I saw an old frame with screen stapled to it and painted yesterday.It seems to be the new rage around here.screen is cheap(just find a screened in patio with a big dog like mine and watch their curb for awhile Autunm lol).The stuff I looked at yesterday appeared to be acrylics.I've seen some cheap paint kits at Michaels.A real easy method would be to stick a coloring book page under the screen,if you don't have drawing skills.Keep it simple(birds,fish,bears.)Sandy

sombreuill (so nice to see you pop in on my thread), that's the way we're going to go. After much discussion and research, we're keeping the existing kitchen door and addressing the jam rot only. I talked to a supplier about purchasing a custom made new rot resistant jam for the TT door (their old doors were an inch taller than all other brands). And then I talked to the owner of the window contracting company who suggested that since the rot was minimal, another option was to remove the affected wood, fill with epoxy and sand it smooth. Once painted, we'll never know that it was damaged and there would be no reason for further damage to occur (the leak that caused the rot happened years ago and has since been addressed). This is a cost effective solution that won't delay the exterior or interior work so we're quite happy about it. This company has an excellent rep (BBB, contractor's board, Angie's List, Yelp, etc, plus two suppliers told us that, hands down, this is *the* company to work with. Their work is excellent). They are conscientious about making sure that all installs are to code and won't cause water issues down the road. The amount of flashing, wrapping, etc that they are adding to our windows and doors is more than twice what our initial install had 21 yrs ago. You should have heard them mumbling about how poorly the house was flashed and how amazed they are that they haven't uncovered any dry rot (so thankful for that but it could have been a different story if we hadn't replaced the failed LP siding when we did.). Thanks for the brand recs, ak0402. I'll keep them in mind should we ever need to buy a new door.

In open concept things don't have to match they just need to coordinate. Choose colors you want in the space and use them in varying degrees in both parts of the room. The rug you have under the table is too big for that space. I would move it into the living room part of the room but orient it the opposite direction. Center it in that space with the window and use it as a guide for furniture placement. You should have at least a foot of hardwoods showing on all sides. Art should be placed with centers at about 60". a grouping should be placed as if it were one piece. Color should be repeated around the room to keep your eyes moving in the space. Center the dining table under the light and lower the light closer to the table. If you do bring in another rug it should also be centered under the light along with the table.Try the table turned the other way. The room will feel less cramped if you can comfortably walk all the way around the table grouping. When I move into a new place I try different furniture placement out for a few weeks then change things up and live with another position for awhile until I find what works in the room best for my lifestyle. Looks like you have a great start. I also love saving money buying at thrift stores and online. Gotta love a deal.

Hi Dyan- Anything three dimensional would definitely enhance the room, that's a great idea. Just please, not a clock. That only makes your guests feel rushed. And no trite sayings, either, please. Metal would be fine, but something from wood would be good too. You can do a search for "wood wall art" or "3D wood wall art" or "wood wall sculpture" on eBay or etsy or in your local galleries. A local gallery may seem expensive, but when you think what you would have to pay for shipping, the price may be the same.