oops, wrong plan above - this is the corrected one

Really like the way you're getting extra storage into the room. The idea of some low piece under the window is intriguing - it would be very close to the media console, so in order for the room not to end up looking like a furniture showroom, I think it would have to be some completely different style. I'm actually wondering if one of the over-the-top Asian pieces I see on Overstock.com might work. Haven't looked for 42" wide cabinets there yet, but I've come across some interesting pieces in my search for coffee and end tables.

Found a boring but functionally not terrible coffee table on overstock. The cubbies will let me stash a few items, and the tapered legs echo the legs of my sofa. OMG, I think I'm getting desperate. Does anyone have any experience with rubberwood?

Maybe with this oval end table? (Which has a tiny drawer!)

Stuff: Like the first highboy a lot. Not so much the second (looks like it might topple over!). The third is kind of amazing, though it's way too traditional for me - $200? Are you serious?

As for the fabrics - love the first two. Immediately started mocking up the second as draperies or roman shades - either might work to recover my chair. :-) The third has pretty colors, but it doesn't work for me. Too traditional, I guess.

Cool stuff. :-)

Okay, you can keep the table where it is. At last I say so. You still have to talk to gwbr! I got no truck with her. :-)

Come to think of it, those curtain rods are exactly like my bathroom towel bars. But, I can't see the bathroom from my LR, fortunately.

Another idea regarding a coffee table is two smaller tables you can separate or place together. Visually, it is less chunky and easier to manuever around. Something like the PB tables shown in the link. The other pieces in that collection have a modern edge to them which I think would go well in your apt.

Here is a link that might be useful: coffee table

I love the shape of the oval end table, but I suspect the quality may not be great. Big O also has the cabinet:

Completely agree about the cabinets next to each other. They do need to be completely different. I'd place a 'pouf' or ottoman or plant or something in between to soften. Was thinking of other ways to hide a/c - maybe artwork on a small easel.

Now that you're somewhat set on what you need, and its approximate size, you need to think about color. You certainly don't want everything to match, but it's not a large space, so you don't have a long leash. I'd consider sticking with media center's wood tone (just color, not wood species) for several other pieces, and then adding just one or two accent pieces in a black or colorful lacquer, metal, or glass. b-t-w, measure before buying! I could easily have other, um, discrepancies in the floor plan.

Here is a link that might be useful: another craigslist

Have you checked IKEA for tables. They tend to be smaller scale and budget friendly with clean lines. Might not be your cup of tea, but thought I'd mention it.

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA searc for coffee table

Just got back from target and they have the "Warmth" print for $69!! I bought it because as I said, I love it. I thought I didn't have a place for it, but I do!! Hurry!

Don't know if an area rug will make it into the mix or not, but for sizing, it looks like 6x9(or a bit bigger), laid with longer side parallel to windows, would visually widen the room. 5x8 is easier to find, but I think you want larger so that 7-ft wide sofa anchors the rug.

Hey Amy! You've given up on the placement of the dining table, but gwbr apparently hasn't. ;-)

Gwbr - tell ya what. I will move my current dining table to the other corner to see what it's like there. Quite sure it won't work - it's a very small corner. I love that your layout gives me room to have a tall cabinet for storage and display BUT I have to warn you, the functional dining requirements vis-a-vis the tv might have to take precedence. ;-)

Agree that the quality of the oval table might not be up to my standards... probably won't be, in fact. I've seen pieces like that at West Elm and C&B, and while they were very nice for knock-down furniture, I feel like I'm past that stage in my life and would like something that looks more...uh, like real furniture, I guess.

Question: If I stick with the media console's wood tone, but the other pieces don't match it, will it look like I'm trying to match it but missed??

Lyfia, thanks for the Ikea suggestion. Not really what I'm looking for (but where were they when I was 20??? ;-))

Kmcg - major score on the Warmth print! Wow! Hang it quick and post pictures!!!

Back to gwbr - rugs - C&B has 6x9 rugs. Interesting to run it sideways like that - I wouldn't have thought of it! Kind of cool. I'm fascinated that you posted such colorful rugs - that wouldn't be too much with a large colorful print and the colorful pillows??? (I want to hang that Warmth-like rug on my wall, btw!)

