Here are the pictures

First of all, I believe the fire place lacks focus. In my opinion it's not really the best place to display family photographs randomly. A beautiful painting or large art object of some kind should be the main focus with smaller objects complementing it. Without a window dressing of some kind the windows look very bare. You badly need softness there. The two lamps seem to have no relationship to each other and the white furniture holding the TV doesn't seem to go with the other, darker pieces. I'm sorry if all this sounds negative because you have a very nice space which has a lot of potential but just needs a little tweaking and some thought about accessories. There are quite a few on-line sources for art and many sites for original artists, if that is your interest. Plants would also help to soften this area and give it life. Nice doggie! In my opinion it's not a home if it doesn't have animals in it.

Gorgeous room! And the kitchen is wonderful! LOVE the dog!

Try the dark trunk between the two matching chairs -- and the small table at the end of the sofa. Then add a vertical display of artworks (two or three artworks) Hang them vertically. Or consider adding a bookshelf there.

Then take your family photos and switch them to black and white -- frame alike in black or chocolate brown and hang them around the TV area. Perhaps even add a wall shelf to add a couple of the vintage fans (those are awesome!)

OR -- for ANOTHER idea -- try the sofa on the wall between the two sconces -- and switch the two chairs to the spot where the sofa now sits. THEN add a large artwork over the sofa -- and a smaller similar one over the fireplace mantel.

Window treatments would help -- perhaps soft creamy white roman blinds?

Jan

I agree with Ingrid. Each thing mentioned is in inself very nice, but maybe just doesn't relate to the other items, i.e., white tv stand and lamps. All are very nice, but don't go together so well. I agree also with the fireplace comment. One large item and a few small items. If the sides of the fireplace mantel are bare I think it would look just fine. I like the furniture and the rug. I really like the praire glass door. Window treatments of some type would help take the echo down a notch. I noticed that when I got a large pair of window treatments for two corner windows (13' ceiling) the sound was much more muffled.

What is wrong with you, people? Some comments here are very rude (again)!

lindafab, your house looks cozy already :) I think adding some window treatments will make a huge diference - if you don't want to cover the windows, you can always add some draperies in between the windows (you know what I mean :) Teacats has some good ideas about rearranging your furniture. I think putting the furniture closer together (creating conversational setting) will help too :) I'm sure you'll get some good advice here. Good luck!

I think part of the problem in the lack of coziness is the lighting. All the light on the ceiling is great for tasks, but does nothing to warm up the space when you are seated.

First, I would move the tv/stand between the windows where the wall sconces are. That is a spot where you can't add lamps, but the sconces are really too high for ambient lighting. A perfect kind of lighting for the tv area, tho.

I would put the couch where the tv was, then move the two chairs opposite the couch (in the spot where the couch was), with the trunk between them. Turn the rug so that it runs long way parallel to the couch and the chairs, and move it all closer together for a cozier feel.

Then take the armchair and ottoman and put down in the corner by the window on the right end of the room, after moving the white bookcase down toward the patio doors a bit. This will create a separate reading corner, and yet won't be blocked from the other seating because the chairs will be on that side of the room for a more open feel.

Use the pharmacy lamp beside the reading chair. The tiffany lamp can go at the end of the couch closer to the tv, and you can use the small end table on the other end (closer to the fireplace) with a table lamp on it. Add another table lamp on the trunk between the two chairs.

As for the windows, with the sconces on the walls on the inside of each window, I think it would be hard to put panels on each side of the each window. Instead, I would hang a panel on a decorative rod above the moulding, that pulls to the outside of each window when it stacks back.

You might consider a larger piece of art for above the fireplace, and then hang all the smaller pix in a grouping on the wall behind the couch. A fern or other full plant would be nice on the hearth for softness.

I am wondering if you could use a stone enhancing product to warm up the color of the stone fireplace a bit. It feels so grey compared to all the warm colors in the room.

