Prior to this coming year, I listened to the neighbor's little girl play outside and the hum of distant boats on the lake (the boats are distant because I'm on the cheap side of the road, not the lake side. I have a "seasonal" view of the lake. You can't see it in the summer when the trees are in full bloom.) Last summer DH got me an Ipod for my birthday. I perceive myself as technologically regressing, so it took me 6 months to figure out how to program it. At that, the music is mostly, the DH's collection of mp3's. This gardening season I'll be listening to a lot of zydeco, Jimmy Buffet, Peter Gabriel, Police, Genesis, Stones and David Bowie. Yeah, I'm a classic rock kind of girl.

haven't really watched many music videos since the early 80's on mtv... don't remember many either!! even tho i wasn't a michael jackson fan, i seem to remember some of his videos most(thriller, billy jean, etc)maybe they played them alot??? also remember a couple of genesis videos...(misunderstanding in particular) my kids showed me one a couple of years ago which was very cool (don't know if it was FF) that had the band in protective clothes and googles and it was a whole series of ball/s (i think)going on a mousetrap like course and ended with colorful paint getting dumped on all of them... very clever... i don't have time to search for it, but does it ring a bell with anyone?? it's a worthwhile view!!

The arrangement in #4 looks comfortable & welcoming. I think the leather chair looks better near a wall to anchor it since it has such a large profile. I think you are right - the room needs to be pulled together with colors. You could consider reupholstering the chairs in a fabric that picks up the color of the leather chair & the gold curtains. Maybe add red ball fringe to the inside edges of the curtains? Again, you are right - the color of the sofa contributes nothing to the other colors. YOu could try a slipcover, again repeating the color of the leather chair or the curtains. Once you have your fabrics you can determine a paint color that picks ups one of your dominant colors - just softer. I think the table lamps look better at the ends of the sofa rather than popping up in the middle of the wall cutout. You really have some nice 'bones' here - it just wants a little refining.

bpath let's start with I wouldn't be interested in renovating a house like this! I appreciate the history and all but find FLW houses majorly depressing and this one is no exception. However..... I think if you're going to live in this house you have to approach any renovations with an eye to original design intent. Doing that especially in the bathrooms with modern materials and what is now considered normal necessities in terms of shower size, # of sinks etc might be difficult in the original footprint - kitchen would be the same issue. I had a similar basement sink in both of our old houses. Not a clue about the levels - hadn't noticed till you pointed it out but it is confusing. ODD that roof repair estimate doesn't include all the interior damage so it's VERY light. You're being quite generous suggesting that some of the houses built today will even be around in 100 years!!! The house is valued based on all the needed updating and repair which is massive $$. Schools for that house are exceptional and it's 2 blocks from probably the best park and public beach on Lake Michigan in the area. Once that house is updated, taxes will triple.