Andy and I are kinda in the same situation. We both want a new couch but with two dogs and two cats, It will have to wait. I know you will think I'm weird...but that's totally OK. I like the couch without the slip cover. Pay off the loans, the couch can wait! jusssayin

I love the idea of maps and floating shelves for that space. I don't want to mess with Ike's couch but I would get a new one as soon as the loans are paid off. So jealous you are so close, my payments start in June for grad school and I want to pretend they are not coming! We have a zoo and the couches that stand up the best are microfiber. Easy to wipe off and the hair doesn't seem to stick. We have a new couch with a different material in the front living room and I am actually going to have it reupholstered in microfiber.

i would not get a new couch because it is ike's and frankly if you get a new one it will become his, too and then you will be sad. i think whatever you do- maybe maps like anna said- you need to bring some of that blue from the globes to the other side of the room- maybe pillows, the lamp... somehow you need some blue over there!

I say no to the map behind the couch, way to much geography going on. Love the globes, but you don't want to overdo it. I think you need some type of pop of color in this room, whether is be through the decor in the pictures, or in the couch itself. My fiance is in medical school, and I just got my Master's so I can TOTALLY relate to debt. I say, pay it off first, you have your whole lives to buy a couch you'll love. What I would do is get a good slip cover that fits well, in a color that matches the globes, light blue, green, something mellow but fun. Then I would find some awesome accent pillows. But thats just me...

Pay off your debt first, for sure! Then celebrate with a new couch :p & definitely do wood floors, come on Nate!

I would hold off on the couch until after the loans are paid off. For now get a new slip cover that fits really well and some new pillows in the colors that you want to accent the room. After the loans are paid off get the hardwoods! That would make a much bigger impact than a new couch. And it would give you more time to pick out the perfect couch.

My vote is hold off on the new couch until your student loans are paid off. There is no better feeling than sending in that last amount. I switched out photos like yours for a floating shelf above my couch with a bunch of photos and I LOVE it - it added some dimension to the room and it is easy to add/take away color with photos or other objects! I agree with Cassie - maybe add some pillows or a colored lamp!
-Katie

That desk is amazing. I think a map is a great idea, it would complement all the globes you have.

color me completely jealous that you are close to paying yours off...i would definitely do that first too, if i didn't have tens of thousands of dollars still on mine :).

I love a large floating shelf with pics/maps arranged on it, in an overlapping manner. i think you know what i am talking about...i see it a lot in west elm catalouges.

as for the couch, only because i know you don't like anything too crazy with color...what about a charcoal grey? i am loving the mix of browns and greys lately. also it would hide doggie dirt better than white!

We recently have been contemplating things for our office. Instead of a couch we are going to get a futon in there, which would give us an extra place for people when they come over. They make some really great modern looking futons now, and yes some with microfiber for us who are owned by dogs.

Also, what about bookshelves? I am in love with the ladder style bookshelves. I want to get another and arrange my hoarding collection of old books, and random/antique knick knacks.

Whatever you do will be great, you have fab style.

I LOVE my floating shelves and frames and you could do that and add colored photos with places you have been that show the blues/greens/bright colors (and change them whenever the mood strikes) and colored accent pillows. I like the map/geography theme. Sherri

I think one GIANT photo of Ike would be great above the couch. You have the "collection" stuff going on with the globes (which I love) so I think another collection would look busy. Maybe do another more fitted/custom slipcover for the couch and a more colorful lamp too...

... because patterned curtains make me nervous - priceless! I think I have an issue with pattern as well but I DO love that rug!!!!!
I suggest adding another row of white frames at the bottom of the arrangement behind the sofa... the artwork could be floating a little too high? It's really hard to tell from the photo. Maybe add more of the small horizontal frames that are already in the arrangement - or if you are feeling 'rich' after the loan is paid off - add a sofa table with a vertical arrangement and the lighting behind the sofa. Just throwing thoughts out - you asked, right?
I think you have a beautiful start and a great eye for the room... just remember we are all on a budget and baby steps are ok... buy quality that lasts when you do invest and keep your eye on the goal!
And tell Ike he has a vote (even if he doesn't)

Honestly I'd just get a better fitting slipcover and keep the couch. If Ike likes it why change it, he probably uses the most anyway. Spend the money on the debt and then something else more important/fun.