You have a great room and a lovely home. Tweaking the details will give you the warm, friendly feeling you seek.

goldeneye, I don't see any rude comments, the OP said:
"Any input good or bad would be aprreciated. "

lindafab, a large painting between the 2 sconces would definitely infuse warmth in your decor, over the fireplace also ; I like the idea of the light colored roman blinds for your windows, even when raised, the stack of folds would soften the glass.

you also might not be used to having the larger space and it feels hollow for now.

There are a lot of other people here who can give you ideas of how to decorate, but as far as echoes, it's b/c of all the hard surfaces. Add more fabric (rugs, window treatments, esp. lined drapes) and it won't echo so much.

Les has wonderful ideas (as usual!!) for re-arranging the room -- the TV and stand would be perfect on that wall between the sconces!

Jan

I'd also love to see you try the room like Les suggested. It sounds more cozy.

Thank you for your responses. The problem with Les's suggestion on moving my tv between the sconces is that then your back would be towards the fireplace. The room isn't that wide to accomodate this. I recently had the sofa between the sconces and the chairs where the sofa is. I wouldn't say it was any better or worse.
As far as the windows are concerned, my thoughts were either, 2 1/2 inch wood blinds, bamboo like shades or a fabric shade. What do you think

I don't see any rude suggestions just posters hoping to help you. It's a beautiful room, you just need to introduce more fabric. There is a preponderance of hard noise reflecting materials (the walls, hardwood floors, leather upholstery). These items are all beautiful, they just need to have some noise deadening material added.

Try fabric window shades, curtains that pull totally off the windows, some cuddly throws, a few pillows, and how about a beautiful quilt hanging on a wall somewhere.

Good luck!

Bamboo shades won't absorb sound as much as fabric shades or panels. I haven't read all the post (sorry, cooking) but wicker items and plants would help too.

Our house has large rooms, all with either cathedral ceilings or high ceilings. Lower level is all tile (I dislike carpet). Until I got the rooms completely decorated, with bedding, chairs, curtains, rugs, pillows and accessories, they echoed. Our MBath and the Laundry room still do, so I'm always hesitant to talk on the phone in them. Don't want anyone to think I'm sitting down. lol

You have a beautiful home and I'm sure once you live in it awhile, you will be happy with everything. fwiw, I rearranged our great room three times over two years before getting it right.

Darn. I had it all mulled over in my head and was too tired to type out a long post and Les beat me to the exact thing I was going to say with her early AM post.

The only difference is that I would leave the white cabinet on the wall where it is and put the chair in the corner on the other side with the little table that is now between the two chairs next to it with the corner of it to the wall rather than straight. That way there is not "all chairs" on one side of the room. JMHO.

Also I thought that to avoid the 'puppet theater' look that having draperies on the windows would look with the TV between them, I would go with shades. It seems like you want the room to be true to the Arts and Craft era and not Transitional? You can get roller shades that are printed and tasseled. Or have roman shades made with fabric in A&C prints. Since you say the windows face north and you would be keeping them open all day the decorative border at the bottom of the shades (either Roman or roller) will still add interest.

Adding a couple of huge ferns or Jade plant or huge snake plant, in large ceramic pots will also keep down the echo and add some warmth and cozy to the room. You could put one in the corner by the white cabinet (move the cabinet over just a hair.) and another next to it so it is partially under the window, filling in the space under the window. Do the same on the other side by the ottoman chair with a plant under the window and another over on the blank wall. This way having roller shades or Roman shades, won't look like the windows are two floating squares on the wall. Use plants that were popular during the A&C era. It's the little details like that that pull a room together.

To avoid the echos, after turning the big rug the other way, add a rug behind the couch and another behind the two chairs. This will define the chair and ottoman seating too and made the space seem homey and finished.

Once you get art on the wall the echo will diminish and the room won't look so "bottom heavy".

