Thanks Jayme, I get what you mean, it's just not really practical for our house & will make the renovation a lot more difficult & expensive if we start moving walls like the to gain an extra couple of feet. It's possibly a load bearing wall too. But that area which is currently our kitchen where we are thinking of putting the fire place isn't the main living area, it's basically the centre of our living area which is a long room from one end of the house to the other, so we were thinking having the fire there will warm the house better being that it will have the kitchen & dining table one side of it & the lounge the other side. I think we could it a couple of cozy arm chairs & a small coffee table or we could just put a love seat up against the section of wall opposite the fire?

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.

As the windows are framed individually I would also suggest two separate roman blinds. Set up to the height of the picture rail will accentuate the ceiling height and tie in with the architecture of the room. To have the blinds at this height will also allow you to see through 100% of the window area when the blinds are open. Where these blinds hang to will also be important to consider. I would suggest the base of the two romans be set to the top of the sill, as to set them lower will show the sill extensions on the left and right sides sticking out. All the best!

Someone earlier in this discussion said "embrace the architecture" and I agree. Changing the architecture is expensive, especially squaring off arches. Arches are typically associated with Mediterranean architecture and love or loath em, arches are pushing back into modern day architecture. So go with it by removing the concrete balustrade and build more arches to match those below. Bag and paint the brickwork with a Porters limewash paint to obtain that authentic Mediterranean and uneven look. Consider semi-circular balustrading for that Romeo and Juliet look or better still add semi-circular concrete planter boxes for added privacy. They can then be planted with low growing and trailing plants such as a variegated ivy. The head s of the top arches only can then be topped with a timber batten screen which will soften the facade further and you will have a modern 2023 take on Mediterranean Modern. Keep that going throughout the house to give it a full and complete reno. Think 3D as your home has 4 facades not just 1. I see all too often homes where the owner renovates the street elevation and just paints the rest of the home. It looks as if the home has had a full size photo glued onto the street elevation. Even the fake stone stops at the corner and the whole facade looks as if it will just peel off with the next rain. I've attached an image of a new development near my studio on the Gold Coast which give you an idea. It's not exactly what I have suggested but it does demonstrate the use of arches in a modern architectural setting with the use of timber and trailing plants.