Parma, I always love looking at your house and of course parts of it reminds me of mine. I love, love, love that Chinoiserie piece! I don't know about the rules but I think that Chinoiserie piece would be a nice break from the wood that you have now. Your window wall reminds me of mine in my GR and the drapes are so going to warm up your space. I wil leave you to the experts but just wanted to chime in that I love what you have so far.

Parma, I hope you're not reading this....I hope you're out getting that Chinoiserie cabinet! It is wild! At the risk of sounding profligate in a downward spiraling economy, I think that for $300 it is worth the risk. It could jus be so fun and fabulous. And if it isn't....well you could "eat" the $300 or flip it for $400. The choice is yours!

I like the skirted table idea because it brings in an opportunity to play with fabric. Before you choose the fabric, I would figure out the draperies. It doesn't say old lady to me at all, especially if you use an animal print, which btw, I think is a neutral in one's wardrobe, so why not in the home? (run-on sentence much?)

As for matching WTs, I think they should coordinate, speak to each other, echo if you will, but not necessarily match. So, if that's a rule, please break it. My feeling is they should be the same style and fabric type, but a slightly different color. Or same fabric color and type, but a different style (shades in one room, panels in the other, for example). You know, two out of three. I think I would want to delineate the function of each room slightly in this way.

The chairs, it almost goes without saying, are fabulous. I am so happy for you! :-)

Love the chairs! And they really do a great job of bringing the walls and woods together.. they are perfect! I love that they are comfortable too.

I will jump on the band wagon.. I love the chinoiserie china cab too! The gold will work so nicely with your wall color.. and yes, it should do the same thing a mirror would.. but with more impact and with more warmth.

I just keep remembering how I loved the look of the chinoiserie coffee table mixed with your colors and textures .. it is a perfect style to mix it up!

Have to also agree with Amy on the animal print. It will look great and I don't think it is old ladyish at all! I would wait until you have selected WTs and pillows though-- they could very well affect the tones and scale of your animal print.

Also agree that you need two different WTs.. I pictured similar colors and fabric texture but different patterns-- and different scales (I picture larger scale in the LR and smaller in DR). WTs are not my strength though so I defer to others for specific suggestions.

Your rooms are looking great.. so glad it is coming together so nicely!

Funkyart's mention of scale reminded me of one of my favorite tricks....that is to use a pattern that presents as a solid from afar and then reveals itself only upon closer inspection. If that table hollers cheetah from the front door, it probably will not be a nice thing. :) I like to think of it as a whimsical surprise, waiting for a visitor to get all the way into the room, something to draw them in, in fact.

Parma, it's wonderful! You have such a lovely restrained palette, and your things have great graceful lines...I think the Chinoiserie cabinet will give you just the dramatic whack you want. Do it!

Your new chairs are lovely as is that cabinet. It would look fabulous in your home.

Gorgeous. please share regarding the bunching tables in fron to the sofa. I am looking for two of these tables & they are difficult to find. Most lines don't make them. thanks

Thanks everyone!

Deborahnj, I'm dreading the draperies because I know they'll be too much $$$. I should have done them first but am secretly hoping I'll run out of money (which I will in a day or two) and then can buy 'off the rack'. Yours are so gorgeous!

Amy and funky, you're two of my biggest cheerleaders. I would have given up by now if it wasn't for you. I know what you mean about the patterns appearing like solids. I have that going on now with the upholstered pieces and the Oushak in the LR.

Bronwynsmom, thanks to you, too. While I love dark, dramatic colors, they just didn't seem to fit in this house. The yellow makes me smile. :)

Bru, I know that our styles aren't all that similar but I love your house and am glad you show up on my posts. Thanks.

Debbimc, if I tell you where I got the tables, you'll have to promise to keep it a secret. I have champagne taste on a beer budget. While I can get some nicer new pieces, I have to mix them with cheaper ones. After looking and pricing the bunching tables, we ended up getting these on Overstock and painting them gold. They come in black with some weird grey streaking on them.

I love how the bunching tables turned out-- this is the first I have seen them. Your instincts were right on for the size, shape AND color!

I have had a really hard time finding something to work with my brass and glass nested tables from RH. Now, I know that I can count on you to tell me how to transform iron into gold. ;)

Your chairs are just beautiful Parma!

Yes, yes, yes on the chinoiserie china cab too! It's wonderful piece!

Parma, you have such a great eye for both beer and champagne priced items that I have no doubt that you will find or have made some wonderful drapes when you are ready. I've watched the progress of your home and you are doing an excellent job. You've in some ways become my benchmark because our styles are so similar so I'm rooting for you girl.

Now what about that Chinoiserie cabinet, are you going to get it?

Hi Parma,
I love how those chairs look in that room. And the stripe on the fabric is a nice detail. I was wondering a/b what fabric did you pick and that's just perfect.

The whole room looks gorgeous! And the chairs are perfect!

LOVE the cabinet! Did you get it?

Jan (another one with champagne/martini taste -- and beer money!)

Thanks Jan and zipdee!

Deborahnj, you are so sweet. It's people like this on GW that keep me trudging.

