After

The Specifics

Angle the sofa in front of the window. Now it faces the dining area and the entertainment center, which was moved to the opposite corner. Switching the glass-front bookcase to the corner behind the sofa balances the entertainment center and shows off the bookcase better. It also helps create a skyline effect, adding a vertical that mediates between the horizontal of the sofa and the vertical of the window.

Keep the club chairs perpendicular to the sofa, but to relieve some of the weight at the center of the room, move one ottoman out to stand alone as a table (or extra seating). The dark upholstery tends to lower the center of gravity in the room; to provide lift, a tea table and nested book table were added in front of the sofa. The bleached wood also brings light into the center of the room, relieving the effect of all the dark leather.

Warm bare wood floors with color and texture. A shaggy leather rug tosses a medium tone on the floor, providing transition between the brown leather and the apricot walls.

Provide color balance with medium-dark draperies and pillows. The simple drapery panels lift the eye, and the pattern adds a soft element to a rugged-feeling room. Floral and tweed pillows break up the expanses of leather and add comfort to the seating.

Use tall houseplants to soften empty corners and balance tall furniture. A plant disk on wheels makes it easy to move the ficus tree and protects the wood floor from dampness.

Reorganize accessories so they relate better to furnishings. Aim for variety without clutter. Instead of two framed maps, let one take center stage. The ship model, which was too large for its spot on the wall, receives more attention on a side table. The lamp and the globe stair-step the eye from the windows back down to the club chair.