If you want an all contemporary look, I think you will need to paint or cover the brick and remove the FP insert. But, if you need the insert and would like to keep the brick, a more transitional style would work. Meaning your furniture/accessories have a somewhat traditional look with a contemporary flair. Like a traditional shape lamp, with a contemporary look :) Do you like the FP as it is?

Hi everyone, I'd like to thank you all for your input. Have been a busy spring and summer, but now I'm back and able to focus on the living room. Couple of things have been done/removed since lately: 1. Leather lounge set: I've (luckily) sold the leather lounge set - absolutely great piece with great quality, but not my taste at all. It made a world difference to the living room and even dear hubby, who liked the set, did acknowledge that the difference of less furnitures is great. 2. The rug 3. The white cabinet 4. New curtains with pelmet I love the pelmet although it's old style and yes, the curtains are too short! Will amend this at later stage :) These changes have made a huge impact on the room. Also, I'm also open to change the dining table with chairs for another nice option in an attempt to make this more interesting/cozy/inviting. So, these are the only things that I won't be able to change (we may (note on may) also move house by the end of this year/early next year) # Blinds # Colour of trims and built-in bookcase # Camel back sofa - I'm happy to reupholster it though and change the fabric. This will cost $2000 but I think it's worth it since they are really comfortable and are of good quality. I'd like to integrate the white frame with the gold poster in the design - an idea is to place 3x posters on the biggest wall of the air conditioner. I'm aware that a brown frame may suit the gold poster better, but I'm so tired of the colour brown at this moment. --------- So, I now feel I'm able to adjust as per your suggestions and recommendations much easier now. Appreciate every response and idea (And sorry for the mess of papers on the desk and floor! We're busy professionals and sometimes I have to let my husband have his creative space despite my OCD when it comes to decluttering and keeping it tidy)

The right coffee table, throw and wall art are not going to be enough to disguise the fact that you have downsized from a much larger home with your large, dark, formal furniture that dominates a compact room. Have you considered moving pieces to other rooms, or selling it, and buying clean-lined, contemporary style furniture off eBay? This style will fit the proportions of your room, and make it easier to live with your dust free strategy. The beauty of second-hand furniture is that when you can afford to upgrade you can sell it again on eBay. and recover your costs. Never paint perfectly good pieces of timber furniture as it will devalue the pieces. Sell them as is, somebody will cherish them as they are. I would keep the couch, decide on the tone of your new timber floor, and use these two elements to decide on the rest of your colour scheme. Your celing fan/light is also a distraction, so replace with something sleek and contemporary that is not such a feature. Your room layout is problemmatic with the number of doors coming into the room, but it is hard to suggest a better stategy without a floorplan. Best of luck with making this house your new home, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

Ok. So here s the deal. I got myself a beautiful floor lamp only to realize that the lamp's legs are oak in color and the tv unit in the same setting is whitewashed acacia. I also have a light planter next to the lamp that's light wood tone too. Now here are my concerns :- 1) Is it advisable to have two different wood tones (yellow and white) in the same setting ? My sofa legs , though hidden are a dark mahogany color and the tv unit is an industrial one with dark grey metal legs. So sofa, unit and lamp all have different legs. 2) I have quite some space left next to the sofa after the lamp. The current round metal side table is not fitting and I d be replacing it. Am leaning towards a light wooden side table like one in the pics. Now if I get that, should its legs match the lamp( will be next to it ) or the the unit ? Also, should the side table match the hallway table ? I am using the sofa Ottoman as a coffee table and still looking for a hallway. 3) What else can I put in that space ? A plant ? Decorative vases ? Baskets ? 4) Does my sofa look silver in the led cool white light ? Should I change the light to warm or add some warm cushions ? Thanks in advance. This is exciting and crazy at the same time.