I would opt for real art and I understand why you would cringe at poster art. It would cheapen the look of the room. You can get some good deals on eBay or at art shows, especially the ones that art schools hold. Go for something LARGE and bold on the walls with that early 20th century look to it. During the Arts and Craft movement painting were painted right on the walls in both homes and commercial establishments. Art that was hung were often Japanese block prints. You may find something in a Cubism style at a student art show for a good price, that will go with your furnishings and add a 'wow' factor. Big art on the wall will absorb sound too.

If you need to keep down echos, putting a sheer panel curtain on the patio doors will help. Of course that will hinder the view and you may not want to block any of it but if will help with the echo. Get something in matte, not shiny.

http://www.thehandwerkshop.com/

http://www.archiveedition.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Arts and Craft Window Treatments

Why would your back be to the fireplace if you switched the TV and the couch? The tv and the fireplace would be opposite one another, and the couch and the two chairs would be opposite each other on either side.

I think fabric shades (romans, for example) would be another great choice. Wood or bamboo blinds will only be more hard surfaces and won't help the echo or the cozy feeling, unless you add drapery panels over them.

On looking over my post and after reading goldeneye's comment I can see that I came across much more negatively than I meant to. My apologies if I've offended; that certainly was not my intention. You've had so many wonderful suggestions. It will be very interesting to see pictures if you decide to make some changes.

Ingrid

Ingrid, sorry. I really regret that I posted that comment. Doesn't look that what you wrote bothered anyone else on this forum. It did seem little "negative" when I read it last night, but I also think I had no business to react the way I did. I must have been tired and too sensitive. I'm sorry.

I've noticed that glass really causes sound to bounce, so roman shades or drapes would really help with the echo. If you leave furniture arrangement 'as is', you might hang a large tapestry, or quilt, or carpet on the wall between the sconces to further help muffle the echo.

FWIW, here's another furniture placement, FWIW (see 'as is' and 'alternate' below). Hope I got door and window openings on correct walls. I think the circulation is better with the sofa anchored against a wall, rather than floating.

Not used in alternate plan, but it occurred to me that you might use your coffee table as a TV stand, and your trunk as a coffee table. And odd as it sounds, you could perhaps stack your glass cabinet on top of credenza to create a tall piece of furniture to balance the fireplace.

goldeneyedaisy, thank you for being so gracious. You did have a valid point, though. I also was tired when I wrote my remarks, and not at my best. I'll certainly try to do better.

Ingrid

What a lovely room! I think drapery panels will do the trick!

Rooms echo because of the shape, size, and lack of soft surfaces to absorb sound. Add more drapes, rugs, art, table lamps and less metal objects to help change the echo.
It is a pretty room.

We don't have a problem with echoing and our house is 3200 sq feet. I definitely think that putting window treatments will help to soften the sounds and reduce the echoing. Great space.

I like the idea mjlb has to stack the cabinet units on the large blank wall. The white would need to be quieted with some gel or glaze.

And (s)he is right that a tapestry would be better than other types of wall art for reducing echo. Tapestry was popular with the Arts & Craft movement and would work beautifully.

http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/275611.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Arts and Craft Tapestry

Very nice! I love your floors and your paint color and your doggy! The furniture looks good. The rug could be a little bigger... But I agree with the comments that all that's really needed is some softness. You have a lot of "hard" things and just need some plant material, drapes, a couple well placed oil paintings (or canvas transfers) on the walls.

Would it be possible to tell me the color of your walls? I absolutely love it. My floor is your color as is my trim and I'd like to try it in my house.

Just a general question to others -- what has been going on at gardenweb? I'm a somewhat regular viewer and occasional contributor here at gardenweb, but have been away for a couple months and I come back and see these these comments on several threads scolding people for being unkind when all they're doing is expressing opinions that were asked for in the first place. Either someone is trying to disrupt this site, or people are feeling very threatened these days. I hope it can tone down and people can mellow out. This is supposed to be a fun place.

Very pretty. I would love to see some after pics!

I think my paint color is laura ashley gold 2.

Thank you for paint color, I'll get a quart and try it out.