So many good suggestions and ideas, thank you everybody :) partim I actually had the lounge room exactly how you described to begin with, I know it's hard to visualize through just seeing the photos I've put up but it didn't work as the couch coffee table and tv unit were jammed in together leaving little walk through space and there was a lot of unusable wasted space in the corner where the tv is. I contemplated getting a corner lamp table at the time but what we really need is more sitting space than table space. I changed the room around to this and we liked it much better as the window wasn't obstructed as well. the walking space between couch and cone lamp hasn't been a problem. The absolute last thing after rugs etc will be to move the bigger bookcase that's next to wood heater to another room and put an armchair there :) that will require renovation of the other rooms first. our records are all in alphabetical order and I love them but wouldn't display them any more than I have already as it's not a huge focal point. decoenthusiaste I love the idea of putting the small bookcase on its side behind the couch and could do this if I put a finish on the top and the base! unfortunately it will no longer be able to hold the records if I do that as the shelves are an awkward shape. (Smaller shelf is better for holding records to keep them in separate categories and keep them standing up than the bigger shelf) redpoint, I know! I've always been a timber floor person. When we moved in I was set on putting wood floors down in future. Although these tiles lack character, since living with them I must say the practicality of them outweighs the aesthetics of wood. I can move furniture around without scratching the floor and know I'll never have to ever sand and re polish the floor from wear and tear and they feel cool to walk on in the hot, dry summer. I'm leaning towards getting a sandy coloured slate put down one day. That should add more character to the place :) and my future tribal rugs will work either way. The view is fine, it's just a neat suburban street. I feel too exposed for now with the curtains open and would like a privacy screen put up with a nice garden bed as a view when we get around to re paving and landscaping. It's a southern view so the winter sun now shines through our front windows, which gets a bit bright at times. The brown rug was given to us as a stop gap for absorbing sound and catching the walked in dirt. If I moved it in front of the couch the "brownness" of it would hurt my eyes while I'm trying to relax in my little living space hehe I would consider cutting up the wall hanging or doing something else with it yes, good idea :) Zag Built LLC, I like the idea of a round or oval coffee table! Thos. Baker, a new piece of art would be nice

The room decor and styling is too heavy for an entrance and isn't consistent with a beach theme home. Would the floor boards underneath the carpet match those of the open plan living area beyond the entrance? Consistent floor treatments would draw the eye to what lies beyond and the timber floor boards would meet your beach theme brief as well as reduce maintenance of light carpet in the high traffic area. The colour on your walls is lovely, but a little too heavy for the room. Can you take the wall colour back a few shades and use the current stronger version to repaint the mirror frame and buffet? Agree with previous advice to remove all wall items and to place something light and bright on the wall above the current buffet. How about the existing boxes, re-hung in a more haphazard square style pattern with some shells or other flotsam and jetsam displayed within them along with a couple of small prints? Painting the inside back of the small boxes in different shades of blue and the outside your current wall shade would complement the room nicely. What lighting is there in the room? A pendant could add light to the room, draw the eye up and the contribute to the beach theme.I hope some of the above is useful. Good luck and look forward to seeing how you go!

Hi Leah. As you like timber what about using a decorative timber screen to fit that space? Enough decoration to give privacy, but open enough so light can come through. Kind of like a picture that draws your eye rather than an ugly square of glass. I'm sure houzz has an article showing these decorative screens in various styles. I have some typical geometrical chinese wooden windows in mind, but I'm sure you could find some laser cut specialist to do your design in metal, or a carpenter to do it in wood.

Consider combining the concept of console with shoe storage. Check out this cabinet for example. http://www.mattblatt.com.au/Credenza-Storage/Bakbo-Tall-Cabinet.aspx?p19566c17#19568 It has a mid century modern feel and comes in both blond and walnut timber. While this style of cabinet is a bit taller than the average console or buffet it is still low enough for a mirror over the top. The advantage is it's a stylish piece of furniture that has shelves for shoes, hidden behind doors. Although the entry/hall is long it is already full of doors so try not to fill it up with furniture. A single cool looking piece of furniture on either walls #1 or #3 with some fabulous artwork on wall #5 and whichever of #1 and #3 doesn't have the cabinet on.