A nice big area rug in front of the fireplace, a coffee table on that, and a couple of chairs on one side and a couch on the other all on the area rug to make an inviting conversation area is what comes to mind here for me. Dark coffee table?

Thanks again Scootchi and Brini - thank you too!!!!! I am going to check out IKEA!

Sorry it took me so long to respond, crazy work schedule. Modern would be nice for a soon to-be-teenagers room. I find that Ikea has alot of inexpensive modern solutions that are perfect for adults and kids alike. I love the idea of floating/hanging cabinets that are mounted to the wall just above electrical outlets(typically alittle over 12" high perfect for storing video games and gaming consoles, dvds, magazines, board games, ect.; It is easy to clean under too. You will need a hole saw to saw a hole in the bottom of cabinet. so this way you can pull the cable through to the outlet below. Moving on to the den, if here is a door seperating the two rooms, you can easily get away with two different styles (maybe even a themed room if the room is for your son and his friends to hang-out. If there is no door seperating the rooms I would handle it has one common space. I hope that helps alittle, till later.

I too have alot of natural light coming in with high ceilings. A word of advice though...pick your paint color very very carefully. What looks great in the winter light looks completely different in the spring and summer light. We painted a soft gold in late winter, only to find that in the harsh summer sun it looked like mustard on the walls. Now we've put up a neutral taupe and a neutral beige to find that the beige changes less through the seasons than the taupe. The taupe tends to grey up during the summer months. Hope it helps. Beautiful space.

Scootcha - you are really great! Like a friend in decor - thank you so much! I love that stacked stone, that is exactly what I was invisioning - thank you again so much. I will be back for your insight as I move along with this project :

Do you have any good ideas for furnishing an average size bedroom as a cute, modern 'den' for a 12 year old boy. I would take a picture but it truly is just an average bedroom with a long closet - along most of one wall. A window that takes up 1/2 of another wall and then two walls that are pretty plain with the exception of a small, undersized doorway that provides to storage access over a garage. I was thinking I should do it modern. His bedroom is right next to the room. I wasn't sure if, since the den is 'his' - if I should take colors from his room and try to make it coordinate. He has a comforter by Tommy Hilfiger which is a rugby stripe of navy, green, yellow, red and ivory. He has a denim dustruffle.

Thanks again :

I love taupe!!! I think the color taupe can do no wrong. So, if you are feeling taupe... I say go taupe. If you were considering the veneer stone or stacked stone on the fire place. I would suggest that you choose a multi-colored stone with some of the color found in the floor. Here is a link: http://www.norstoneusa.com/stackedstonecladding.asp
I think the Ochre or Ivory quartz has some of that warm hue that you have in your floor. This way you can introduce another color out of the stone and onto your walls. I would keep the colors on the furniture neutral. Add color in the form the art, flowers, accent pieces, ect. It is easier to change out those pieces than it is furniture. I know you'll discover exactly what suits you and everything will fall into place. Need any more ideas just ask..Ciao!

I am also wondering - with that particular, modern furniture - would you still do it in that color and put the COLOR on the walls (i.e. a deep taupe with white trime, with a stone faced fireplace or would you put the color on the furniture?

Thanks so much!

Thanks again Scootcha - you are such a help! Wish you were here.

I would decorate the room as flowing 3 spaces with different functions.here is a link to a room that I think some aspects in it would work for you. http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Living-Rooms/Open-LivingDining-RoomDen-and-Kitchen/detail.esi?oid=6637437
I think that type of furniture arragement would look fantastic around your fireplace. I also think a veneer stone on the fireplace will turn it into a real show stopper. The area to the right could be used as a dining area or it can be done up as another seating arrangment using similar portion, colors and textures as the first grouping. Den area could be kept has tv room or it could be turned into a little reading nook. As far as paint gos, I love Sherwin williams, fundamentally neutral line. I am sorry I can't suggest colors (I think it is a very personal decision.

How would you do the furniture arrangement, it is a very odd layout - I will get a picture from the top of the stairs shortly, good suggestion. What type of pieces should go in each space? What do you think about a sectional (instead of what is in that tv area? I am not opposed to putting different furniture in that space by any means.

I feel like I need advise about what colors (furniture and walls that people would like to see in this space. I cannot even conceptualize this. If anyone can think of specific photos on hgtv, that would make sense for this space.