I need some decorating advice.... Please!!!!

I could really use some decorating advice for my living room - please help!!!    Less than a year ago, my dad put up some board and batten for me, so the bottom half of the room is white with white molding.  We then painted the top a color called "Tobacco Road".  It was the latest and greatest color on all the decorating blogs at the time...  It is a gold/tan color (I promise - not greenish like it looks on some of these pics).

As you walk in the front door, this is the view looking straight ahead and to the left.

Facing the same direction, but looking to the right.  This is an antique sewing table and chair that my dad restored for me.  I have three windows in the room and all three have these same red/floral valances.

And this has been my couch with the oh, so detested slip cover.  I dislike the color, fit, pretty much everything.  But underneath the slipcover was this....

We bought this couch soon after we moved into our first house, back when country blue was super in.  When I moved into this house, I thought all I wanted was reds, browns, tans, etc.  So slip covered it went.

Now I'm thinking I'm over the red and gold.  Maybe it's because I've seen so many cute blues/whites in the blogging world.  Maybe it's time to uncover the couch and remove the Tobacco Road.  Like this...

 

 

I lurve the House of Smith's blog.  Her favorite paint colors are :

Here is a shot of her entryway:

And a wall in her living room.

I am loving the blue/gray color.  The lightness/airiness of the white against the blue.  

Here is a bathroom done on another blog with a blue/gray color.

And just for kicks...  Look at her pantry on the House of Smith's....

Okay, so here is my dilemma.  Do I repaint the top of the living room with the blue gray color?  Get rid of the valance and add some gauzy white curtains and leave the couch as is?  As much as I would love to get a new couch, it's not in the budget.

The painting above the piano is staying as well as the sewing machine and chair but I am up to moving around and painting most anything else.  

Please, please I need some help!!!  My husband is well, a man.  He would have been happy with his parents decor from 1970.  I am feeling the need to lighten, brighten, open up and cheer up.  I do have a couple of other dilemmas that go along with this dilemma that I will save for another post.

Please post any suggestions that you have - good, bad, or anything else.  You won't hurt my feelings - I need your help!!!!