I don't think it's disfuntional or ugly, I really like it specially the realism of the chair.
I think probably this still a little hi poligon count for this kind of models. I'm not exactly a good modeler so I can't give you much recomendations but I'd sugest you visit this site:
http://fast3d.actionbabecentral.com/index.htm
download some of his models and study them, he is a really master in low poligon modeling for
Poser (probably he goes to the other extreme but is a good starting point) and he use a very basic modeler called anim8or, I think he is a really master. I'm beginig to do my first clothing modeling and to study this models was really helpfull for me.
You have great ideas and good skils Erenda, don't listen much to your mother
(about your models of course).
Ather thing, I've heard that
Poser don't like much triangulated figures, don't understand exactly why, but if you pay atention most of the
Poser models have mainly squared poligons.