Beautiful table, re upholstering the chairs and updating the area where they are would be a good start, add some colour to,the room and a floor rug. when I saw the first picture I thought paint it but not so sure once I saw the lovely carved legs I became stuck on the decision. I painted my traditional dining table and changed the area it was in but mine was nothing special, a reproduction made of rubber-wood, beautifully made table but no vintage piece of furniture .. I did a story on it in Houzz called painting a table if you wanted to have a look. Another option could be to paint the chairs as well reupholstering them but leave the table as is. Good luck, hard one

These are all good ideas but I think the room is laid out to invite people to way through the centre. I thought pull out the soft off the wall and still facing the TV. But more in line with the door that leads to the garden. That way people are forced to walk behind the soft. If you purchase the modular settee it should work also but I think one of your favourite bright colours would work very well too. Also with my suggestion I would turn the rug around to link it between the TV cabinet and the new placed sofa. A coffee table placed lengthwise along the rug would be lovely too.

I'm not here to argue, but an approved plan can be resubmitted as a variation for approval. The blind acceptance of an approval limits your creativity, and the clients ability to obtain the best possible solution. This problem requires thinking outside the box which is what we have offered. The client must decide if the process and cost of approval of a variation is worthwhile. They shouldn't live there wondering if only we had done this or done that due to a blind acceptance that once approved there can be no variations. Realistically everything that has been suggested should result in the need to seek an approval especially when changes to plumbing are considered. Erase what you are not happy with and redesign that space without the shackles of poor space planning. You don't have to like my suggestion but don't limit yourself either.

In my opinion too much around the walls near the table makes the area look too busy when it should be clean and simple to make the table and the above clock the feature, I would off set the table to the left and buy a nice tallish free standing vase OR preferably shabby chic a wooden plant stand and stand a plant on it, this would give a more balanced aesthetic to the whole look without it and the area to do that would not take up too much space so as not overdoing the area to make it have a more cluttered look, I like the idea of flipping the clock so that is then becomes a longer feature and would look more balanced, I think a handy hubby or friend could do it, for me a ladder is nice to put towels on in a bathroom but in an area like you have what is it's purpose? I don't find it particularly pleasing but please no one be offended this is just my opinion and as a (just) retired art restorer I am very interested in aesthetically pleasing spaces and interior decorating I realise everyone has their own opinions and they know what is right for them once they sort through the answers. If you lower the clock it too much it defeats the purpose of the clock being useful as they should be around eye level. Hope this helps.