Jane, I was not attempting to discourage you from painting your floor. I just wanted to share what I learned through my own experience, because you had mentioned that you once considered using tile. Also, whoever buys the house might choose a floating floor and the paint wonÂt make a difference. Although I decided not to use paint on my porch/sunroom, I plan to go ahead with painting the plywood floor in the finished basement. Like you, I am contemplating a beachy (or summery) look, especially since I am on the coast. I thought about a distressed white or a gray similar to weathered shingles or weathered wood (ThereÂs so much of it around here). The patterned floors look great and seem like fun. The possibilities are endless. You can use stencils or sponging. You can also paint a faux area rug. This year I donÂt have the time or patience to attempt a pattern, but I am trying to learn decorative painting and maybe soon I can acquire the skills to attempt a pattern. For now, the painted floor is something inexpensive to go under area rugs. IÂm no help with a color scheme, but your wicker serving cart is great and will probably look good no matter what colors you choose. With area rugs, lots of plants and that lovely wicker cart, the floors donÂt have to be noticeable unless the paint looks really good.

I am shocked at how everyone is pooh poohing the water saving feature. It is so much better for the environment that we will be leaving for our kids and grandkids someday. In the coming years, water will become the new "oil" as shortages become more frequent all over the world. The water you use needs to be treated before and after it was used and that takes energy and expense. My front loaders rock and I am so grateful for them. They clean much larger loads than my top loaders could have (my old house had a nice size set and my current house had a small set when we moved in). I use cold water now and I could not have gotten away with that in my old top loaders. I had tried, but they did not get clean enough. I don't know if it is my machine or HE detergent, but I almost never use anything but cold with my top loader. I save a little money from using less water, but being able to use cold water saves a ton. The dryer is quicker because the washer leaves things dryer at the finish. I think the reason the washer takes so long is it has a lot of dormant time when it is just soaking. It does not run the entire time a load is in. The wash load does take longer, but it washes more and gets it cleaner. Because they wash a larger load and dry faster, any extra length to the wash cycle is no big deal IMHO. I do leave the washer door open when not in use to keep it from getting swampy. It is because there is such a good seal on the front loader's door (for obvious reasons). I don't find leaving the door ajar to be a hardship, lol. I love vintage things, like the 1940 Chambers stove we are using in our new kitchen, but I would never use a real old inefficient fridge nor would I consider an older washer. I like recycling and living as green as I can, so if I won't use an older item, it is for a reason and not from snobbery.

Thanks everyone. I think I will have the curtains made and the room painted and wait and see before committing to the white for the chairs. I love the curtain fabric and if the white looks wrong I'm sure I could find a creamier matelasse if I look hard enough. I just want to have it all "done" but I don't want to regret any decisions either. My kids think the empty room is pretty fun anyways! I'll update with pictures when those steps are done:)

Do you in general need more storage? I like the idea of a reading room, so bookcases with cupboards beneath, perhaps with a "window" seat space in the middle (though I know there's no window on that back wall). Or just space to hang a lovely painting between bookcases. Plus chairs and ottoman/coffee table as suggested above. Plants for sure.