Here's my favorite rug at C&B:

Also, am now reconsidering a coffee table & end tables from C&B that I had previously rejected for being boring and not satisfying my functional requirements - drawers, or at the very least a SHELF!!! (Sigh - why couldn't they have at least had a shelf...) But the wood on these tables is BEAUTIFUL - solid mango wood, which has a gorgeous, glowing, richly grained surface. And they're quite inexpensive, which means I could maybe replace them someday if I found something more suitable. (I'm thinking I can get around the storage problem through judicious use of baskets...)

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Also considering this as the "round" end table... It's carbon steel with a burnt orange powdercoat finish.

Finally, was considering this coffee table from C&B because it has lots of hidden storage - the top is divided in half and the halves slide to the sides, exposing a large space inside. But (a) it's actually difficult to open and close it - you wouldn't use it on a regular basis like a drawer, and (b) it's two tones of wood, and I have no idea what I would do for end tables with it. Plus it's quite expensive for something that would still have its own problems.

Ah, final question for everyone!!! Picked up some fabric samples for those Peyton drapes at PB - really beautiful. The choices range from dark brown (my original thought) to various light neutral colors (too boring?) to light green (too much green with chair?) to RED. Really considering RED. Really??? Thoughts, anyone???

Thank you HUGE THANKS to gwbr, kmcg, Amy, and everyone else who's been participating on my thread! Your thoughts and suggestions are INVALUABLE!!!

Well, you're talking to a woman who put two giant red bookcases (from Ikea, no less!) in her breakfast room. But, I don't think red is the way to go. Orange maybe? Or maybe much less of a statement...more of a tone-on-tone feeling.

I am wondering if the green of the chair and the green curtains work well together. If so, it might bring the upholstery fabric more into play, since you seem a bit disappointed at how light that fabric turned out.

I am noticing in my house that I do better when I leave the WTs 'til last. I have a feeling that since you don't need them, you might do well to settle on other things first, like a rug and art. You may find those choices will inform your decision about draperies.

I love the little orange end table. That is just wonderful. If you find ways to add storage elsewhere in the room, can you free yourself up to use less-useful tables near the sofa?

Two giant red bookcases? I can totally imagine that in your house! They must look fantastic.

I also looked at curtains in JC Penney today, and I did a crazy thing. I had pulled out my camera to take a picture of some curtains I liked, and I flipped over to a photo of my living room with the furniture and the colorful pillows and was holding the camera up against the curtains to see how they would all look together. Got some strange looks from the sales staff. ;-) But anyway, that's how I started thinking maybe red would work...

The PB curtains do come in orange too - great shade. Except I've never actually been crazy about orange, so I don't think I would want it for curtains. A little orange metal table though - that thing's been growing on me for some time. I wonder if it would look okay to put a lamp on it, or if I should think about putting a floor lamp behind the table... ???

Green curtains, green chair... Feels like a lot of green on that wall, but not on the others. I dunno.

How come it's so easy when *you* do it, Amy? ;-)

Charlikin, I just love the recent coffee table pictures that you posted and that beautiful rug! I also love red as accents and I am scared since I ordered deep red chairs for my home office for the guests to sit on and now I wonder if I should have went safe and went with the black chairs with the cherry arms since I now have color with my Brazilian Cherry floors. I added orange silk flowers to my living room and I love them! I added a red tea pot to my kitchen and I love the pop of the happy red color.

JC Penney has very nice curtains.

By the way, I love that small colorful pillow which is what I may do to my sofa! My beige/taupe sofa definitely needs some color.

I absolutely adore the little ginger side table! No storage, and a little pricey for what it is, but it really has 'something'. Why NOT hang that warmth-like rug on the wall? At $139 for 41"x65", is probably less expensive than a print. Or, if you really like it as a rug, there's a 7'10x9'10, which would not be too large for your seating area - costs $559.

Why ah just assumed after djsaw reminded us about the revolving TV stand, that the dining table placement was settled. Did ah misconstrue? (My southern accent returns when I prevaricate.)

