I love your room. Christmas decorations always make things look a little over the top with stuff . I tried to mentally remove them and I really like your room. I think the matlasse looks great!!!

Chris

Joanie, I think they look very nice. I'd keep them up. I can see where the brown would darken the room. I can't wait to see your wall when you have fireplace and built-ins added. I think that will be perfect for this room. What other changes are you planning since that will certainly change the way the room is used and the furniture placement?

There isn't too much going on - a lot of the clutter, and I mean that in a good way, comes from the Christmas decorations. And that's how a house is supposed to look at this time of year. The room and the drapes look great!

Back to the lighting. All of your lamps are sending light down. Shop around for a floor lamp that directs the light up rather than down. I call that a torchiere.

I did something interesting with such a light. I replaced the standard lightbulb with an indoor/outdoor floodlight bulb. The sides of floodlight bulbs are coated on the sides so the light doesn't seep out the sides. So all of the light goes straight up to the ceiling and brightens the room.

And when you do the built in bookcases, you will have the opportunity to build in some lights.

I hadn't even thought of the direction that the light is going. That is good to know. I will start looking around. I would love to have overhead but we have an upstairs above this room so I don't think it is possible. Yes I plan to install sconces on the fireplace. I have been having so much fun collection ides for it. Of course, some of my inspiration pictures were on this site, so I am hoping they get restored.

We have been waiting to spend money on the room, wanting to be certain that hubby's job is solid. Lots of rumors at his job of closings, and lots of layoffs. So we have waited. However, the longer I wait, the more I think of that I want to do. We have hardwood in the entry and I would LOVE to take out the carpet in the room and match the entry hardwood if that is possible and continue it into this room. Then I could get a pretty rug. We usually take our shoes off at the door but sometimes don't when we're in a hurry. One can use the foyer to go to the kitchen, or cut through this room. So it sees alot of foot traffic, and the dog loves to roll around on it.

Arranging the furniture around the vision in my head has been difficult to say the least. I like things to be symetrical and would like the couch directly below the window. However, that doesn't make for nice conversation. We've had it there before. What I hope will work is to scooch the piano down to the end of the wall - where the doorway is, and squeeze a chair in that corner, have another chair in the other corner, then have the sofa under the window, but not centered under it. It makes that end heavy but I want a nice conversation set up. The piano really can't go anywhere else. I've thought of putting the sofa facing the fireplace to come, but I think it is too big. I could scoot it closer to the fireplace and angle a chair beside it, that may work. Not sure. If someone has another idea, I'm all ears ( and eyes). So glad you don't think bedroom when you see the drapes. They do look brighter. I have another set of panels. Perhaps I should double up and hang them too for fullness?

Everything looks really nice, and since you intend to add more white the drapes could be left. Otherwise, I'd prefer something darker on the window with the room as it is.
Because that type of fabric appears heavy, I would suggest a much heavier rod (at least 1 5/8" diameter) and make it longer so that the inside edge of the drapes barely cover the window trim on each side.
That will allow more light into the room and will also make the window appear larger.

The drapes seem to go with the trim so for me they make sense, and darker would dull things down in the room too much. I think they could do with more fullness (maybe another panel on each side when it's in the budget) and/or some structure that would be given by pleating at the top (which would also require additional fabric). The rod could be thicker but this one works with the clock so it's OK for me. It actually contributes to the general lightening up effect of the lighter curtains.

KarinL

Thanks for the responses. Different opinions are what I'm after. I had something darker before, but it seemed too dark. When I was searching for something online over the weekend, I was thinking linen or cream. I love shimmery drapes, like silk panels and pleats. However, I think cream would look dingy next to white trim. Then I remembered that I had these panels that I'm not using. So I guess I'm trying to use what I have and make it work. I agree that the rods may be too narrow, but I know that they go with my other metals in the room. That's why I was also searching for pleated white sheers. I have the blinds for privacy so I wouldn't need to worry about that. And they would probably go with my current rods. But they may just be too light and airy for such a wood and metal filled room. UUUGGGHHH! Am I completely over thinking this?

Until I figure something else out I will probably try to add more white elements to the room to make the curtains make sense.

I think the drapes look fine but the window looks closed it. If you put your drapes up to cover just a bit of the frame on each side and extend outward on the wall it would give a more expansive look to the room. You'd probably have to get a longer rod for that. The room will be lovely when you're finished. It's a nice homey feeling. So much nicer than staged rooms.

I can empathize with your drapery drama situation. I posted recently with my own, of which I am still working to resolve.

I agree with what has been said - keeping the drapes, a more substantial rod and extending the rod past the window on each side a bit more. Lovely room . . .

Jan

Thank you everyone for your kind words and advice.