Style - well that is a good question... I would say it is a modern contemporary urban style home, brick frontage etc... not a victorian style or anything like that. Have solid wood two tone staircase, with dark and natural color maple that stands out prominently when you enter the house. The rest of the house, the Kitchen etc is bit traditional, yet modern finish. Dark solid wood cabinets. I do have 9 foot ceiling but only 9', as that is the maximum that we are allowed to have in our neighborhood. I like to add bit of character and architectural personality to the house, but wasn't sure if wainscotting would in turn make the house look very aged, as we generally see them on older Victorian style homes. Or perhaps I am just mistaken in my limited knowledge about home styling and decor. I see soooo many different styles, which makes it so difficult to choose one because I like them all. So the challenge is to pick one that suits the best. Is it generally better to keep the stains neutral so that the wainscotting trim blend with the wall or will it stand out too much if I make panels that are stained dark. These are the questions that are holding me back from venturing in to this project. Any other comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I think a comfortable distance between the island and the counter is around 42". It seems that you have only 30" between your cook top and the counter. I might be a little too tight. The wall between the entrance and the kitchen could be 4' long instead of 6', you would then be able to move the island a foot which would give you more room between the cook top and the island. Could you switch the location of the toilet and vanity in your dad's bathroom so your enter facing a vanity instead of a toilet which is a lot nicer.

One option, I would get a very large rug so that all the chair legs and at least one corner of the sofa is on the rug. I think I would also bring the table set away from the window a little more. I think there is enough space to place the two-seater opposite the table in front of the window. or bring the table forward toward the kitchen ....... With the sofa centered to the large window. They probably will not be opposite each other, but at an angle which is still ok. They might seem more functional for the table set to be closer to the kitchen. Another option is two rugs in wide runners. Creating a walkway through the center of the room. Still thinking the sofa center of the right window. Just some ideas :-)

Hi Rorli, I hope you are doing well. Congratulations on the space! The best way to cozy up a space, without spending a lot is through - Art - I feel the Giant picture on the wall is substracting from the space rather than adding to it. You can replace it with something beautiful that you like and/ or a medium sized framed mirror - This will reflect all that beautiful light in your apartment and make it more spacious. You can add a wall hanging in the empty wall space near the bar area. Rugs - A giant rug which accomodates bothe th sofas rather than just the coffee table. This will also make the room look bigger. However, It is important to buy a plain or maximum two tone rug for this effect to work. If buying a rug with lots of detail, please buy it in a lighter color. Cushions - Lost of colorful fluffy cushions in various shapes and textures and a couple of throws wil help balance out the beigeyness of the sofas. Lighting - Adding fairylights in the balcony and a couple of tall lamps in corners will help too. If you can, replace the central light with a chandelier of your choice. Plants - A few indoor plants add that homey feeling while having the added bonus of supplying oxygen. You can also opt for fake plants, if you don't want to buy real ones. Common color scheme - This is the most important aspect because even after buying new furniture, it may not look good if everything is mis-matched. To make the room feel more spacious, you can shift the light in the corner next to sofa, after removing the sofa from the corner a bit. You can also just replace the single seater with a luxurious Armchair of your choice , tilted to face the tv and put the small table next to it to turn it into a viewing area/ reading nook. Above - Blue/ white color scheme works very well with plants. Monochrome neutral color scheme with pillows and throws. If you need any more ideas or help, feel free to contact me. Hope this helps!