I think you could get the telly put over the fireplace. Might need a mantle to deflect radiant heat, not sure. But on the cables and power, I imagine they can get that sorted. Im guessing there is a wall behind you when you took the photos. I agree that a low corner modular sofa would look great. Just don't get it so long that it is up against the fireplace wall. Placed into that corner of end and piano walls . Then pop your cute chair where the sofa is now. Large ( big enough for the sofa front legs sit on it, I'm guessing 2x3m or even 3x4m) patterned rug to define the area. Can you move the piano to another room or against the computer area wall? Can you make the small windowed room the homework hub? Imagine a long bench against the window ( Ikea do a good cheap range that you make to fit your space). Ensuring the computers are in line of sight from the kitchen(?). Pull out the table to give it more space around it. Or flip it to run the other direction. Hard to tell from the pics the dimensions. Paint a lighter shade as mentioned before. A sketch of your floorplan would be really helpful :)

Follow the above suggestions of white curtain over wardrobe, replace bedside lamps with the taller white shades (I love the rope design given!) and change over big black cushion to white, and lower the three pictures 10 cm to fit inside the wall space given by the door frames. Make sure the doors are painted white as well as trim. Then put red lamps either side of TV - changing them to battery candles instead of electric. Change the TV antenna to one where the antenna is hidden behind a photo frame (buy from Dick Smiths I think). The whole section under the mantle and window sill including the floor brick ledge, needs to painted white gloss. Around the 'fire place' there needs a better fitting out with a wide white gloss wooden trim and inside needs work to be white at the back. Have blind same as on long windows - alternately have blind white material and put white sheers in front over long windows. Replace the two baskets to a lower wide basket with one big pot plant that leaves a 200cm gap in height from top of 'fire place'. Maybe the baskets could be further along in the corner on the brick ledge and floor under the window and have a small pot plant or vase of fresh flowers above on ledge. Hang a large red patterned fabric on the wall behind the ladder (starting slightly higher than the door frame and finishing slightly above skirting). Preferably move the electrical point to behind the dressing table or place a basket in front or can the mobile phone go on the bedside table and keep electrical point for vacuuming? Place a heavy, wide white and pale blue striped, cloth over box at end of bed or have upholstered. Finally, have a white background picture - maybe a beach scene - which includes pale blue and a touch of red or pink, above bed. Having silver wall sconces on silver edged oval mirrors either side of picture (centered over end of bed), would be wonderful as they would tie in your style of furniture. Keep the modern white shaded rope based lamps as well. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

My sister had a similar brick fireplace in a 1930s house. I jack-hammered up the hearth bricks (hire a large jackhammer to make light work of it) as it was a tripping hazard and all the bricks around the fireplace. I installed a black polished stone hearth, wood framed a surround and sheeted the outside. Bought a second hand Victorian arched fireplace and second hand mantlepiece. Installed a gas wood fire with fan. Once painted, it looks like the original fireplace has been restored. Before you do anything, check on the regulations for gas fireplaces in your area. It will need a flued chimney and need to be fitted by a gas technician. You will also need to have cross-ventilation in the room (floor grates or wall vents). Decide on your fireplace style and then re-design the hearth and opening based on the dimensions of the gas fireplace itself. The bricks above the opening can have battens fixed to it, then sheeted off with plasterboard to give a smooth finished wall. Decide on the look of the "chimney wall" above the fireplace and how it will be used i.e. just a similar look wall to the rest of the room, a feature wall (paint, brick, wallpaper etc), or will there be a large mirror or feature painting? Given the recess between the two brick columns, you could sheet the existing bricks to look like walls and keep the recess. In the recess, you could mount a TV or fix a large mirror or painting to fit the space which will make the room look larger and brighter. Consider dimmable lights on each side of the chimney. If you don't keep the recess between the brick pillars and keep the look of a smooth chimney wall, the hidden space between the pillars could contain wiring from the ceiling for lights and/or power points and cabling for a wall-mounted TV.

I would suggest hanging a large moroccan woven fabric or mat, just use a length of dowel along the top edge, and hang it up. It would add great texture and also a casual feel to the room. Dress up the couch with a bunch of patterned cushions and a bolster moroccan style. A silky fabric sun filter curtain would finish off the look. https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/299911656409300053/ https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/405675878916401870/ https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/431219733049382426/