Clyft, yes, the Smoky Mountain is on the fireplace wall, as well as through the living room, the foyer, the upstairs hall, and the kitchen. It really does well with the natural woodwork and the neutral-with-green-undertones carpet that we had to work with. When we first sampled it I was afraid it looked rather stodgy and dated, but once it was on the walls it has enough of a grayed-out cast to it to look contemporary. In some lights it looks much more blue, and in some it looks green. Meghnjosh, good luck with your blues! I actually didn't want to go with blue, but this was definitely the choice that worked the best with the other requirements we were working around. And it has enough gray and green in it that it works for me. The Wedgewood Gray that we did in the mudroom (no pictures) is too blue for me; we'll be changing that when we have time. At least it is still better than the dingy white it was before!

thanks, CEfreeman, you're so nice! we loved the space and the layout, but goodness did those pinky cabinets have to go! that pink oak was the trim all over the house... most rewarding painting project ever. the space was missing a microwave, and moving the cooktop off the island has been fantastic. i feed my two preschoolers there five times a day like a short-order cook. and when it's time to make cookies or pasta it's a great workspace! since the floor was there from previous owner, we had to get a maple that worked with its colors. a white shaker style was in my heart, but the home needed some warmth, earthiness and class. hard to inject into a 1991 boring home! that nook on the other side is actually all paperwork/junk drawers. the bottom right cab is an office pull-out file drawer. and the uppers hold all incoming mail/kids school paperwork/meds/etc.

Thanks for all your comments. I really appreciate them. So based on the suggestions, I think I would like to try changing the striped canvas art to be behind the couch and cover that large wall. Here is an idea of how it would look (made with only image editor) The canvas is 48x48, hope is okay for that wall Then take my time to fill the wall above the console with art/pictures that mean something to us (family, places. music, etc.) in different frame sizes and forms to avoid being too square with TV and mirror. I will take my time with that :) Definitely liked the idea of bringing a bigger lamp to the console table.. what a change! Thank you!! I will get another one :) I love the idea of painting the candle holders in orange.. will try. They belonged to my husband's grandparents... need to check I'm not a big fan of 'faux' plants, so I was considering a live one, but by the window next to the mirror instead of infront the mirror - here are my thoughts This is the bar cart we had in mind.. is quite expensive ($600!!) from Crate and Barrel This option, maybe with basket w/pillows and throws next to the plant? and then have a console table infront the dinning window and but our liquor there? Window treatments - at the beginning we wanted to leave the windows open to appreciate the back yard (we plan to have nice flowerbeds, etc), but the Texas sun is too strong to leave the windows with nothing.. I am trying to find something that will provide shade, but will allow to look outside and see the backyard as well. We put bamboo shades in the dining room that I plan to frame with curtains later on (see last pic). Will those go in the living room as well? I bought these, but was thinking to return them... I like them, just did not find a 'good wall' for them. what do you think? Once again, thank you!

Thanks AnnKH. Well I would never post a before without having an after to go with it. But I don't think people can appreciate the sheer magnitude of my effort without seeing the before picture. And I want all the accolades I can get! :D LOL ROFL