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Here's a sketchup of what I see as an improved layout: http://imgur.com/2NHF2

Right now your living room looks like a place where five college students eat pizza and watch basketball. I have lived like that before. If the couches face each other, it looks like a proper home, where conversations take place and television is not the primary leisure activity. The poang could be facing the television.

Pushing the sitting area away from the wall and toward the patio door creates a passageway from one hallway to the other, without interrupting whatever conversation might be taking place on the couches. And the wall behind the couch would be the perfect place for a photo collage.

I see you have guitar(s). Showcase them, possibly in the corner between the TV and the patio door. Make them a conversation piece. Find things you love to look at, and let those things steer your color choices.

Invest in a good slipcover for the couch that is currently against the wall. Something besides navy blue.

Get an area rug for the living area. Either make it big enough that both of the couches fit or small enough that neither of them do, or possibly in between those two sizes.

Buy new matching cushions for your poang recliner and ottoman. Perhaps red. Then get throw pillows in a related red or orange (not the same red) for the couch.

Get side tables, and put table lamps on them so people can sit and read. That torchiere is doing no good in the corner.

Buy leaning bookcases to flank the television console on both sides. They are $30. Hack them to fit with the baseboard heaters.

Some helpful resources:
http://www.amazon.com/Nest-Home-Design-Handbook-personalize/dp/0307341917
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/tips/10-ways-to-customize-a-rental-092528

1. Check out this link for some career ideas -- http://www.disd.edu/careers-interior-design.php
   
   
2. Search google for design firms in your area
   
   
3. Send out email inquiring about internships
   
   
4. Learn how to network. If you're not on the phone all the time, you're doing it wrong.
   
   
5. Get business cards and hand them out to everyone you meet
   
   
6. Read this book and this book for inspiration
   
   
   
   Build your email around this:
   
   >I'm currently a junior at a college that doesn't offer any classes in interior design and only recently had an epiphany that design is what I truly love. I'm currently following a route that's not really design or artsy (I'm taking media production) but I'm happy that I realized this now before it was really too late.
   
   PASSION -- use this word a lot, and mean it. You've got to be passionate about design, it's not a 9-5 job
   
   Don't mention middle school or high school.

Definitely look into bussiness management books as well. if you are going down this road, there is a chance you will want to start doing it on your own and having proper business skills will help tremendously in securing work, and balancing costs, and making money doing it! I am sure some people on this sub can recommend some great books on this topic as well.

Here are a couple books,

https://www.amazon.ca/Business-Model-Generation-Visionaries-Challengers/dp/0470876417/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGxuwhyo-18J3-xPOVP8bXeTJ4zbGZHkpO4GqIGKlz-WCRxt3aUroqQaApECEALw_wcB&hvadid=229992601126&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9000745&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4412519744533501821&hvtargid=aud-748919244907%3Akwd-297504215686&hydadcr=16960_10238137&keywords=business+model+generation&qid=1567691052&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.ca/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0307887898&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=PEqJa&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=a62e2918-d998-4bbb-8337-35aac776e851&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

https://www.amazon.ca/Startup-Owners-Manual-Step-Step/dp/0984999302/ref=pd_sbs_14_3/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0984999302&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=Oruqz&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=f7748194-d8e0-4460-84c0-2789668108bc&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

https://www.amazon.ca/Business-Model-You-One-Page-Reinventing/dp/1118156315/ref=pd_sbs_14_4/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1118156315&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=Oruqz&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=f7748194-d8e0-4460-84c0-2789668108bc&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

Lot's of good input, but nobody has said anything about generating a good business plan being the very first step.

How are you going to get paid? Hourly, or as a percentage of the project?

How much overhead will you have, what kind of insurance etc.

If you're going to be handling more in depth projects you'll probably be doing project management as well, i.e paying flooring subs or painters etc.

There is a great book on kindle, it's called "Markup and Profit"

https://www.amazon.com/Markup-Profit-Contractors-Guide-Revisited/dp/1572182717/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=markup+and+profit+stone&qid=1567475083&s=books&sr=1-1

It is geared more towards construction/specialty contracting, but most of it applies to what you're wanting to do as well. I use basically the same methods taught in this book when I do interior projects.

