Designers' ideas for the living room

We are working with two students from the Boston Architectural College to come up with a design for our living/dining area.

Last weekend, they brought over their design, which we loved.

Remember, this is what the room looks like now.


The new design will involve a lot of painting. The doors and trim will stay as they are now, but the panelling on the lower walls, along with the built-in units on the far wall, will all be painted a creamy white. The walls (above the panelling) will be a warm honey-toned color.

The carpet? GONE! Instead, a hardwood floor something like this:
If we can afford 3" plank, that's what we prefer. If not, we'll get the standard 2 1/4" strip flooring, prefinished, and install it ourselves. I'm a bit of a floor snob -- only solid hardwoods, no laminate or engineered hardwood, please!

The couches look like this, but in a dark olive green microfiber. There will be 2 of them.
The designers suggested a different (less expensive) textured tweedy olive fabric, but we are going to "upgrade" for the microfiber.

Then, a leather chair and ottoman by the bay window.
Next to the chair, a table:

Around the couches, some more tables:


Underneath, a neutral toned rug (no photos).

On one of the tables, an arts and crafts style stained glass lamp. Without me saying anything about my love of stained glass, the designers suggested something like this. Maybe one of these. Which do you like best?


On the other side of the room, near the kitchen and near the door to the pool, will be an eating area. We were really torn. We would like a "real" dining room in what used to be the living room (with fireplace and bay window). But, as the designers gently told us, we don't have the budget to furnish two rooms the way we want.

They suggested a more casual table and sideboard in the living room, so as to absorb some of the space. Then, in a few years, we can save up and buy a bigger dining set for the dining room, and keep the table in the living room for casual meals or for an activity table for when we have kids.

This is the table and sideboard they suggested (although the color is richer and more reddish in real life):


Underneath the table, a rug (either the top or the bottom one, probably the top one):

For curtains, pillows, etc., they suggested some rich red/green/gold fabrics. Tab top curtains for the windows, and maybe a fabric-covered cornice over the sliding glass door, which has vertical blinds.

Wall art, decorative objects, new door hardware, etc. will come later.

So, what do you think?