I agree with your husband: trust your instincts. Sure, you'll have a couple of missteps, but that's to be expected as none of us are static and many of us upgrade as budget permits -- just part of the process of learning about yourself. Fill your home with what you love, however slowly as you need to create your haven, not ours. That being said, your perfect daylight greige is likely affected by the lightbulbs. Try Reveal and add a dimmer if you don't already have one. Lots of candles as everyone looks fab by candlelight and your DR will be wonderful. Next paint job on your agenda in another room, if you want to save a bit of money, try Pittsburgh Paint Manor Hall. Nearly half the price of Aura, and I like the hand ever so much better. I've used Aura for years since it first came out, but I really like Manor Hall better. As far as your chandie/mirror dilemma, I'd opt for round on one and rectangular on the other. Since you already have the mirror and are open to leafing or painting it, then an easy out is a round chandie. Have you looked at any of the antique crystal chandies on Ebay and considered adding a drum shade? But if you truly think you'll love the rectangular chandelier, I've seen some nice ones of Ebay as well as the selection on Overstock. Finally, rather than wed yourself to a color concept for the back of the cabinets, would you consider paper, fabric or even painted panels that you can change when you want? You can easily find just the right striking print or color rather than struggle with paint. Many of us have bought enough samples to paint a house so that's not a route I'd advise. I'm a fan of practical displays until you have the budget to devote to passion collections so add whatever sparkly crystal stemware and candlesticks and any silver pieces you have to the cabinets for the interim. HTH!

Thanks for the praise on the overall room. The wall color is BM Mount Saint Anne, which I love after testing many shades looking for the perfect soft gray blue green. The bed is an antique, although IÂve seen many similar styles in flea markets, CL, etc. I appreciate the constructive feedback. I see what you mean about the hard look. The insight from GW members is great; I don't think I could have put my finger on it, but that's partly what bothered me about the shades. I donÂt want something too soft and feminine, though. IÂm not a girly girl, and I wanted to bring in some more modern elements to balance the antiques. The valance fabric is a bit retro and the master bath will have brushed nickel fixtures with glass shades, so I was hoping that would tie it together. HereÂs a shot of the future valance and lamp shade fabric: HereÂs a close up of the fixture. If I changed the shades out for fabric shades or maybe just different glass in more of a bell shape (clear seeded maybe?), would that soften it up enough?

Oceanna! DogGone you! Do you know how long I spent looking at all those wonderful pics? Gads.....laundry didn't get done and family had grilled cheese sammiches and chilled canned peaches instead of spaghetti and strawberry shortcake! LOL I consider myself pretty innovative and can usually create something out of not much when the need arises (lack of funds which is almost always the case.lol) but this? Ohhh, I don't know. I think I'd be out of my league....wiring? And heck, I can't even come up with decent coordinating paint colors much less come up with pieces that would come close to being coordinated enough to be presentable. The colors in the Teapot Chandy are dulled... an Old World look. It's a wonderful piece and she paid a pretty penny for it originally at a one-of-a-kind foo-foo boutique. I was taking a long-shot...you know how something gets popular and then you start seeing it in all the big-box stores? I was kinda hoping this Teapot Chandy had become popular enough that someone would have something like it, only a smaller scale. Hi Annz! Oh, the chandy in the link you posted is my cuppa tea....Love it! It's more what I would pick...the color and the fact it doesn't have the large teapot in the center. Of course, seeing the MySimon link had me adding other search words for Chandys and before I knew it, I got lost in the 'pages' of the most beautiful Chandys. LOL I hadn't even thought of having it reworked by lamps/lighting shop. But I think I'll call around today first. I'd hate to plunk down the $$$ on the CL Chandy only to find out making it into a smaller scale will cost me more than the Chandy....but a great idea I hadn't thought of so Thank you!

It is actually black wih brass arrm rods and they do match exactly as the lamps :). But you are right it would be easy to spray paint I kind of like the wrought iron and brass because I have iron fixtures and art that tie in . The art has not been put back up because it was painted. I do certainly appreciate your opinion because I asked for it