I use the method he describes, calculate my total cost to complete the job, then add my markup to cover overhead and profit.

One word of caution would be on having clients paying subs or paying for things directly. Remember, when there's a problem they're going to call you, not the store or the flooring guy, so marking these things up isn't being greedy or making free money, it's a reflection of the work you put in to bring it all together and the time YOU have to spend when things don't go exactly right.

I also hate working hourly. It's no fun spending 8 hours helping a client pick out a color combo for a epoxy floor and then having them bitch about paying you for 8 hours, but that 8 hours at $75 an hour on 2000 sqft of floor at $12 a foot isn't even noticeable if it's just rolled into the floor cost.

​

Sorry, a bit rambling, but it's late and I'm tired :)

I can't recommend anything handmade but I can recommend a SmartSilk duvet comforter.

It's a cotton shell with 100% quilted silk on the interior. Silk, if you aren't aware, has fantastic thermal properties - I use this and stay cool in the summertime and warm in the wintertime. Sometimes I'll use an alpaca wool blanket with it (more natural, animal-based material, also with great thermal properties) but if I get under my (high thread count actual egyptian cotton comfy as all get-out) sheets I overheat during the night and start sweating. Which is a comment in favor of the comforter, intended to highlight the lack of breathability in my sheets.

I've bought two - one years ago and another when my last was ruined in a fire. No hesitation on repurchasing, because these things really are the bomb diggity.

I seriously cannot recommend this product highly enough.

Oh, I forgot the mention, because the filling is quilted the thing's totally machine washable and dry-able with no bunching of filling whatsoever.

Congrats on your new place! Sounds like you are going for a modern style. Maybe a small table and bar stools? I live in a bungalow home and use a little table like this and adjustable stools like this as a breakfast bar. You said your apt is modern so it might go nicely with your place & is a good price point if you don't want to invest in a big table.

In another comment you mentioned mounting your TV to a wall. Alternate suggestion is to get a projector screen and roll it up and down to make your space feel larger.

If you need more kitchen storage you could hang your pots on a rack or do a magnetic knife holder and spice jars.

Please update and show us how you arranged it!

I live on the second floor of a building also with huge floor to ceiling windows that look into the public courtyard and across into neighbor apartments. I bought this stuff from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RCX088

And used this tutorial: http://makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com/2012/01/frosted-privacy-window.html
to create patters on my windows that let in all the light, and let me enough outside to make me happy without people being able to see inside very easily. The window film lets in a lot of light, but isn't see-thru at night (I've checked! Even standing right in front of the window with a light behind me, you can only see a vague outline, no details).

Hope you find your solution, good luck!

When I was in college (before I went to Interior Design school and got my MIA degree) I splurged on a book called The Magic of Small Spaces. It includes photos and floor plans of a lot of small houses and apartments all over the world, furnished in many different styles. It pretty much inspired me to go to design school, and showed me that you don't have to have a lot of square footage or spend a lot to develop a high-impact design. Other resources: The Domino Book of Decorating and Remodelista. The first is a fun "how-to" for curating/furnishing your own home, the second is by the editors of Remodelista.com. They all definitely include some high-dollar stuff, but also include a lot of IKEA, 2nd hand, and DIY. Hope that helps!

Weird, I asked this the other day to a sub. I just have a list and do certain things once a week. This book was helpful as well; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501158791/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With four pets, I am always trying to find ways to make my home easier to clean. The most important thing is to have less stuff.

While there are tons and tons of books to go through I recommend starting with something basic. I have a copy of the Nest Home Design Handbook and it covers how to merge styles and gives you a lot of things to consider when moving to a new home with a spouse. Their website may also have some articles that could be useful. While it's nice to think about objects and furniture to buy and whatnot ultimately the biggest thing to focus on is how to communicate your design priorities and find ways to make compromises if you disagree on layouts or colors or anything.

Hope that helps!

