I like it, but I also think it would look nice painted the existing wall color or the gray owl. I think it looks really nice with all the other blue in the room. What is the light paint color in the LR? You mention painting the mantel with chalk paint. Is it currently the same color as the rest of the trim? I like it as is and wouldn't paint it. What color chalk paint were you considering? Have you been looking at a lot of blog inspiration lately? I found that when I was spending a lot of time planning a certain project I started thinking about making all kinds of other changes - changes that aren't me. I took a few week break from looking at anything decorating related and realized I still love the same look I have even though it's not trendy. If this applies to you, try taking a break so you can see if you're being true to you. Very pretty rooms! - Also wanted to mention I really like the mirror. I think art would look nice too if you found something you liked, but I honestly like it right where it's at. It appears expensive, is very nice looking, and I think it works in that spot. I wouldn't change it unless you're tired of it. This post was edited by sheesharee on Tue, Apr 22, 14 at 12:43

"New houses being built around here are getting rid of them. Most young families just use them as playrooms anyway." Oh, PLEASE tell me more about it! Does it apply to dining rooms separated by walls from the rest of the house or all? And what do they DO about the dining area??? I really want to know. When we bought the house, that is exactly what we planned to do with the dining room (i.e., use as a play room), that is why I bought a "formal" but folding dining table as well as "formal" but stackable dining chairs. So, according to the plan, we made it into a play room but that became a little problematic. The dining room is not totally separate, it is "defined" only by two columns and an "overhang" (IDK the formal name for it), otherwise, it is part of the same area as the living room. So, one can see it as soon as one enters the house. Which meant we had to keep it tidy at all times - not always possible with a toddler, kwim? :-) Plus, we had to unfold/fold the dining table and put it in the middle of the living room every time someone came over as we didn't think it would be appropriate to serve food in the kitchen when we had guests, LOL. But the main issue was that DD wouldn't play there by herself when I was cooking b/c she couldn't see me from there, even though the kitchen is right next to the dining room, but separated by a wall. So, we moved the playroom into the breakfast area which is part of the kitchen. It sort of works for now but when she is older and can play by herself, we are planning to move the play room to where DH's office is right now. And in order to do it, we are re-arranging the entire house and building another walk-in closet in the bedroom. That is why I want to know what other people do about it. :-)

