Sweetbean I just went through this in our small 11'x11' DR that was largely over furnished with a lot of "this n that" - part of our entire home reno was out with it ALL! Yea DR set, 2 sideboards - one that matched the set, on that was a beast & did not - a PIANO , a beautiful built in I searched, searched , searched - DON"T give up - You will find a table/chairs I scoured all ads, and Craigslist - what I found were LOTS of DR Sets - I'm close to NYC and found people giving high quality sets away - I think people are moving away from formal DRs blowing kitchens into DRs So my advice is don't settle - live without and enjoy the hunt I did. I found a Duncan Phyfe Mahogany set which is really what I wanted - our house dutch col 1930 so it suited the home as well as the small scale of our DR - it was dirty, dirty dirty - I'm still working on cleaning waxing -It is really well made & found incredible fabrics on ebay that were really reasonable - so they will get a big face lift. The owners were asking $2,200 for the set - DR table, 4 side chairs, 2 arms - mirror ,sideboard, and tall china cab I didn't want the china cab (we have lovely built in) got them to $1300 Dh thought i was crazy - wait til he sees it in DR Here is a pic in the prior owners DR In my almost completed DR chair w/proposed fabric sitting on it Guess I wanted to inspire you - I know the furnishings aren't your choice but to illustrate they are out there - get on a mission Link to craigslist good luck eileen Here is a link that might be useful: Craigslist

I'm new to this forum, having spent most of my time till now over on the Kitchen Forum and Great Impressions . . . Hello Teacats! I love your armoire,Bcarr. Can you show us a close-up of it? It looks like a couple others I've seen and admired here in NM. It is busy and dominating, though (in a wonderful way, I mean), so I'd personally go with artwork that didn't mimic the squares in the armoire doors. Of the ones you've show, I like the second choices the best, as they have a more linear look. I'd avoid squares in the artwork or a set of 4 pieces of anything.

Thanks so much everyone! I haven't yet ordered anything - analysis paralysis - if you know what I mean. I don't know when we'll be able to afford an entire living room set. It's more likely we'll do a bit at a time. I thought maybe I'd go for draperies because they're less expensive for now. But I understand that if I do, I may regret it later. The windows seem sort of naked right now. Sigh . . . I definitely want to bring red into the room from the kitchen. I'm envisioning red, cream, black, and gold. I really like those colors. And if brown works in the mix, all the better. Thanks again for you thoughts. Any ideas for the furniture, then? :o) Jan

So here is the thing. I really don't like green that much. My house is mostly warm beige and soft yellows with red accents. I would like to transition to a more gray/blue and white but probably not here. My family room is a soft yellow, foyer is a warm beige, laundry room is antique white, and dining room is red and gold wallpaper above chair rail and white below. It seems green or blue would stick out like a sore thumb. I was thinking that maybe a cafe au lait (creamy brown) color would work. Thoughts?