Developing Board Awareness - Help

I've been playing on here since Jan and had many great games but need some direction in filling a general deficiency in my play. With a ranking around 1299+/-50 I can play a tight game but feel lost in the middle game unless it involves already having a material advantage and simply running down the opponent. But when facing a solid 1400+ player they seem to have a much stronger sense of the outcome of certain moves/positions, and I simply cannot keep up by relying on winning via a material advantage, because more solid players don't make simple mistakes.

 Can anyone recommend a pathway from this plateau?

 Many thanks to all and any who take the time to respond.

If you're 1300 here, I'd advise "The Amateur's Mind" first, though the content is similar.

 If you haven't read Chernev's "Logical Chess Move by Move" go buy it ASAP and keep it for when your kids are learning. Best serious student / adult beginner book ever.