Cooperbailey, Thanks for letting me know the color of your paint. My white wicker dresser arrived last week and I just love it with my cherry bookshelves. I am glad I chose white and your picture helped me. Thank you! Now I am giving my friend my big 21" high speaker stereo and buying a shelf unit to make the room look nicer. It will still have the stepper in it so it will never be beautiful but I am make it nicer. I will post pictures when it is done. I am starting to enjoy eclectic and not all matching also.

The bookcase is a good solution to your problem, good on you. It doesn't look so bad at all from kitchen side..... the idea of pressed tin,metal to provide a splash back and fire protection gets my vote. For all the fire comments .....ensure you have a working kitchen fire extinguisher and fire blanket!

Thank you, I did add a small third object on the console table under artwork. If I leave the table there, I feel it needs some tabletop decor so will live with this for a bit. I have an up light still in package, so will try that on artwork before purchasing something else (perhaps I can hide behind the bird on black box). As far as the elephant in the room, (the off-white bookcase), I have another one in the process of being painted. With the dark floors, darks doors, dark wood bookshelves, my goal was to “lighten it up”, though now that I see it in the space, it’s not great... Original plan was to wallpaper the backs of bookcases, and that’s how I got to the color they are (SW Drift of mist)...it was good with wallpaper but I decided not to use it after painting first cabinet. Perhaps another color would be better. Thanks for your suggestions.

Don’t know about basis for Mark B’s questions but mine are about orientation of windows & decorating. Windows / French doors - love the doors but what direction will they face & what’s the exterior design plan? I’d consider light & heat & need to cover or not before decide to add the upper windows above. They add a nice design element & liklely nice light especially if doors have blinds, drapes etc. But, is there a patio cover outside or blinding sun & hot climate? The bookshelf & hallway thresholds - is it the best look to have them all at same level across? I don’t think so. How will you use a 10’ bookshelf? If display only, will the average height person even be able to see what’s on top shelves if you don’t make them low shelves with lots of height? As for hallway thresholds, I like them the same height as the french doors - and I think their height should include the windows above the french doors if you have them. So 10’ or 8’ whichever makes a match. I think I’m leaning towards 8’ max bookcases either way. ETA - I understand too about thresholds being at floor but used same term to be clear in what point being referenced. 😊