Hello bobbi, Here are the pictures. 1) tv unit area 2) opposite wall ( area for sofa) , 3) enterance ( please suggest something near the enterance area that incorporates shoe rack and a medium length partition that doesn't look very crowded). 4) dining area. As I had mentioned that we are looking at contemperory designs that are modern interiors with minimalist in furniture to give more of peaceful ambiance. We also have a 8x 11 patio area connected to living room. Suggestion for that would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance and for your prompt reply. With regards, Bhakti

I would break it up into various rooms, approximately 10 feet by 15 feet each, though a longer one with a long narrow (2 feet?) water feature against the wall and seating and plants in the center part would work. Plants on the wall, making it vertically green. A path leading from room to room should jog, so you cannot see straight through. Change the theme of rooms, large fancy pottery, an outdoor dining area, sunbathing area if possible.

This arrangement works much better, but some adjustments are needed to make it work. First, the fireplace grouping needs to be tightened. It crowds the dining area and you need a passageway behind the couch. Turn the rug lengthwise, parallel to the fireplace. Pull the large couch about 2 1/2 feet closer to the fireplace, and place the two chairs and loveseat on the ends of the rug, and pull them closer together. This will give you a more intimate conversation area, and not impose on the other areas of the room. Remove that floor lamp from behind the couch. If you need the light in that area, put it by the fireplace. Also, the stereo system on the mantel needs to find another home. Maybe it can go IN the fireplace instead. At the other end of the room, I think the arrangement would look better if the seating were rotated 90 degrees. Keep the rug and coffee table in its current configuration, place the sofa either facing the window or with its back to the window, and put the two chairs opposite it. Finally, the dining area. Now that you've moved the big leather chairs, you should have enough room. Your rug is too small. It should be big enough to give you at least a 2 ft. border all the way around when the chairs are pushed in. And it's a really beautiful table; please uncover it. I can't see what kind of lighting that area has. It really needs a pendant or chandelier hanging directly over the table.

Hi drmdilip -- While I waited for my trumpet vines to fill in sufficiently to provide summer shade, I sewed three matching striped shower curtains together, using the button holes on each end to tie it in place. I did this because as the vine was growing new, each thin runner would drop between the rafters rather than grow straight across. After a few years now, those thin runners have become a massed layer of thick vines, all of the new growth is straight up and by the end of summer I'll be able to easily remove my temporary support and have a roof of vines. It's not rainproof though -- for that, polycarb is practical, and I love the copper above!