Hi Charlotte Re-painting your walls will make the world of difference to how you feel in your home, as a dark interior can be a bit depressing.. Is your living room facing west? The western sun tends to be more golden, so opting for a yellow based white, can really overload on the yellow hues making the room seem gloomy. The answer is to have a blue based white, which can neutralise the yellow light. Check out the new paint schemes from Bodo Boards, which you can instantly download to receive all of the paint information you need. The board will include main, feature and trim paints, as well as other elements to add to your space to make it come to life. We would recommend this concept for your dilemma :) It will also work with your yellow aluminium joinery, and make this seem less yellow as well. http://bodoboards.com.au/collections/paint-concept/products/the-brentwood-paint-concept Good Luck!

Your design scheme has a very traditional European feel. I would continue with this and look at a couple of Louis chairs. The link I've attached shows one with a mix of rattan with an upholstered seat cushion. You can also get them with an upholstered back and arms. However I quite like the rattan for contrast so it's not too matchy matchy with your sofas. http://www.canalside.com.au/productimage.php?product_id=115&current_image=1 You could then add a scatter cushion to the chair. Have you thought about also adding a couple of scatters cushions to each sofa, in a silk or silk like fabric. Check out Kaz's Samara range. Not sure what colour to recommend as I can't see your wall colour clearly but black goes with most colours. Oskuee's rugs are lovely, just make sure the colour ties in with your colour scheme. As you have plenty of dark timber in the room already, consider a glass and metal coffee table and lamp tables in a gold finish. Gorgeous crystal or mirrored table lamps and an ornate gold framed mirror over either the chairs or the sofa to finish off the room.

We removed one wall of our kitchen and love the effect. But it did require an expensive combination of 2 steel beams (ground floor of 2 storey house). This means we have beams encased in plasterboard now, one we made into a light box sort of thing by including down lights and centering it over the bench. We have high ceilings so the beams are not an issue for us but be aware of this possibility. Also was not cheap and required an engineer to design and sign off. But for us, well worth the effort. In your scenario I am assuming you have no option to include a window or 2 in the wall where the stairs are. The original plan seemed to include windows there (I think), suggesting it's possible??? That may be a very good option if it's possible, also allowing cross breezes to be captured; precious things indeed! I agree with others that the dark leather chairs - which look enormous - are a huge part of the problem you have. I would get those out of the room while you consider what to do, otherwise you'll be spending a lot of money just to overcome your furniture choice. A smaller, light coloured suite and a coat of paint to the walls could give an entirely different feel to the room.

If your tv is 65” then the lounge is way too close to television. Place lounge as per my diagram. Two lounges in L shape plus single chair. If you remove the small wall then dining table can be across room. But it may be load bearing, so unable to be removed.