I like continuing the geography theme, but I agree with a previous commenter that a full map would be too much. Pictures from your travels would be great. Perhaps do cool map throw pillows (like this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/83462968/novelty-state-pillow) or a different lamp shade (like this: http://www.etsy.com/listing/90287117/lamp-vintage-paris-map) to continue the theme. Both of those would be pretty easy to make yourself if you don't want to spent a bunch of money. And I confess: I totally like the couch without the slip cover. But people say that about the really hideous orange and faded green paisley couch I inherited from my uncle too. I don't get it.

What about reupholstering the couch instead of getting a new one? Then perhaps both you and Ike can have what you want!

Be brave Michelle! I think you need to add some colour down at that end of the room and I would carry the globe colours over. You could pimp your curtains by adding a grosgrain ribbon (no sewing, just iron on), a few bold pillows or some mats for the photos. Congrats to you on nearly being student loan free:)

I would add color. Since you don't want to add a pattern in the curtains (which is what I would do lol) I would say keep the couch and maybe get a new slipcover, colorful pillows and maybe a cute DIY coffee table with a pattern on it? Maybe use some blue since you have blue in the globes?

Pay off the debt! Get a better fitting slipcover and keep Ike's sofa. Bring some of the blues from the globes to the other side of the room... lamps, throw pillows, artwork. I think the floating shelves sound like a great idea.

Is it weird that I kind of like the couch, too? I guess Ike and I have similar tastes. By similar, I mean great.

I think it's because everything else (except the rug) is a solid but the couch has a pattern. The couch feels a little masculine which is a nice balance to the desk (I always feel like white desks are feminine). Point is, I think the couch is something you can live with until you're done with those loans but when you do end up replacing it, I think it would be nice to choose a pattern. :)

Keep the couch. Ike loves it, and if you get a new one, you'll probably have a cover on it because Ike will still hang out on it. Get new pillows to jazz it up. Pay off the loans. Maps would continue your theme with the globes, and bring in some color.

Don't you have some Simpsons art around your home that you could have migrate to the area above the couch? ;)

Love the new rug. My serious vote is floating shelves--that's what I'm planning to do above our couch! And I wish we were one couch away from paying off Rick's loans...

Keep the couch and get a more structured slip cover for now. When the times comes (once the loans are paid off) get the new couch. And I love the maps and wood floors, have them throughout my house and it is such an easy clean up!

Paying off debt is the best feeling! I love that Ike has his special spot...and I laughed aloud at the couch reveal. It reminds me so much of the couch my roomates and I had in college. Ours was worse though... Waterfowl. I'll leave it at that.

Do you need the couch? If not, I'd suggest two upholstered (my first thought was high-back) chairs and maybe a round ottoman or something for a great reading spot. Maybe a great buffet too or something to break up the wall space between the two chairs. I also love the idea of one big piece of art since you have so many great individual items to look at on the other end of the room, like the globes. I say find what you love and go for it!

Cheers to paying off your student loans! Once you do that celebrate by buying yourself (and Ike) a new couch. In "pet friendly" fabric of course. I like your idea of hanging a huge map behind it. Do you like to travel? Make it a map that you put little thumbtacks in to track where you've been. Functional and beautiful :)

I'm jealous that you're almost done paying off your loans. Once you're done I recommend pops of color (just subtle if you don't like a lot of color). I think it will bring out that cool rug and tie the room together. Also, I'm learning in my design course that you want to figure out how you are going to use the room and design accordingly. This means that if the humans are never going to use the couch because you like other places in your house to relax then you want to keep the couch or find one that can handle dog love. I hope that helps.

