!
i am planning on lowering the pictures.. and somehow i'm not sure i can leave that one wall picture-free. i work at an art center and install exhibits and can't stand art-free walls :)

i think the room needs to be warmed up a little. ikea is a good resource and offers great pieces and prices, but a whole room of it can look a bit sterile. if you don't like color, then try adding a chair with more texture. the room has a great base. love the windows. i really can't see the original artwork you have that well, but the fact that the room looks so matchy matchy kind of takes the view point away from the art anyway. i think the other posters had some good suggestions with changing the placement of things a bit and adding more color/texture. texture can make a big difference. you can have a room filled with all white, and if it has different and interesting textures, it will feel warm.

I think the problem is that there are a lot of white-ish colors in the room, but they're not the same white. If you got one of those slipcovers for the Poang chair in a print or a different color, you might like the chair better. IKEA used to have a fabric that was green leaves on a white background; I don't know if they still have it, or if they have it for this chair, but something like that might be really nice.

Nice living room, btw; I love the windows!

Chair in windowed corner, couch jutting out with the long chaise end against the big window, low table (assuming theres a tv there?) angled between its current wall and the wall with the high window... I realize your going for that bright green accent, but its missing a focal piece, try a single large green painting on the wall that we cant see, consider drapes for the big window and decide whether or not all the rest of your pictures make sense where they are (the room looks very busy for being so white)

paint the chair white and make a slipcover for it

Its hard to tell from the photos, but could you switch the room around to make the far wall (with the narrow horizontal window) your focal point? Right now, everything in the room is facing the least interesting view! It would be great if you could move the sofa so its back faces the camera - its so low that it won't affect the "openness" of the room, but I don't know if there's enough room (or if it would affect traffic flow). Then you could put the TV on the far wall and the chair/lamp near the corner (between the windows) to actually have a conversation grouping.

I think the chair is fine, but if its going to contrast (in height, style, and color), it should really contrast - right now, it just looks slightly mismatched, mostly due to the light wood accents. Could you paint the frame black to match some of your accessories? I'd recommend adding dark legs to the coffee table as well (which right now doesn't really add much to the room). Or maybe recover/stencil the cushions with a small, neutral pattern? A leaf print - even just a single large leaf stencil - would be a nice addition. I'd ditch the footstool portion - it competes with the coffeetable - and I think it might also help to tie the chair with the lamp. If you put your two taller pieces together, they won't compete with each other.

I don't think you need any curtains in that room, but given the feel in your room, is there any chance of changing the muntins in your windows (muntins are the criss-crosses)? You have an asian/modern feel with the horizontal window and all of your accessories, but the muntin pattern on that window just screams American cottage. I have the same windows and its hard to ignore their effect on your design choices!

I wouldn't ditch the plants - I LOVE green plants as decorative items - but you need to get more interesting planters! Go with a natural material - stone, woven, imperfect pottery - and it'll break up the perfection of the room.

Maybe you can find a cool bentwood rocker on CL - I just bought one for dirt cheap for my nursery. Like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280306790513&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=M*F%3F&GUID=81d51fe71240a02653910fb1ff76c0f2&itemid=280306790513&ff4=263602_263622

I like the little green art under the horizontal window. It looks like a whimsical little window underneath and I like the imbalance. Japanese placement is not as symmetrical as ours.

If open feeling is important to you, leave the sofa where it is. I have moved my sofa around many times, trying to float it, but it just felt like it took up the whole room, visually speaking. With its back to the window, it disappears. Since I sit sideways on sofas anyway, I can still enjoy the view, which is somewhat like yours.

Putting my finger over that plant did make it better, but only because of the scale. I'd put the plant under the whimsical window and get a taller one for the original place.

Hmmm. I never even addressed the chair! I like Poang chairs, but since you don't, and hubby wants a headrest, I'd take him all over furniture stores (old and new) and have him try out the tall ones that you like. You can always paint or re-upholster to lighten your choice up.

I doubt if he's want a rocker. never met a man who liked sitting in them. It's all I can do to talk the men in my life out of buying the aptly names Lazyboy

I think you should keep the Poang chair and ottoman. Mine is the most comfortable chair in my home, and my dog agrees. We take turns napping on it. To change the cushions:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/seating-dining-sidechairs/bemz-now-offering-replacement-covers-for-ikea-poang-chairs-098892

http://www.bemz.com/index.php/prod_id/3/page/shop/model_id/94/

While nobody wants an IKEA showroom in their house, the Poang is one of their better products and I can't begrudge anyone from keeping one long after they've upgraded from their college furniture.