This is pretty good, I've used it on apartments before I bought my house - you run it on the top of the baseboard, if you want to get fancy you can paint it the color of the baseboard and it just looks like it's molding on the baseboard itself. :)

I don't normally recommend a text book for things, but my interior design practice class used this book:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1501313959/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479256907&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=designing+your+business

It looks like it was updated and revised for 2016, anyway it's a great book about the business side of interior design.

It would just look like art on the wall. Canvas is usually stretched over a wooden frame so the back is hollowed out. Leaves space for something on the wall to fit in behind the canvas. I used one to cover an old phone jack in my last apartment. This link has picture of the back of a canvas to explain it better https://www.amazon.com/CONDA-Artist-Stretched-Canvas-Pack/dp/B01IBRF25G/ref=lp_12896211_1_12?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1542400355&sr=1-12

I would get a smaller couch, then move that black chair to sit next to it at an angle. Once you do that, you’ll have some space to move that lamp out from the corner a bit.

Speaking of, what does that blue cord go to? The lamp? I assume there isn’t a plug in the corner, so I’d recommend getting some white raceways to hide the cable running over there. (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015EDVVU)

Paint the frame around the AC white, and clean it!

Then, plants in pots and open the blinds. Let that natural light in. :)

If you want to mount it above the fireplace, you could get a wall mount that pulls down for a better viewing angle, like this one.

I'm not a big fan of that setup. I'd probably put the couch against the windows and the TV in one of the opposite corners. I'd at least consider making that small office room into a snug tv room. You might have better window and wall placements. And it would leave your formal living room to have a lot of seating for your big dinners. But, it depends on how you use the spaces.

Something like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015EDVVU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Or for other jobs needing more width for more cables/cords:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015EA3NO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can then paint them to match the wall color. I have both of these products in my home right now and they're great.

My friend just got a house and she's been asking for advice on how to decorate. The difficulty is that she likes large rustic farm-house type furniture (like this https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Smart-Wrangler-Sliding-Ashland/dp/B06XY21ZHQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1537413908&sr=1-6&keywords=wood%2Btv%2Bstand&refinements=p_36%3A-25000%2Cp_72%3A1248915011&th=1) which doesn't exactly go with the grey carpet in their new place. She plans on re-painting, and I suggested a dark navy over the red and to repaint the beige with a white. How do you make cherry wood furniture look good with this carpet?

​

EDIT: The picture is just how the house was staged so none of that furniture is staying. Sorry, forgot to mention.

You'd get some better responses if you provide a link. Are you talking about something like this?

I really like this book http://www.amazon.ca/Domino-Decorating-room---room-creating/dp/1416575464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413311164&sr=8-1&keywords=domino+book.

And then yes, I would pick up any decorating magazines at the store as they always have tips and rules, etc. (Once you've been buying them long enough, you see that they repeat themselves.)

Then beyond that, I just love looking through a professional decorator's book (ie: http://www.amazon.ca/Mary-McDonald-Interiors-Allure-Style/dp/0847833933/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413311318&sr=8-1&keywords=mary+mcdonald) There's usually not a lot of info, but if you study the rooms, you can sort of learn what to do and what not to do.

Domino: The Book of Decorating

This book is fairly basic and straightforward. It's intended for the non professional, and does a good introductory job of guiding you through different styles.

Understanding different styles is something you are able to do through time and experience. Read everything you can, browse other designers portfolios, check out design books from your library. The more visual information you take in, the more your eye will be able to distinguish between styles. Take note of the types of furniture used, the lines of the furniture, the types of fabrics (as well as the patterns and prints on the fabric), the architecture of the room, etc.

I was in a similar situation (parking lot instead of a street). I got some of this stuff and have lightweight curtains over them. Plenty of light and privacy. Easy to install.

Agree that this is probably the only usable layout and TV can only go above fireplace. But you want to do that cleanly with no visible cords.

If wall above fireplace is not hollow, I would build out the wall on top of the fireplace the minimum amount needed to run power and cable down (check with electrician). Then have electrician run power and data chase to the middle of it. Then install one of these pull down TV mounts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GSRRIVM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_yCJSzbPBANRF5