hi mollyandrocky ,

I can relate to your statement that you don't know how to group things and you feel that you buy the wrong accessories . I'm exactly the same way.

But, I think your kitchen and family room look great! I like it! I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice here . Everyone is so helpful. I just wanted to post and let you know I think your rooms are just fine :-)

I'd recommend keeping it fairly simple since you have a lovely design on the top and also you may wish to view the TV from the kitchen area. What you have there is fine, though I'd scootch them in a bit so the line up over the vertical casings. As is, they almost look to be falling off.

You have a lovely home!

I don't know as if I'd display anything on your sideboard.
It fits so nicely under your opening AND the top is painted so nicely.

If you do decorate this sideboard, keep the items lower than the molding on the opening.

Hmmm...I never thought of not putting anything on it....I think I'll clear it off and see how I feel about it after a couple of days...that sure would be a quick easy fix - lol!

And yes, now that you mention it, the items do appear to be almost falling off of the sideboard! Yikes!

I'm painting the little lamp to use over at my kitchen desk so that is going elsewhere no matter what. The halfwall just makes things so difficult...I always had wanted an open floor plan and now that I have it of course I wish for the oppostite!

Thanks for the suggestions so far! Much appreciated.

Beautiful home! I love the sideboard, No advice here, I am not so great at accessorizing either..... just wanted to tell you how much I like everything.

June

What about the rooster in the middle and that's it.

Laurie

I like the idea of leaving it bare, but if you don't really like that, I think a wide, low flower arrangement would look nice. It would not have to be lower than the wall, but not too much higher.

LOVE your home -- very pretty! :)

I do really love the lamp and the rooster on the sideboard -- just enough decoration (and a lighting option is always good! LOL!)

For a fast change -- simply switch the rooster and the black fruit bowl on the counter! But either piece would look wonderful!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I would do a long low interesting shaped tray or dish with glass balls or balls of twine balls (I got some at Pier one I think) or lemons or other fruit. Or just a pretty bowl in the center of the buffet.

I absolutely love your house but especially that buffet!! I am on a search for something very much like that to store my liquor and wine in. Can you please tell me more about it and where you got it and maybe even the width of it? I'd soooo appreciate it, cause I have a home for one just like it if I can find one!

Add me to the list of fans of your house. It's beautiful!

First let me say that you have a beautiful home! I especially love your sectional; I'm looking for one that same size -- not too big.

I don't think the lamp really serves a purpose on the sideboard, since you have a floor lamp nearby. I agree that you should look for something long and not too high.

I can envision a long, rectangular black metal (or rubbed bronze) candle tray with a grouping of different sized candles. Maybe do ivory-colored candles to match the ones on your mantle! You could do some short, fat candles, some taller-- but not too tall to block your view from the TV! What do you think? I think it would give it a real cozy feel and would go with your style.

I think you ought to go with a french-asian look....with more blues and golds and some reds. The black accents would work very well.

Accessorizing is a challenge for me too, but I wanted to say that I think the scale of the rooster is fine. And if you propped the lamp on top of some books or some kind of pedestal, I think it could work, too. The one thing I've found about scale, is that if I take a photo it gives me a much better perspective on whether or not the items are correctly sized. That's the beauty of digital photography - you can see your results immediately and delete whatever you don't like. I also envision a plant, like an ivy or philodendron, on your sideboard.

I am going to be the difficult one here. I don't think you are doing the pretty sideboard justice by putting it in that spot. Because it falls below the line of the wall, and the table and chairs are in front of it, the eye is carried right past it and into the next spaces. It really needs a taller wall space to show it off and to allow you to put things on it without it looking as if it is fighting with the ledge of the knee wall. Is there another spot where you could show it off?

If not, for sure I would not do a lamp, as you have the floor lamp on the other side of the wall that will fight with it. I do think something more centered, perhaps a full iron basket of greenery and/or florals, to break the line of the wall behind it and soften it, would be nice.

mollyandrocky - Can you tell me where you got your sofa and the paint color in your kitchen?

