A number of things jumped out at me when I saw your photos and I hope my suggestions don't hurt your feelings, but obviously you also feel some improvement is needed. 1. Family photos can be very tricky in living rooms and a large one on the wall is not something you'll normally see in a "decorated" room. A print or painting that really appeals to you would change the feel of this room. 2. I would do two panels for each window in a more muted color that is not too different from the wall color. Pinch pleats or some other tight top treatment will look much better and improve the look of the windows immensely. 3. I don't see much furniture in this room. Without a couch or love seat and a coffee table I don't know that this could really be called a living room. 4. The room has a "dead" feel because there is no greenery there. Even a silk tree or fern would be better to liven up this space than nothing at all. However, it seems as though you would have enough light for the real thing. 5. Children's toys don't really do anything for a living room. I would move that elsewhere. 6. How about a nice floor lamp to the right of the window closest to the piano? It will not only give light but add a decorative touch. Right now the room is sadly lacking in decorative elements and the pieces on each side of the piano are too small to make a positive impact. 7. Does anyone play the piano or is it just something to fill up space? If it's the latter I would use that wall for an upholstered furniture piece. Again, the family photos might better go elsewhere. Or, you might keep the ones on the piano and change to some type of art on the wall above it. I hope I haven't overwhelmed you or made you feel bad in any way. When I asked for changes in my master bedroom I was given lots of opinions of what was wrong with the room. I went with the ideas that appealed to me and ended up with a much nicer room. There's no reason to take advice that doesn't fit in with your ideas but usually something will stand out that will be of benefit. Good luck with your remake!

Hey guys..not at home right now, but the Sherwin Williams color on the walls is "cachet cream". When I put it up, the running joke for the entire paint project was, "wow...i'm having a hankering for something...sweet...and orange-like...but with vanilla in the middle. Creamsicle!!!" However, after it dried, it mellowed into something more creamy / yellow. It definitely has a yellow tint in the natural light. When we painted the walls, we didn't know what the backsplash was going to be, so it was more of a 'guess' seeing as though we'd either get it right or have to paint it again...and it is sooooo much easier to paint with no flooring, etc. in the room... Here is a link to the color: Sherwin Williams Cachet Cream

Your rug is drop-dead gorgeous. What a treasure! Definitely I would showcase it with a glass coffee table, which will also make your room look larger. Some orchid or fuchsia colored pillows would look great. I would try to make the couch not too strong of a green, something a bit more on the subtle side, as though it might have faded a bit. You don't want to compete with the rug, and the idea of a rug of this color and very intricate design being a neutral where you can put anything you want on it is a bit of a misconception. I would try to work with it rather than against it. I bought an Oriental rug that turned out to be brighter and bolder than I expected, and it took some thought to try to make it work.

I know the feeling as I wished for rain and now we are getting it more regularly and I will not complain because it could go the other way. Just finished cleaning out a bed and the weeds came out so easy as well as the Queen Anne Lace but the humidity is creeping back in so stopped for today. Yesterday my husband and I went to a local nursery and I purchased 2 maple trees (October Glory and Crisom King), 2 hydrangea Pinky Winky and a purple butterfly bush. Good part is the nursery will put everything in for me. Trees will be done in late September/early October. Hydrangeas and butterfly bush along with a truckload of mulch will arrive next week. I really should keep myself out of garden nurseries. Too much eye candy. Julia