What kind of guitar should i buy?

I'm a novice guitar player who's eager to be a respectable musician, but i'm tired of strumming on my dad's old nylon string... it just feels wrong. I would go to my local music store and ask one of the "professional" salesmen, but i'm apprehensive in that i don't want what to be sold something that he/she is just trying to get off the sales floor. What I'm looking for is a steel string acoustic, one that I can easily play lots of different genres of songs with. I would prefer a cutaway body type, and something moderately stylish wouldn't hurt either. The real kicker however is that i would like something a little more quiet than your garden variety acoustic. I see myself as more of a rocking chair on the porch guitarist than a jam session/wailing as loud as I can guitarist. I know next to nothing about brands, only that most of my friends who play are very opinionated. Any input on shopping for guitars, what to ask, avoid, or anything else helpful is mucho appreciado.