Laurie

You have a great house there!

I would suggest you to color your sideboard into two shades darker of what it is right now. And keep it plain no need for keeping any decorative piece as the is no blank space or wall there.

You definitely need to get flowers for your empty vases around the house. :)

The light hung above you dining table needs to be changed add a new light over there how about some hand painted fibre glass hanging ones.

Add some bright printed cushions to your black sofas. something yellow red and green florals, stripes or any print you like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nina At Home

dana nina, stop attaching your link to all your posts, that's spamming.

You have such a beautiful home and such nice things to work with! I'd get rid of the lamp and rooster in those spots. Add an oblong black wire basket, line it with moss, and add an airy plant....maidenhair fern would be lovely. A little bit of live greenery does wonders for picking up a room! If you don't want to do live plants, you can use what's in the vase sitting beside the sideboard. Stack a few books where the lamp currently is and put a doo-dad on top (a finial standing on end, a single bookend on top with the mate beside the books, etc). Take the lamp from the sideboard and move it to the table beside the sectional. Put your pretty rooster in the middle of the breakfast room table. He deserves to be shown off! Is that an iron planter beside the french doors? It wants a plant in it. :o)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS! And especially thank you for the kind words about my house....besides the fact that I am struggling with the details, our house truly has become our "home"..we are surrounded by amazing neighbors who are now true friends and are so blessed to live in a gorgeous area.

I am going to peruse some stores today to try to find somthing long and low to center on the sideboard as that seems to be the majority vote!

I find I really do struggle with thinking that I've just got random accessories scattered about my home with no real groupings or flow. I think part of my problem is also that I don't quite know what my "style" is. I've always just said comfortable french with some modern accents thrown in - like brown leather slipper chairs in my library, maybe sortof pottery barnish - I don't know. I definitely love my black accents and start to worry that I've overdone them.......If I only had a decorating identity - lol.

As for the sideboard - It was made by Collezione Europa and bought from a local store here - not expensive by any means! Unfortunately I did buy it about 4 years ago so I'm not sure they would still make it....I also have a little black table with gold nail heads from the same company in my living room..they have some beautiful, inexpensive pieces.

And the sectional was from Bassett. We looked long and hard to find a sectional that fit...my favorite one was at Thomasville but was just massive and wouldn't work...my family room is long and thin and we needed to find small....and affordable! The quality seems ok so far...it definitely gets its share of abuse with two kids and two dogs!

As for the suggestion of moving the sideboard, I wish I could show it off in a better area but the layout of my house seems to have left out one major thing....wallspace! We've really struggled with that....it is all windows.

As for the French-Asian suggestion...this really intriques me - since I have no idea what french-asian is...but the colors you listed are my favorite colors...I've been wanting to add some blue to my sea of red, gold, green, brown and black for a long time but don't know how. Can you post a picture of what something french-asian would be?

Thanks again so very much......Hopefully this can be checked off my list and I can move onto my living room which is number two and of course involves tablescaping again...my weakness!

YES, I really need some plants....and some things in all my empty vases.....can anyone tell that I have a black thumb:) I love the idea of lining something with moss...that sounds lovely! I've got lots to look for today, thanks again to all!

msrose - The paint color is SW Red Miso - it's discontinued now but they can still mix it up! It's a very brown red. Sectional is from Bassett.

Well, it just means that if you like the soft look of French with its gold ornate trims etc., the Asian look with more straight lines and bright colors seems to meld in a very unique and attractive look. I will try to find some pics. But for example, you sideboard could have a Chinese lantern and a bamboo vase with curly willow and then perhaps a gold guilded candle holder with a red candle. You could have a runner in gold with a few asian symbles on it.

Your home is absolutely gorgeous! If you don't mind, could you tell me where you found your kitchen table? Thanks!