May we suggest the Lucent Coffee tables by Matthew Hilton? The right-angles of the Lucent tables create a division inside which can be used to display objects or store books and magazines.

Thanks everyone, this is so helpful!!! Dundrum that made me chuckle. I will stick to my guns but sadly the retailers have an aversion to pistachio. Went round huge Next home store today, tonnes of curtain fabric options in all colours except pistachio!!! Grrrr! Thank you again Man about House, I will persevere and I covet your curtains!!! I think I may well get the original rug you found! Thanks Laura will also look at French Connection, who would have thought! The parquet floors are from 1962 and I am chuffed to bits how they have come up, waited 3.5 years to do them! Angie and celery girl, very good points re rug size, my last Ikea one was definitely in the "not this" category!! Thanks also for the image celerygirl, I like the poufs very much but the trouble is the room is Lshaped and the walkway goes past them Any views on the coffee table dilemma everyone? As for brown sofa wish could replace asap. Would you believe someone gave me a beautiful South African wood sideboard and I kept it for a few years until eBaying it for a pittance! I even tried it in the space, see pic, yikes, I thought it was too dominant but maybe not....!

I am definitely with you on that Bubbles, I love using reclaimed timber for furniture projects. I have just finished using old concrete shuttering wood to make a top for an old metal cafe table frame, the frame is now covered in jute rope and string which is sealed and varnished.

The shell chairs are a bold statement peice but will look fantastic so long as you let them take the lead in the room (let them be the focus and not compeat) the other chairs are ok but nothing special. As for covering the windows a little again don't fear being bold, its ok to colour outside the lines occasionaly.