I'd keep the chair and recover/slipcover it. Also, the plant next to it could be moved across the room, beside the low console to be friends with your other plant, thereby creating a green focal point.

Never replace your Poang! Lose the ottoman for more space and replace the fabric slipcover by a black leather one for a cool executive look.

The problem isn't really the chair, the problem is the furniture placement. All of your seating is bowing at the alter of the TV. At the very least your chair should be oriented closer to the TV stand and facing in towards the room.

I like the Poang chair. When you use the ottoman, it's great for stretching out your hamstrings.

The furniture reshuffling ideas all sound interesting and free. I did notice your artwork has a lot of blue that is not seen in the rest of the room. Darker blue or turquoise and bright green is a great combination. I noticed that your couch pillows are green and red though, so maybe you are not interested in bringing in more blue.

J. Caroline Home has cheaper slipcovers than bemz and a lot of interesting fabrics.

It also looks like they do COM (send in your own material) for the same price as their prefab covers.

http://www.jcarolinehome.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JH&Product_Code=poang_chair&Category_Code=30

Right now Jo-ann fabric is having a screaming good sale on Waverly home decor fabric at 60% off and there are a lot of interesting choices from traditional to modern in many different colorways. So you could do a custom slipcover for less (of course, sewing it yourself would be the cheapest, but not everyone has the time, desire or skill).

If you were interested in the Japanese idea that some posters were floating, here's one fabric that fits into that theme:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat2143&PRODID=xprd944342

Or not on sale but really fun, here's a large scale Koi indoor-outdoor fabric from Fabric.com in three different colors (dark blue, turquoise/coral, or bright green):

http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=1ff4c66e-27d2-4713-8261-714c1382a92a

I also like the Sea Scallop indoor-outdoor fabric pattern available there in the same colorways, which has dark and light blue and your green unfortunately also not on sale.

http://www.fabric.com/home-decor-fabric-outdoor-fabric-indoor-outdoor-classic-traditional-fabric-waverly-sun-n-shade-sea-scallop-lagoon.aspx?cm_vc=756b1813-cbc1-43b3-84bd-29889bf8fb7b

Good Luck!

An option would be to put the chair in the corner and pull the sofa out along with re-upholstering the chair with a nice green floral print.

Nice digs

Target has really cute accent and slipper chairs for a great price (most with free shipping). Getting a pair to finish off your space could possibly end your poang-chair-blues. Good luck with your space!

http://chiclittleme.blogspot.com

I am thinking keep the chair but paint the frame a glossy color...either black, the green you are using, or maybe a bright accent color like orange?

The chair isn't the same white as the rest of it, and the wood on it doesn't help that. I'd cover it to look more like the couch, definitely, and also you might want to paint the wood black, like others have suggested.

I would also like to replace our Poang....but it is so freaking comfortable!

I love the poang chair, it is comfortable. What if you just had it recovered. Any good slipcover, seamstress or upholsterer can do it - I did. It's as simple as taking the cushions out of the cover and replacing the fabric with different fabric.

Easy. Paint it with white enamel, then cover the upholstery with your "wild" fabric as used on the throw cushions on the sofa.

Get some more chrome in there.

perhaps this set up works better..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48489798@N00/
i can see a round coffee table working better in there now.

we're going to paint the frame of poang.
i'll introduce that blue in accessories.

question: shouldn't the window behind couch have curtains to balance the curtains on the sliding glass door on the same wall?

I have to agree with funkia - this is an example of way too much ikea furniture in one room.

I think even a couple parson chairs would be better than the Poang chair. It looks very dorm-like.

ouch

Traditionally, all of a room's window treatments match. Traditionally, all curtains are full and floor length regardless of window placement. The exception to floor length is cafe curtains over a kitchen window.

My perspective: comfort and ease trump tradition. Curtains go over blinds either for privacy where pleated shades wouldn't work under them, or for blackout. Otherwise, curtains are more work than they're worth.

thanks for all the suggestions.
yesterday i decided not to keep the chair.

I really like fun and modern shaped chairs.....maybe something like the orange slice chair in a lime green:

http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/3d-artifort-chair-design-orange-slice-model/430188

or the swan chair in lime:

http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/521868.htm

same as above, but more expensive:

http://www.vitalwares.ca/furniture-121/living-room-furniture-483/accent-chairs-432/nest-chair-3424

They are expensive, but it might be possible to find something similar cheaper online:)