What you said about wanting grown-up furniture: spend more time with 'furniture by owner' listings on CL. (Unless of course, you don't like the idea of used furniture - I know some people don't.) More interesting stuff there, and less money to boot.

For instance, it occurred to me that if the dining table stays next to sofa (gasp), that one way to add storage would be to replace your entry bookcases with a tall storage cabinet. Then, depending on how many books you have, books could go on those tall, spine bookcases (see CB2 or DWR) on the short wall between living and office area.

Your rug and artwork choices both have bold color contained in tight geometric patterns. That's probably too much to use together, at least in close proximity. You have three distinct areas, and I'd spread them out, like rug in seating area, but artwork in dining area or office area. Of course, you'll have other artwork, but maybe not as bold.

Still thinking about the coffee table, end tables, and cabinet storage.

One last thing - what's the window sill height? It looks maybe 28-in?

gwbr54: What is the program that you use to create the plan of the room? I'd like something (free) to use; I've been wanting to post my living/dining room picture to ask for help but believe I need to attach the visual layout for clarity.

kmcg85 and charlikin: They only have the Warmth poster on Target's website, no print; we don't have a "good" Target in our area. Lucky you!

Hi Charlikin-
Your progress is really lookin' good- and I really like the latest coffee table you posted the mango wood(along with potentially using baskets for storage). Even though we don't tend to move furniture around, the fact that it is open underneath is more appealing to me than the one that has the storage at the top. (and how functional is that sliver of storage anyways)...just my 2 cents of encouragement.

Charlikin, it isn't always easy for me. I find that letting things happen slowly, over time, allows me to get it right bit by bit. And scuttle my mistakes less noticeably. What you are doing -- trying to put it all together quickly -- is challenging, for sure. You are braver than I am.

I have some "place-holders" right now that I fear may still be here when I move, whenever that is. I love the red bookcases and have my husband to thank for inspiring that bold decision. It was a process of elimination since all the "wood" colors at Ikea looked like dreck!

But, I finally surrendered a couple weeks ago and bought another piece of carp from Ikea for the stereo system in the living room. I know you and I traded ideas on consoles when you first started posting here. It kind of kills me to have an $89 piece of furniture in a room with my best artwork and a fabulous piano, but I had get that situation functioning and just couldn't find the right thing at a price I could stomach.

I popped over to the Gump's website to see what they had for you. Their furniture prices seem to be creeping down. Or maybe my threshold of pain is creeping up after looking for a console for so long. Anyway, they have a bedside table that has drawers and a little cubby that might work for you. Even if it doesn't, I wondered if you'd been looking at nightstands at all. You'd get drawers and more function but you'd have to find something not-too-tall for next to the sofa. Or maybe that might be something you could use in front of the AC.

Gump's also has some interesting storage/display pieces. I have never ordered furniture from them, but I think of the store as being rather high-end. There's a tall black case with turquoise interior that makes me swoon. Take a look see...

Here is a link that might be useful: Gump's

Sorriso - lots of furniture stores have free on-line software for drawing floor and furniture plans -- see link below to Ethan Allen. Google SketchUp is also free. SketchUp is great for 3-D visualization (once you get the hang of it), but I don't really like it for 2-D.

Out of habit, I use an old version of professional AutoCAD - not a good choice for you. Costs a lot and has a long learning curve.

Here is a link that might be useful: free floor plan

Good morning!

Gwbr, that southern drawl is adorable on you. :-)

Yeah, that orange metal table is definitely overpriced - that's part of why I was rejecting it for so long. The other part is I'm really not sure what it would look like with a lamp on it. I saw a picture on the Bo Concepts web site (I think) of a little metal table with a floor lamp behind it - going to have to dig that picture up again...

Hmmm... can someone with better photoshop skills than me mock up that table with a lamp on top of it???

I have nothing against used furniture at all - most of my current furniture is used! (Though not so carefully selected... when I was 20, it was more about "get some furniture into the house!" than "make it all work together!") The tricky thing about CL is just that there are so many things I need to get, and therefore so many visits to see things, one at a time, that I will probably just reject once I've seen them... I don't have a car, so it's all subway rides and long walks from the subway. I guess I just don't have the patience, especially when I really do want to get this redecorating project somewhat "finished" (whatever that means). My old furniture IS really awful.

