Hi, there! What a great start to this room and a great friend you are for helping this gentleman. 1) I agree with what others have said about placing the two sofas facing each other perpendicular to the fireplace, with the coffee table in between and turning the rug. 2) I also agree that the artwork is what should go above the fireplace, not the tv. Then I think the tv could go on the wall opposite the fireplace, if there is enough room. But if placing the tv in the room with the artwork above the fireplace is difficult, then the tv could go above the fireplace. 3) It's hard to tell where the chandelier is located, but if possible, I'd swag it to be centered over the coffee table and centered with the fireplace. 4) I'd place a large tufted bench with roll arms and small side table or floor lamp in the bay window. This can easily be moved aside or in front of the fireplace during Christmas to make room for a large Christmas tree. 5) I'd go with a medium to dark grey on the walls, leaving the moulding white and LOVE the idea of the accent color of purple on the fireplace wall. I'd also paint all the radiators in the same color as the walls to "hide" them a bit. (You can also have boxes built around the radiators to make it look like a piece of furniture.) 6) If you move the artwork, you will have a blank space between the wall sconces. If those are permanent fixtures, you could place an assortment of mirrors on this wall arranged like artwork. 7) I would find a nice buffet (maybe something like this: http://www.westelm.com/products/parsons-mirror-console-g199/?pkey=cconsoles-buffet-tables&cm_src=consoles-buffet-tables||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-) to place under the sconces, then you can place the chairs to either side of the buffet. It would be a great counter to have for entertaining purposes, to put out an assortment of appetizers. And a design like this, you don't have to be too concerned with covering up or getting too close to the radiator. And the chairs can be stored to either side, but be brought out into the main area for entertaining. Alternatively, you could place a large decorative floor mirror leaning against the wall between the sconces (with the chairs on either side) and place a nice buffet console table behind the couch across from it. 8) To either side of the fireplace in the "nooks", I would put some wood console tables or cabinets (they don't have to be a matching set) in a deep rich java. On top of those, I'd place a tall buffet table lamp and place either one nice piece of art on the wall above or an arrangement of smaller art. You could also do one piece on one side and an arrangement on the other. 9) I would straighten the back couch cushions to make them look more streamlined and place the accent pillows against the back in somewhat of a line, rather than haphazardly. So, there would be one small accent pillow for each of the back pillows or at least evenly spaced out. Golds and bronzes would also look lovely with the greys and purples and I like the idea above about adding something zebra print, too. You have such great pieces to work it, I think most of it will just take rearranging and adding a few things here and there. Good luck! I would love to see the "after" photos!!!

I've never come across a lease stipulation for carpet in upper floors!... That's a new one... But can understand it would only be for increased/ensuring sound attenuation. You don't necessarily need to take up the whole floor to insulate for sound. This leads to issues with dust and dirt and if the neighbour below has recessed spot lights it makes it an issue etc...You can utilise acoustic underlay and other sound deadening measures on top of your own floor. HOWEVER, if you do it all above the existing floorboards you will end up raising it and impacting all the doors - they in turn may need to be trimmed, which in turn will reduce the clearance/height they provide somewhat. And also the skirting boards will be affected but that can be worked around with a bead. It's complicated and technical, but not to the point of impractical. Would be happy to help give further advice or provide more clarification. Feel free to get in touch.

Hi Teeps, I'm no acoustician, but I would suspect that the difference in impact sound rating between engineered wood and bamboo sheet would be very small. Lots of diy store have acoustic layers for under timber flooring, but they aren't hugely effective - although they do help! The more acoustic 'padding' you install, the greater the change in your floor level, but the greater the improvement in sound separation. When we did it we used a product called Monarfloor deck 9 which was 17mm thick under our wood floor - but our managing agents were a total nightmare, so we had to do a very thorough (and rather costly) job! It depends on your floor substrate, but lots lots of options out there! Good luck :)

In my humble opinion the room could do with a little more pattern and I would perhaps get a wallpaper or a new rug or change the curtains. I also agree that the pelmet dates your curtains a little. Once you have something new to work with you can then decide on a colour scheme taking inspiration from what ever you have bought. If it were me I would likely plan grey/greens to compliment the fireplace tiles. If you were looking at the Farrow and Ball paint chart I would choose old White, Strong White and pigeon. I would paint the walls old white then the woodwork and the ceiling in Strong White. Then I would paint the bookcase and coffee table Strong White and use Pigeon for the back of the bookcase behind the books. I would leave painting the fire surround until last because it is the nicest piece of wood and you might decide to keep it. I am sure a professional decoration will wade into this discussion and tell you that you can paint anything with a good enough primer first so you shouldn’t be afraid to paint your bookcase. As far as the top coat it depends on the finish you want- I prefer eggshell. Once you get the painting bug you might decide to paint additional things- someone I know took a very sad nest of tables and updated them with a lick of paint. Should you change your room from its current yellow tones to a sophisticated grey/ green you might want to finish the room off with new mounts for your pictures and some new lamp shades and cushions.