Well, you certainly have been vocal about enjoying your adult kids at home and I can certainly relate. My own family would be easy for me to tolerate - they've never mistreated me or mine and if they ever did get moody, I'd have no problem speaking my mind. And, in my old age, I really hope my dear sons do come back home after college. I'd love it! I hope we'll always be close as my parents and I have always been close. And, if I ever do need something in my advancing years, I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting on my skids to help out - it just isn't their thing. It will be MY family who has always been there for me and who I can count on - hopefully, my sons will be of a similar mind to me and not of the thinking that my skids have - they're selfish, spoiled and have a huge sense of entitlement. I pray they mature and grow out of that stage, but I haven't really seen signs of that happening. My youngest's b-day is Thurs. and she said, "I'm gonna take you to Toys 'R Us and buy you a big dinosaur!" Meanwhile, my oldest (turned 7 a month ago) is still waiting for his trip there, also promised, but never delivered though she did decorate a little on his b-day w/ balloons that I had around. He asked me when she was going to take him and I just said for him not to ask her again as I guess she forgot and it isn't polite to keep asking. Not sure what else to do here. When my friends had a surprise shower for me, neither SD brought so much as a card. Christmas? Nothing for me or the boys again. Do you see a pattern? And, before you ask, yes, I shop for them, but what I buy is usually returned. One year, I bought the younger one 8 different things FROM HER LIST and every single one slowly but surely was returned. She would ask for the receipt, then had my DH ask for the last ones as I guess she felt embarrassed or something. If my nephews, cousin, sons or someone from my family didn't let me know about dinner, coming home, etc, I'd have no problem not accommodating them or calling their cell phones at midnight to find out where they were. W/ this one, it's a toss up and I am uncomfortable if she isn't home and it's late - worried about an accident. It was the same crap when my SS lived w/ us. Frankly, I haven't MUCH time alone at all and just want to have my immediate family living in the house I built for them. I'm sorry if that sounds selfish to you. I thought this was a forum in which to seek support and vent out our frustrations. I'm sick of houseguests, permanent or temporary, and the lack of consideration that goes along w/ them. As I'm sure I mentioned somewhere, a one bed. apt, as one of my assts. rents in a nice area, goes for $800/mo. My asst. makes nowhere near what my SD makes. My steps could either share a room and let the younger SD's bf have the second bedroom of the rental (which I wish was just rented to some stranger at this point) or, let the younger SD and her bf have the master and this SD have the secondary bedroom. I could get close to $2000/m, but wouldn't be comfortable upping the rent from what I rented to my current tenant, so it will stay where it was. I think I've done my time w/ my steps: the thanks I got from the son was shafting me on the student loan I cosigned for him foolishly, paying his car to this day - though my DH finally got it back, we can't get rid of it in the condition and w/ the miles he left it, and we still pay his cell, hoping to keep a line of communication open which has not been the case for 3 years. I don't want to hold his faults against this SD, but so many things are similar, not that I'd be stupid enough to ever sign another note. I can't change who I am, and I do worry at night when it's late and the steps aren't home. Last night, this one was out til 11:00 this morning. Was I told? No. There are accidents here every day and night on the news - don't tell me not to worry 'cause I do. I had a head-on collision in my late 20's and if my mom wasn't the worrier she is, I might have died waiting on help as I suffered a pneumothorax from a driver who fell asleep and hit me as I was coming home from residency late one night. But, I was responsible and if I wasn't home when I was supposed to be and didn't call, my parents knew something was wrong. Last night, I had confirmation for my CCD class and my oldest son had a b-day party to attend so my SD babysat the younger two for the hour between me leaving and my husband returning. It's the second time in 5+ months that she helped out. When I returned, I said to my husband that we ought to grab a quick dinner alone and she quickly stormed out, "I'm going OUT in 45 min, so if you're going, you better make it quick!" I didn't say anything, just went upstairs and changed. It's not that I didn't appreciate her helping out, but it's the entire attitude she has that is on my nerves. BTW, all of the interior doors in this house were to have the same little wrench that opens them that we planned to keep above the door frames for each bedroom. But, my 4 y.o.'s and the guest room are the only ones that got them. I'm not one who locks her bedroom door, but after having her barge through on Good Friday thinking I wasn't home, I guess I should. Do you think that is OK to do w/ the excuse that she didn't realize I was in there? I guess I'm being unreasonable again? Sorry, but I disagree and now wonder what the heck she was doing in there and how often she did it! Dana

1. Planning on getting new knobs for the Cupboards. I was thinking Black Scrolly 2. New Light fixtures. There is one in the middle of the room. Maybe a Chandelier 3. The wood siding I wasn't ready to tear off and do the repairs so I painted that green hoping for a "garden look" since the wood grain shows through like a lattice, trellis look. Plus it's a Darkish room and wanted to brighten it up. 4. My *vision* was to buy some garden floral bedding .. with the green and ivory colors in it. 5. Carpet is brand new. It stays. Brown to hide dirt and stay with warm colors 6. The closet doors. I don't know what to do??!!! 7. The window over the bed is a HUGE problem. I took down the old nasty blinds. There is a new window A/C sticking through it (we have no central A/C) so this was a necessity. 8. I want a window treatment to cover the A/C when it is not in use. I am TOTALLY stuck on the window treatment 9. I need a dresser, armoire or something. What Color or Kind should I be looking for?? Please help .. be kind lol. The room you couldn't even Go Into it.. when I started on it lol. I can take ANY honest advice, criticism. Please tell me if my plans have any merit. I want the room to look good and am not married to anything. thanks