Just made the last payment on my student loan, so i know the sheer excitement you will be experiencing soon! About the couch, ever thought about PAINTING it? Sounds crazy i know, never tried it myself (yet) but have come across a few blogs lately telling how and showing the before and after. Gotta say, looks pretty interesting. Do a search on Pinterest. Heres one: http://fabricbliss.blogspot.com/2011/05/do-this-i-painted-couch-last-week-or-no.html

Your dog is so much a part of the design, it doesn't look the same without him :)

That is some exciting news that your almost finished with paying off your students loans! I know that I would be doing a little happy dance once that day comes:) I wanted to let you know that I love your blog soo much that I awarded you the Sunshine Award! It's just a little award for bloggers to give out to other blogs that bring sunshine into our lives. :) I hope you can stop by and check it out: http://thebloomingdaisy.blogspot.com/2012/03/sunshine-award.html

I say it's a keeper. and have fun with covers for now?

My vote would be floating shelves or a huge map to tie in your globes. I have a huge vintage map that usually hangs above my couch (which is floral and hideous by the way...and its not covered by slipcover either...). I haven't hung it back up since I moved though. I like the bright colorful pillow option too...I bet our girl Erin could hook you up. :)

Definitely pay off those loans! I'm jealous you're so close! And I think regardless of whether or not you get a new couch, you need to bring some color to the room! Maybe some bigger art with more pops of blues and greens to bring out the globes more, or some pillows!

First, I just want to thank you, Michelle, for that great tutorial on using Picnik to do blog headers. It was so slick & I had been wanting to that for the longest time but was rather stumped -- I'm sure it is an "old age" mental-thing, but stumped never the less. I'm so excited to have created my new blog header & have even been playing around with some other collage things. Now, please, if you come up with an alternative to Picnik, please let me know, okay?

Now about your office. It certainly looks like a very spacious room, & I love your built-ins. I think I would go for a large map over the sofa, carrying out the theme you already have going with your great display of globes above your desk area. As far as sofas, since Ike does like the current one, I would probably wait until I could afford a really good model that has nice fitting slipcovers. I'm thinking of those I've seen at Crate & Barrel, but know there are less expensive versions. I do think you are wise to pay off those student loans, first!
CAS

I say keep the existing couch and get a snug-fit cover (maybe in a white denim to simulate the PB slipcover look) for ease of washing, durability, etc. Make some colorful throw pillows for pops of color. I like the idea of a large picture of Ike above the couch - perhaps on canvas! How about putting floating shelves on the smaller wall next to the window and use the existing frames to put pics of places you have traveled? (that way you continue with your "travel, geography" theme without going too overboard)

Congrats on almost being school-loan debt free! What a great feeling that will be! I just paid off one of my mortgages (for one of my rental properties)....feels great! (of course, just the next month I needed to replace the roof and remodel the bathroom due to water damage from roof leak, yikes!)

I was going to suggest bringing in some of the color from the globes too, but totally wait until those bastard loans are gone. I just got my official notice last week that mine are paid off and it is a happy place to be. Maybe Ike needs one of those doggie thrones that are hideously ugly pieces of furniture?

I am so jealous that you so close to paying off your student loans. CONGRATULATIONS!! I knwo you are not there yet but soon and that is amazing! I won't have mine paid off for 8 more years.

How about a couple of floating shelves above the couch with pictures and 2 or 3 of your globes from above the desk area? You could spread out the remainder of the globes, which might look nice.

My sister has a love seat similar to your couch, only the previous owner's cats used it as a gigantic scratching post. It's really comfortable, though. I think a really cool fitted slip cover in a color other than tan, brown, white, or gray would look great (not that I'm trying to tell you to put some color into that room).

Or maybe make a couple of globes into sconces and mount them on that couch wall.

I know whatever you do, it will look great.

I like the couch. It looks comfy.

My dog has a weird obsession with my great grandmother's old victorian couch. It is the least comfortable piece of furniture we own, and it needs to be stuffed and reupholstered really bad...but I find him there all the time.