wow, thanks so much for all your thoughtful responses!! I didn't expect to get so many. I have lived in my house for about three years now and the ugly side of my house has been a THORN IN MY SIDE! And I was just stuck about what to do. I think the biggest obstacle for me was getting rid of the rock and preparing the soil. But I've found the solution for that! I'm "hiring" my little brother to come over and dig it all out for me :) I'm thinking about keeping most of the rock and using it as mulch like how Remy did (the very last photo on the post)... no sense in spending more money on new mulch when I already have some, right? After reading all of your ideas and advice I feel pretty confident that it'll work out. I'll take all your advice and just take some of the plants I have up front - the daylily, yarrow, sedum, coneflower, black eyed susans, etc., - divide them up and plant them there. I'm not sure about the pine trees, though. I LOVE the idea of having a couple there and I have a vision that they'll look fantastic but I've already spent soo much money on garden stuff this spring that I'm going to cheap out on it... My mother has some young (like less than 2 feet high) boxwood shrubs that she's going to dig out to thin out the front of her garden so I was thinking about using that instead. What do you think? And maybe for the first couple of years I can put some covering over them so they don't get trampled by the snow. Hopefully whoever moves in won't be cruel and throw snow on them. Thank you for the compliments, too :) The front garden has literally gone from nothing to that in three years since we bought the house and I did an overhaul on it. It does need more work.. things need to get reorganized and divided. Sigh... it's never ending work but so rewarding in the end. Anyways, once I'm done with this project (I have several more in the back yard, too!) I'll post some photos. Thanks again!!

greywings, The opening facing the fireplace is to the front entry of the house. It kind of divides the fireplace in half. I hadn't thought of putting the chairs in front of the fireplace. And my dh would love to put an sectional where you are suggesting. He's suggested that a few times. It would have to be a fairly small one since that is not a few big area. Here is a picture looking at the fireplace from the foyer. (Please ignore that ugly green paint that I've since painted over!) And another older one looking more directly where the two recliners are now. (Sorry it's so blurry) Also, what would you put in the corner to the left behind the recliners? Since that's looking into the room from the entrance, would looking at the back of the recliners looks good? I could put a table between them, but a lamp would be difficult without using a rug behind them to reach the outlet. Thanks for the help. I've been struggling with the shape of this room for some time. I've even tossed up the idea of closing in that opening that leads from the foyer, but it would be strange to walk into the house and directly towards the kitchen area. (of course, everyone always heads that way anyhow!) Robbi

I would hang the two prints as you showed in the second to last mockup (with the four little pieces around them, only don't use those). Then I would get two wall-mounted, plug-in style lamps to hang on either side of the prints, to give you light over the couch and end tables without the clutter of lamps there. Maybe something like this? I like the modern aesthetic, and how the curve of the back plate picks up on the curves in the artwork. ROBERT ADLER LAMP I would stick with the first rug. The flowing effect of the rug is a nice balance for the very angular feel of the couch and loveseat.. Consider this pillow from Pier 1. Notice how the flower pattern echoes the flowers in the prints and also the subtle background flowers that you almost don't see in the print. Plus it pulls down the warmer tones from the print onto the cooler color of the couch/loveseat. floral pillow

Well the room is morphing into something else. Son likes this cheap "O" jazz mirrored mural, its sorta cool and cheesy at the same time. The furniture was looking a little too mature so I think the mural adds some 20yr old youth and it ties in the black and light gray carpet to the room. It will be spaced and placed behind the sofa and take up a big area. He has a long narrow room that's now limited on space due to the big a$$ chair, difficult having any symmetry so thinking of two matching small bench/stool/ottoman type seating across from chair. I did a layout to scale and sm bench/stools are the only way to get extra seating without blocking the TV viewing. Of course I am now hung up on seating again. I found a sight online called m!dnight velvet; don't know anything about them except they have some low cost slightly unusual stuff. Son doesn't have much room for more side tables (see large coffee table in above post) so we are thinking of the sm head or the tufted ceramic stool/tables below to use as a table and possibly doubling as extra seating (but not sure). The rooms accent colors will need to change as well but we are waiting for the mirror mural for inspiration. Right now we are thinking a purple/blue accent but that could change. Also think we need texture but not sure how to add that unless it's just in some pillows or I come up with another idea for stools/tables/bench. We also decided against black curtains in the living area, might be too much black with the black carpet and black in mirror mural so we bought these pale gold ones from sm@rtbargins. The window is across the room from the big a$$ chair so I was thinking it would look better to have a similar color on the window to balance it out a bit. I'm trying to buy all the furniture from craigslist to stay in my $1,200 budget (not including accessories) but still need a 48" round used dining set. I'm so sick sick sick of looking on CL but have too to keep the cost down. If I see one more ad that says "designer" I'm going to flip a lid! Of course it's designer, someone designed it!!! And don't get me started on "custom" ads. P.S, I'm sorry about these pictures but I'm having trouble with my cable or photobucket and also my overloaded brain so please forgive as I will figure it out later. P.S.S, thank you my friend for helping me look for canvas art, I feel really bad I didn't post the cheesy mural earlier ( but I REALLY thank you all for help and kind words!!! http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/e88f54b5.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/4d8bbec8-1.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/b7267bed-1.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/48ca1471.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/c9fd2ac2.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/c8a527cd.jpg" target="_blank">http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/c420cee8.jpg" target="_blank">