That said, I've been trolling CL every day, just in case I spot something perfect. :-)

Window sill height is about 25", and the sill sticks out, so a 24" high cabinet would nest under there perfectly. And probably no more than 42" wide so it doesn't block the heating vents or get in the way of the chair...

I might be getting over the Warmth print... I've been looking at the pictures of it for so long, and I saw a print in C&B yesterday that I *loved* - had to sit down on the sofa opposite it and just stare. (Btw, looked on the C&B website for it, and it looks like they actually hung it sideways in the store!!! I mean, it's abstract, but still - seems disrespectful to the artist. Except that I would actually hang it the same way. Can I email an apology to the artist???) Here it is, the way they hung it in the store:

Another one I like is from the Z Gallerie site (thank for turning me on to them!):

Lynn, the deep red chairs sound gorgeous!!! Post pictures when you get them - that sounds like a definite DO!!!

Sheila! Hi!! How are you? The purpose of the drawers is not so much to really STORE things as in serious storage, but to be able to STASH all the bits of clutter on my coffee table now - remote controls, VPN gadget for work, bag of cat treats, some loose papers and, uh, furniture catalogs...

My favorite coffee table I've seen is from Stickley - crazy expensive, but absolutely perfect (IMO) in terms of both style and function. Unfortunately, it's way too big - 54" x 29" - it would take up half my living room, which would be bad because I'd need to rent out my living room for extra income after buying this coffee table! I'm very disappointed that no one seems to have done a knock-off of this style. Here it is with a glass top - it also comes with a wood top:

Amy, I wish I could take this whole thing much more gradually, but my starter furniture really needed to be replaced - all of it! Even my lamps are falling apart - the lampshades are literally disintegrating, and the switch on the floor lamp is broken - I have to turn it on and off by twisting the bulb.

I think Ikea is brilliant for media systems. You don't look at the furniture, you look at the components. It'll blend in and look fine... and hey, at $89, you can always junk it when you find "the right thing".

Ah, Gumps! I love their stuff. I found them when I was hunting for Maria Yee furniture - C&B and R&B both carry a lot of Maria Yee (at much more accessible prices). That nightstand is beautiful! (Looks like Maria Yee - yup! $825!! Ee gads!!!)

The problem I've seen with night stands is that the proportions are wrong - I need something narrow and deep, and nightstands tend to be wide and shallow. And yeah, usually they're too high now that beds have gotten so tall you need step stools to climb up into them! (29" high indeed!)

Why are my messages all so long... Apologies to anyone who's still reading at this point...

Enjoying this conversation, but gotta run out. Just wanted to say I like that C&B print, and I would not put a lamp on the orange table. If you need new lamps, that's convenient because you should be able to find ones with a smaller footprint.

Hope this works.

NMO they looks great together.-

Charlikin, have you looked at the Rhys coffee table from Pottery Barn? Similar styling to the Stickley one you like, but a bit smaller footprint, and while not cheap, probably less expensive than Stickley.

http://www.potterybarn.com/pbimgs/rk/images/dp/products/201006/0010/img97m.jpg

The Bailey and Benchwright coffee tables have drawers, too, which you said you wanted, but they don't have the more contemporary feel.

I love the inspiration pieces you've chosen!

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhys coffee table

I agree with gwbr about no lamp on that table. Sorry, floor lamp.

I like the Z Gallerie print better. Can you guess why? Yep....it has some cool colors in it. I think that splotch of freshness feel very nice in the midst of all the warmth. Remember, winter will end!

Hi credomk - thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I have seen the Rhys - it's actually exactly the right size, and less than half the price of the Stickley (!), but in person it doesn't really have that contemporary feel to it at all. Makes me kind of wish I'd gone more country/PB in style... life would have been a lot easier! But every time I walk into a store, it's the more contemporary stuff that grabs me. Oh well...

Pretty much decided on the C&B Sims for the coffee table and one end table, and that burnt orange metal cut-out table for the other. Still trying to puzzle out what kind of lamp I can use with the orange table... Maybe a very simple stick-style table lamp would work? Or a stick-style floor lamp behind it or next to it? One with a swing-out shade so the light can be positioned over the table? I'm figuring it would have to be a very simple lamp so as not to detract from the more interesting table.

