home makeover. downstairs great room

Here is a side of me I hate to admit is there but I figured if I was going to do a before and after of our downstairs living area it should be a realistic view. This is life with a busy body toddler and a new baby. Its messy, chaotic, and super unorganized. I hate it! Not the kid part but the messy part of course. I feel clausterphobic in this space. I need open, clean, fresh spaces. 

First picture is from the hallway. we have long skinny hallway from our front door and it opens up into this great room space. 

 On the stairs- yes there is food out everywhere, ryan emptied the fridge while I was taking these cause I forgot to put the lock back on it.

 Projects in the works are: new grey sectional from costco, paint the entertainment center, put a collage of fun things on the wall above couch and a few other places, put ottoman upstairs because our couch came with one!

 take down those horrid blinds that break all the time and replace them with pretty curtains that help keep the heat IN my house. large canvas over kitchen table and some sort of pretty centerpiece thats not left over dishes from all the meals we had brought in when west was born (yeah I know that was FIVE weeks ago) rug under kitchen table. half blinds or curtains over sink window

 I think we were watching land before time on tv... ewww look at how messy this is! I am so embarrassed right now.

my painted hodge podge book cases with the huge eye sore that is our fish tank. Arent those supposed to be pretty or something? what if I split up the book cases and put that black leather ottoman in between and hung a picture or something in the middle OR my star repainted.

I have a lot to paint, including the candy apple red bar stools (what was I thinking) they will be black to match our table. btw I HATE PAINTING this will be interesting.

Okay one room at a time right? Luckily the boys rooms are pretty much DONE and our master is almost. its just this big space that we spend 80% of our time in.