First a HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. Omg I can not imagine my life with GW. Everyone here is beyond kind helpful supportive and understanding. NO one has ever judged me on GW. And this was hard for me to post images of my home. Insecurity is my middle name. I wish I could change this room this second. Like betwitched. Nose twitch done!!! I have no magic. I am going to really study all your suggestions and implement them. Stir the pot and see what works and does not. Truly GW is full of amazing minds, voices, ideas, inspiration and supportive people. Les917, Only in the heat of the summer do we like those windows covered. We have electric controlled blinds. Right now they are closed but I love them open. Everything you describe is exactly as I have been thinking I plan to paint the rest of the built ins White. I have thought about moving the cornice all the way up. It should have been done years ago. But the red sofa may be going to another room along with the chair. My DH has suggested we either buy new leather pieces for this room or we move brown leather from the basement up to this room. We use the red in the kids media room and figure out that space later. We could move the TV to one of those adjustable wall mounts. My best friend said I need to reconfigure the fireplace mantle and mount the tv there. I need to convince DH on this one. Loribee, YES, I love stripes too. Kiko, Yes, I do like the drama in those drapes. And I love the cute pooch on the porch. Vampiressrn, Wow, I feel so honored to have you respond to me. I think your style is amazing. I read all your posts like a groupie. I love your posts. I do like brown. I used to have my kitchen painted this medium brown color called Camel coat. The slight problem with the brown walls is do I paint everything? Or only the brown on the wall with the built ins or maybe three walls, all the walls move open to other areas. Something to consider. Paintergirl, Great ideas. I do need to embrace the space. I need to frame more art. I rarely paint my dogs. Too Hallmarky. I love those images you suggested. Especially the paint color. Notice how much in the image above. Gwbr54, Thank you for your sweeet words. I get very confused with the terms modern and contemporary. I wish the term Modern did not connote the style in the 70s with plastic, metal and clean lines. Or maybe I am a complete idiot and the term is Modernism and I am getting that confused. Send me back to class. And is it possible that we change our style as we grow up? Which means some of this rubbish about me was bought with the understanding I was a French provincial girl. I could flush that style. It is not me at all. But the table in the kitchen so French, I like it painted white. Organic modern or contemporary look? I like it. I have never been a fan of Bamboo or even natural fibers but the images you posted could work for me. I love the chunky candle sticks the rich rug and the drapes over shades. It is ironic you have the Ethan Allen image, years ago my DH and I got into a huge fight because I wanted EA sofa and chairs for the same room. He felt is was too fussy, This coming from a guy who would be happy eating off a dog crate. SandyP, I agree more in the fireplace area. Definitely need to hone in on that space with drama My budget is maybe a few $1000, yes I am limited in this frail economy. I have sentimental only to the vases and the vase picture. I could toss out everything. Including the floors. But that would be a $100,000 budget. Gosh, I wish I were a Rockerfeller or Kennedy or even Gates. I do not like black rod iron, never did and never will. I am searching today for some better tables. As for Naked windows. I love naked veggies, never thought about the windows. I think for this room to come together the windows will be a key to pulling the room together. Ideas so far and feel free to add any more... Option 1: Sell the red and repaint the kitchen. Buy something in brown leather, bag the hideous end tables and put up drapes from ceiling to floor. Repaint the built Ins too. Option 2: Keep the red sofa, paint the walls, , bag the hideous end tables and put up drapes from ceiling to floor. Repaint the built In. Option 3: Get lazy and hire someone which in turn angers the DH as he thinks I should be able to do this. It would anger my oldest daughter as she says I am constantly changing all the rooms in the house I would need to hire a designer on retainer. And that could only happen if my last name were Rockefeller. Rooms I love and maybe I could make my own, but how? Yes, Plants, Trees that is it I can see this could help along with repainting the walls to a possible white color... The rug helps too but I have a similar rug. I think I even saw chairs like these at Marshalls I like what they did with making a corner conversation area. I like the drama on the wall. I might be able to borrow these ideas.. Why does this room work? Could I paint one wall like this? Or is this a bad, bad decor plan? I like these colors but the wing back chair is not me, I wonder if I use more crisp white with navy blue could that be a direction. And the kitchen could be painted the navy blue... would this work with the dark floors?

After looking at options for WT for my dining room, I realize that the living room has unique challenges due to the remodel. I replaced 2 slider windows, which I now regret (long story), with one window that is actually 3 windows together - narrow casement windows on both sides of a large fixed window. This room is used solely as a music room. The challenge is the hardware (crank and window lock) on the casement windows. The depth of the window is 2" and the crank takes up more than 1" of the recess. Not a problem for drapes, which would hang outside the window, but limits my options for installing shades / blinds in the window recess. The ceiling in this room is sloped, so hanging WT from the ceiling is not a good option. I would like to have 3 separate shades / blinds that operate independently. Some options: 1) wooden blinds, with a single header across, recessed in the window; stop blinds at bottom of glass - crank will show when blinds are down 2) honeycomb shades, with 3 separate headers; stop shades at bottom of glass - crank exposed when shades are down; use valence across top of window to hide separation between headers 3) honeycomb shades, but use stationary drape panels between windows to "hide" header separations - I think the side windows are too narrow for this. 4) wooden plantation shutters - extend far enough out from the window to leave space for crank and window lock. Problem is that I will be able to tilt, but not open, the shutters on the center fixed window, which will obscure the view and may reduce too much light

A statement art piece above the fireplace would be a natural focal point. Try picking at least one color from the artwork and repeating it in details around the room. Also resist the urge to choose an art piece that lines up with mantel edges. Use a piece that is narrower or wider to ensure that the artwork is a feature and not just an extension of the fireplace.

Here's In Your Eyes on the wall behind the tv I'm afraid it might look too icy white. would look similar to this one on the wall, maybe a bit lighter. how about a blue with a bit of gray to it to play off you chairs? Maybe Smoke? This is what Smoke looks like: (the white is Genesis White) How about this ceiling? It's Kendall Charcoal. Now this would be a really cool update in your room Then bring in the golds/oranges for accents. The rug is an overdyed wool rug in a goldenrod shade. works well w/your camel leather, the blues and the gold in your chairs. Paint the trim and doors a nice crisp white. bring in some orange pots w/greenery. I gave you a gold/marble table (you have a lot of heavy wood in the room, trying to lighten it up between the chairs) with a soft blue/white table lamp. (lamps plus 100+ colors) another option is to paint the walls white, and all of the trim, the crown and the doors in one of the soft blue grays. That would look rather stylish. and these blue grays not only compliment the golds/camel tones, but also the wood furniture.