As for the other lamp - for that I'm thinking a large colored ceramic table lamp. Not sure what color to pick up - the pillows have a lot of colors, but with the green chair and magenta and blue-green solid pillows, I've got a lot of accent colors going there! (You think a crackle glaze would be too traditional?? I love crackle glazes!)

Hee hee - my original concept was neutral floor & walls and colorful furnishings. Sure seems to be headed that way (even with the vast expanse of boring tan carpet). ;-)

Amy, I had a feeling you'd like the Z Gallerie print better.

In fact, when I was at C&B looking at the other print, I kept thinking, "Amy will kill me."

;-)

It would be nice to introduce a more fluid line to the mix. I love the idea of an oval coffee table - something like the Crate & Barrel one below. Because it's mirror/glass, it would keep the room feeling more open than a solid wood table. I'd wait on buying a coffee table until media cabinet arrives tho'. That way you can do a cutout of the coffee table to make sure it's not too large.

Mmmm...I love that oval table. I have a feeling that the room would feel better without too many corners. I just think you'd be able to move around the oval table easier, both physically and visually. It's one of those feng shui things I really get.

I have to laugh that I am actually haunting your shopping experiences! I am that angel on your shoulder whispering in your ear, "get the blue one!"

I am going to advocate for a blue/aqua/turquoise table lamp, but not on the metal table (which I think you should buy immediately.)

I have a very sleek Holtkotter pharmacy lamp I bought on eBay that is immensely practical (dimmer floor switch), lovely to look at and all but disappears. I think getting something visually minimal and highly functional is the way to go. An art light over whatever you get for the sofa is a great way to add ambient lighting.

Here's a pic of my little floor lamp in my old house. Sadly, the movers mangled it and now it's tucked behind the piano so no one can see it.

Have you been to Lee's on West 57th yet? They have some really nice lighting. Better one-stop-shopping than the Lower East Side, IMO.

Of the prints you posted, I also like the cooler one from Z Gallerie the best. I can also see the red curtains paired with it.
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I forgot to mention that I, too, LOVE the round metal cut-out table. Perfect for your space!

Here's a little side table from Levenger:

Um...have I mentioned my objections to glass tables vis-a-vis the very visible dust and fingerprints and my aversion to housekeeping? Not to mention my tendency to want to put my feet up on the coffee table???

And mirrors!!! Mirrors are even worse than glass when it comes to showing dust - they show the *reflections* of the dust!!! Twice as much dust for the price!!! (Good deal, I guess. ;-))

I understand the desire for some rounded edges in the room, and to break up all that wood going on. (I thought that little orange end table would help!) But glass just ain't gonna happen. Very sorry.

SO - what about coffee table & end table linked below from Macy's? Still have to go see it and see what it looks like - might hate the finish in person ... (Usually not fond of the finishes on the tables in Macy's...)

Also, love the little unobstrusive floor lamp over the end table - I can see doing that. Or something else that looked cool was a floor lamp that dangles its shade over the end table - there are a couple like that at West Elm, though I'd prefer a bronze finish to a black one... (I do understand the concept of getting a lamp that doesn't compete with the table. Which means the uber-cool Saturnia lamp with the double shade - white inside sheer black - probably won't cut it. Sigh.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Macy's

Yep, I sure do remember your aversion to glass and mirror. (Altho' I have plenty of glass tabletops, and I NEVER dust! But a cleaning person does once a month.) You could however keep that oval shape in mind when looking for a wooden table.

I hadn't been in a Crate&Barrel for a while, but walked thru' on the weekend. What most impressed me about that oval table was the metal - it's a warm tone, and it's roughly hammered. In the website photo, it looks all refined, but up close, it has a bit of rustic character. I thought you might find that aspect appealing, but I was pretty sure the mirror and glass would not fly. But you never know. Also saw your print - and it looked great in person.

The Macy's table seems too clunky to me. I would prefer the initial nesting tables you showed over the Macy's table.

What about an oval wooden coffee table?

