The architects have spoken. I have worked on a couple of building in India somewhat similar and know that this is well liked and fairly common. It does need to simplify but you can do this with color so that the parts introduce themselves not all at once, but with a sense importance relative to the massing. With deft coloring you can give balance and you can make the parts feel like they belong to a whole. There is no need to be simple in the Meisian sense. Lots going on can be quite nice. But with a detailed building as with a person, when you meet them you don't need to know everything about them, see the baby pictures, see the scars from their latest operations. No, you just want the person or building to make a good first impression. Then later as you get to spend some time with them and get to know them you can discover all their intricacies.

You've got a great space here, and there's so much you can do with it! Do you know what style you're looking to achieve? If you've already got a red and white colour scheme going in your kitchen, you can always opt for this in the living room. Sometimes grey can make the room look a little dark, so it's always worth investing in a white base, and build from there. Maybe change the colour of the curtains to something a little lighter and richer?

For the dining room, I think I'd orient the table 90 degrees from how it's drawn, and I would make it a drop leaf or gateleg table so that it can be made smaller when not being used for dining. I would embrace the idea that the entry is right in the middle of the living room, and bring the living room furniture out towards the fireplace so the fireplace is connected to the seating area. Maybe TV above fireplace. In that back corner where the sofa is drawn, I'd make that a small work/office space.

Hi all, bought our first home and found out mid sale that fireplace has to be fully replaced. getting it replaced and want to go from first pic to second pic for my fireplace - fireplace is gas, material around is rough drywall. Any ideas please? I just want a simple finish with a floating wood mantel. do I have to use wall boards? help!