I emailed for more specs on the chinoiserie and got a vague response. "Yes, it's still available...it's around 4 ft...it's old." That was it. With DH's work schedule, we'd have to wait until Saturday to see it and if we liked it, then find someone to move it for us. Chicago's CL is full of warnings about the various movers. There are stories about people agreeing on a price and then refusing to take the furniture off the truck unless you pay them more. Another scam is to demand payment up front and then show up and dump the pieces at the curb.

Ah, to be young again...with good backs and a truck. :)

I say yes to the chinoiserie china cab, too! It's a nice piece & sounds like a great price on CL.

I LOVE, LOVE your new chairs!!!

Thanks betteratthlake (I love your name). I used to love to fish and would look forward to being 'up at the lake'.

Bella, I hope you noticed that I thanked you in my OP. Sure wouldn't want you to think I was ignoring the troublemaker who started all of this. :)

Parma, you're doing a beautiful job of decorating. I love your new chairs. I hope you can get that beautiful cabinet. It would look so lovely in your home.

I love it all! I love the new chairs w/ the table and the mix of wood against painted wood. I think Bronwynsmom nailed it on the head! Great job!

I must ask though: Will you share the wall color?

Yaaayyyyy Parma!

Hi Parma: You are very welcome :-)
Can't wait 'til you get to the draperies part. That would be fun. :=>

Parma, you and I have the same end table! The one sitting between the two windows next to the chair.

TTodd, sure I will. :) It's SW Ivoire. I especially like it when the sun's out or the chandy's lit.

Oakleyok, I bought that table, used, a few years back and am trying to find a place for it in our new house. The finish got ruined from my overwatering a plant and I'll have to paint it or something.

Thanks to everyone else and now the WTs will be a challenge. The economic downturn has now hit DH's business. Unfortunately, all promised raises and bonuses have been put on hold. Timing couldn't be worse as our move to Chicago has proved a costly one (much higher cost of living, here). We found out about it just after I ordered the chairs. :( It could be much worse. At least he still has a job, unlike so many others.

Why, oh why, didn't I learn to sew like my mother? Hey Igloo, want to come to Chicago for a while? :)

Parma, your chairs are beautiful and glad to hear they are comfortable too. The chinoiserie is also beautiful and I think it will give your room another wow to your room, you have very good taste.

I hope you won't mind if I maybe buying the same dining room chairs, I tried to not copy you but three different chairs I picked the store didn't carry that brand. They do carry Drexel H. but none in the store to look at, so I will just look how pretty yours look in your room. Now I just have to wait for the salesperson to tell me the price with the upgrade of fabric, hope that won't be too much. You chose a very pretty color for your chairs and looks very classy. Good luck on selection of drapes, I know it takes awhile to decide.
Evelyn

No problem, levelyn42. They say that "Imitaion is the sincerest form of flattery".

Just so you know, these aren't as dainty as they may look. They're a nice size, which pleased my 6'4" DH. :)

Thanks

Parma, glad you don't mind about me getting the chairs, mine will be the dark wood, too bad I have to buy them sight unseen. These will go in my breakfast area, which is near the front door. Thanks for warning me about them not being dainty, just hope our feet can touch the floor, we aren't tall, except for son who is 6'2 and he doesn't live here.
Evelyn

Love your chairs, Parma! They look comfy as well as beautiful. Glad your DH is pleased. Enjoy!

Wow, Parma. Love your new chair!!
Did you get the cabinet?? Would love to see a photo if you did. :O)

Thanks stinky and totally. I'll know more about the chinoiserie on Saturday.

Not to worry, levelyn. I just meant that the chairs were a bit more spacious than I thought they'd be, compared to my last chairs. Your feet will be able to touch the floor. I promise. :)

Parma, this isn't what you asked for but just want to say I love your floor plan.

Ha bigdoglover, that's what I fell for, too. And the model had all these great (expensive) window treatments. *sigh*

It wasn't until we moved in and discovered with all these stupid windows, there was no wall space for art. Windows everywhere!! The family room has so many useless ones that we can't watch TV without having blinds everywhere and we have to keep the high ones closed because I can't reach up to open and close them. D*mn DH and his love of two-story rooms.

Then there's a box bay, over the kitchen sink, that's so deep I can't reach to open the window. And I'm tall! What were they thinking?

Sorry for the rant, phew! I feel much better now. :)

I am not a big fan of the chinoiserie cabinet - I think it takes you away from the warm,sort of country french feeling you are creating. And for sure I don't see it in the same space as that corner hutch. Eclectic is fine, but sometimes too much and too many move from eclectic to perhaps jumbled.

That said, if you decide on the cabinet, I hope you would consider putting it on the wall space between the dining and living areas, where you now have the console and candlesticks. I think the drama of the piece will be lost stuck in the alcove. Use the alcove for a built-in marble topped server and glass-front cabinet above, wine storage below, almost a built-in bar. Change the can light to a spot that you can direct on that space, and let all the barware shine and sparkle.

Les, you're like a dog with a bone about that corner hutch and have a great memory! :) I guess my efforts to take pics with that piece missing didn't fool you one bit.

Your idea for the alcove sounds fabulous. However, the economic downturn has hit home a bit and I don't know if I could find enough "blood in the turnip" to swing something like that. When you say "built-in" do you mean it would be one piece or a built-in bottom with a vitrine over it? I'll look around for some ideas. If nothing else, to put on my wish list.

Thanks!