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Here is a link that might be useful: Overstock coffee table

Charlikin,

We would love updates on your decisions. I really love that pop of color with the round end table that is a carbon steel with a burnt orange powdercoat finish. In fact, that color would probably look great in my home office. I like the books on it with a floor lamp behind it. Due to your very neutral sofa and carpet, you room can handle pops of color.

Now for me, I need to figure out how to download the camera software from the Sony site so I can post pictures of the chair (only opened one box) since I am having mixed feelings. I had my heart set on a very deep cherry red or a deep red orange color for the two guest chairs I bought for my home office. The chair's cherry arms look like Mahogany to me and are darker than my cherry desk that is more of an orange brown medium color that matches my BR-111 Brazilian Cherry Floors that are more of an orange-brown color with some planks orange-brown with a red tint.

The chair's fabric is very nice and is two toned with a Burgundy over a dark plum color. In some lights it casts a purple shade and others a red purple or a purple burgundy color. It clashes with the floor but the chairs are pretty. My client that tried out the chair last night said it was so comfortable and she loved the pop of color in my room.

Hence, I am trying to decide if I should return them and get the black fabric with the Ebony arms or the cherry arms or keep these chairs. I can always add some pictures with color for the walls and maybe a vase of colored silk flowers in the room.

Amy, I was so happy when you said blue/aqua/turquoise table lamp!!! I wonder if that might encompass *this* lamp - I particularly love the green version since I think the crackle glaze is gorgeous, but the blue is pretty too.

This is for the window side of the sofa, of course. For the other side, I would do something simple like you did. (Love the orange bowl on the table, btw - reminds me of the orange table I'm going to buy!!! Ah, this may have been your old house, but it was beautiful too!)

Gwbr, the oval shape for a coffee table is fine, but finding an oval-shaped coffee table that I like is more of a problem. (Heck, finding *any* coffee table I like is a problem!) Sigh. The good news is that I'm not really in love with that light green chair, so if I decide to CL it at some point, I would probably replace it with a round chair. (One of those swivel sliders?)

It's so hard to buy something I haven't seen in person. Suero, that's a pretty table in the photo, but I've seen so much furniture in photos that looks nice and then I don't like it when I see it in person. Usually I end up not liking the finish of the wood... so I decided it would be too risky for me to buy something sight unseen over the internet.

Lynn, you do need to get us photos of those chairs. They sound really beautiful. If you think they clash with the floor, can you put a rug under them? That might give you enough of a buffer to hide the fact that they clash.

Charlikin, I love the green lamp!

OK, I figured out how to download the camera software since I now have a new used computer and I can't find the camera software that I installed 5.5 years ago when I bought my first digital camera that I still have and love. I will take pictures tomorrow and post them. I have been working so many hours today and I am very tired.

I will take pictures tomorrow. The clashing is bothering me. I was trying to get guest chairs that were not black but now I wonder that with my Brazilian Cherry floors, I should get the black or maybe the chairs are not so bad despite not being a match to anything in the room and are too close in color but not a match.

I really don't like the color maroon but burgundy is nice so I am trying to figure out what the color is since I thought Ruby Red meant a very deep red which would not match but be a different enough color that it would not look like I attempted to do a match but failed.

I could not find reasonably priced guest chairs that had wide padded seats in person so I took a chance with Overstock that had the same chairs as Staples but almost $100 less each but with less choice of colors. But now Overstock's 10% off sale with the $1 shipping is gone. I can call and ask if they will give me the deal on black chairs. I have a choice of ebony wood arms, cherry (looks like Mahogany the cherry arms I now have) or Mahogany (must be even darker and look almost black).

The buckshot approach to coffee table selection:

Maybe something not wood:

Giggle! Okay, gwbr, I get the impression you really hate that very plain mango wood C&B coffee table & end table since you're now proposing EVERYTHING ELSE!!! Really, the C&B table is much prettier in person than it comes across in photographs. It's a case of it being all about the wood - really lovely wood grain on that piece.

