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!

It was a lot of work. I prepped by lightly sanding and cleaning with denatured alcohol and then priming with shellac primer. I quickly realized it would need caulk and spraying of the paint for a great finish, so I hired a painter. He came out right away and caulked and sprayed 2 coats (and cleaned up well) for $350. The room is 18x27 with 10’ or11’ walls, so I thought it was a great deal. I prepped for the stain by lightly sanding and cleaning with denatured alcohol. It took 2 coats of gel stain (with drying 72 hours after each) plus 3 coats of clear topcoat with light sanding and wiping between each topcoat. It took about 3 weeks total while working only weekends and evenings. I know now lots of people are against painting beautiful wood paneling, but I really didn’t like the orange-tint of the wood and it really didn’t go with the floors or any of my furniture. I waited months to see if my opinion would change and did a ton of research before biting the bullet. It was the most economical solution that I would also be happy with. This isn’t our forever home or our dream home, but it’s perfect for us for right now.

What color temperature lights are in your home? Here is a Houzz article on the subject. Daylight bulbs emit bluish light that enhances blue, but can wash out subtle colors to gray. I looked up BM's Pale Oak, and it looks completely different in their color visualizer—a warm gray, almost a pale taupe. SW's Silver Strand is a green or blue-green tone. It looks very much like the color on your wall. SW's Magnetic Gray looks gray in their color visualizer. I don't see any blue there, but I do see the blue in your photo. That's why I ask about the color temperature of your lights. IMO, Silver Strand looks best, and I think you should use the color in your kitchen too. Beige most often has yellow or orange in it and green is close by on the color wheel. I looked up similar colors using SW's ColorSnap and found three other paints that might be of interest to you. The last, though it looks green to me, might be too blue in your light, but Pine Frost and Sea Spray have more color in them than Silver Strand which is described as a blue-green tone. Good luck.

Hi Stephanie, I like your instincts for Jack Pine or something similar in the north room. I recently used SW Evergreen in a laundry closet. Now, after looking at your post, I am thinking it would be great in my north living room. I noticed that lamp light makes an interesting effect on my dark green that I never noticed in rooms with white walls. It creates an island of bright color. I am curious as to how that looks in a large dark room. I see pictures in this post. It looks dramatic and exciting. But is it so in reality? I think you can be more adventurous because there is a natural border defining your living room from y dining room. But what will you do on the wall going up that beautiful staircase?