I do love travertine, but I would have to make sure I got the position of the coffee table exactly right - because once it was in place I would never be able to lift it again! (Seriously!) That particular travertine table from EA is $1349 (gasp!), but I've seen very beautiful - and much cheaper - onces from C&B and Macy's. Really love them, but don't see the style in this particular living room - it's too cold, I guess. Very elegant, but not the warm, inviting vibe I want. (Somehow I achieved it in my old living room with my little round marble-topped table, but that was a much smaller table...)

As for the other tables - I'm gathering that you'd prefer I go back to the West Elm nesting tables?

Thought of your apartment when I saw this lamp. I believe there were two of them.

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I put a link to where I found this, but it did not show up. Will try it this way:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dimond-Lighting-Boliver-Two-Light-Table-Lamp-in-Chrome_W0QQitemZ400104373286QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d28143c26

so hee it is. I put a link to where I found this, but it did not show up. Will try it this way:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dimond-Lighting-Boliver-Two-Light-Table-Lamp-in-Chrome_W0QQitemZ400104373286QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d28143c26

Probably more than you want to spend, but their furniture is gorgeous. We got bedroom furniture from them more than 20 years ago - for a child's room, and it has held up beautifully. They build the furniture to order.
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Here is a link that might be useful: Hardwood Artisans

Walnutcreek, what a cool lamp! Somehow I'm really seeing that on a buffet or a console table. It would be gorgeous!

Suero, that table is lovely. You're right, it's way more than I want to spend, but it's absolutely beautiful, as are all the other things on their web site. I like all the choices of woods and finishes too.

Well, the budget's a problem. As is my lack of ability to make a decision. I'm currently stuck between the West Elm nesting coffee table paired with the Ethan Allen end table with drawer; and the Crate & Barrel Sims coffee table & matching end table. (For the second end table in either case, I'm going with that little orange metal table.)

I think the wood on the Crate & Barrel tables is much nicer, but the tables themselves are a little boring; in addition the West Elm + Ethan Allen (gads, how many people pair *those* brands together?!) are more practical since they give me a drawer and a de facto shelf or two. Have read not such good things about West Elm quality - not sure if that applies to this table, which is constructed differently from their usual furniture. And it irritates me that I'd have to pay $70 in shipping, for this table!!! (And it doesn't even come assembled!)

I don't know - there's the style thing. Maybe I just don't know who I am. I want to project a slightly funkier image than what I think I'm coming up with... maybe it's the carpeting that's the problem. The carpet ain't funky. And the funky furniture on top of the carpet just don't go. The furniture that goes with the carpet ain't so funky. I am *not* a fuddy-duddy! I'm NOT!!! (Or am I???)

NOT. Just maybe too willing to settle to be DONE!

You have to get the traditional out of your blood.

The funkiest rug is the one that is burnt orange with the viney leafy things on it. Love that rug. It's clean.

The metal table from C&B is great. I've seen it in person and wished it came in another color. The quirkey end tables that are shown between the chairs are different and interesting. For a coffee table, I think glass in small rooms works better than solid wood. It keeps the room open. I have glass throughout my home because of my cats (and they are trained not to go on tables. LOL) From my expereince with dust it shows no matter what type of tables you have, glass or wood.

Also, check out rugs by Angela Adams. They are a little pricey but you may find them on ebay. I have 2 of them and people go crazy when they walk into my house and see them. They are prettier and more interesting in person and they have texture. If you decided to splurge, splurge on the rug. It sets the tone for everything else.
No offense, the artwork is common and you could probably be found at HomeGoods. Try ebay for some contemporary lithographs and frame them.

Just my 2 cents after reading this very long thread. You may want to start a second one at this point. It's hard to keep track.

I must admit that I did not read every reply so I apologize if my comment has already been made.
Regarding the window treatment- My suggestion is to hang panels on each side of Roman Shade.

Would this be a style that you might be interested in?
I love the workmanship of Amish furniture. You might try googling Amish furniture and see if something different comes up.
Good Luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: calodonia cabinet coffee table

Here's a very expandable dining table by the same people/company. You can finish it however you want. With the 36" base and two leafs you can have dinner parties, easily!

Here is a link that might be useful: dining room table option

What about something like this for a coffee table? It gives you the same amount of storage as the West Elm nesting table gives you but it is a bit funkier and less traditional.

Here is a link that might be useful: Coffee table