What are you thinking of changing? Paint color, art, throw pillows? Sounds like the carpet is new and you want to keep the furniture?

When your son gets older and doesn't need the wall to wall carpet...I'd refinish the original floors. I bet they'd be stunning.

crl_, We unfortunately have to keep the seating furniture, but I will replace the glass end table. I'm open to replacing/changing everything else.

nini804, the floors are gorgeous...when the prior carpet was removed, we were blown away by the floors. All other rooms (except bathrooms) have original flooring.

The photos you've posted don't give indication that your home is
as old as it is, other than room size. The overhead lighting, lack of
crown moulding and flooring point to a contemporary home. Therefore, it seems you're going to need to add character back into the home.

When you look at online photos or magazines of historic homes, what elements appeal to you? I think that's where I'd start.

What is the architectural style of the house? (Craftsman?)

I think grapefruit's idea to nix the overhead lighting in favor of lamps is a good one. I'd go so far as to take the chandelier out altogether. It's too big and clunky a thing for that room.

If you can swing it, I'd put crown moulding up, and pretty beefy stuff, like the moulding of your baseboard peeking out from behind the TV.

Paint the walls a color with more oomph to it, a nice neutral. This will also make the moulding and your drapes stand out more, which will have a wonderful effect.

I would also get rid of the light fixture. It does not read anything but current definitely not of the period of your home. I would remove most items from your table and get a large tall lamp. I would add several more lamps to the rooms. Remove the wall art etc and paint the spaces a more cozy color (neutral warm).

If you can I would add an area rug with some warm tones that contrast the carpet.

I would then take the time to slowly acquire pieces that fit or go with the period of your home.

Don't add faux historic elements to the house. Lots of modest old (circa 1900) houses did not have crown molding. Your photo grouping needs to be more compact, and lower on the wall. Go to Pinterest and do a search of wall decor living room for examples. Definitive more lighting needed, both table lamps and one torchiere to shoot the light up to the ceiling and have it bounce around. I love your orange pillows! I would put one large picture on the wall above the phone - large as in taking up 2/3 of the width of that short wall. Or place the pictures that are above the TV over there. I would remove that large vase that is next to the lamp. It's not adding anything to the room.
Pinterest

I agree that I would not add details that were not there originally. Do you know if there was crown molding or other details? (Sometimes neighbors know or neighboring houses of the same era may be in more original condition--I recently figured out what my fireplace originally looked like by visiting a open house in our neighborhood). If there are no local clues, the exterior architecture of the house can help find pictures of interiors of similar houses to guide you on decisions like whether to add crown molding.

I do agree that the overhead light fixture is not the best fit for the room and likely there was no overhead fixture in the room at all.

Do you know if your trim was originally painted or stained?

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I found some large, beautiful paintings at a used furniture store and an antique store locally, and found "old-looking":) end tables and lamps at TJ Maxx. I'm going to Sherwin Williams this afternoon, and I'm on the hunt for painters.

My husband bought this home as a single guy and removed carpeting in all but that room. He also restored the stairs, but unfortunately, bought lots of modern decor and furniture so I'm attempting to reverse that.

The floors are all original, as are the windows. Our home is a gablefront American foursquare with maple picture frame flooring, and tall ceilings.

crl_, we are actually in contact with the family of the guy who built our home and they have given us many details and insights into our home. Stained crown molding was added to the home after it was built. It was removed in the 90s when the (then) owners converted it to a rental home with multiple apartments.

graywings123, I found embroidered curtains that match the shade of the orange pillows, and I think I may buy one and test it today. It's a shame my husband bought those blah curtain shades, because the curtains are definitely high quality.

Here are pictures of the adjoining (dining) room with the original brick fireplace and original flooring.

Only problem is floor and table lamps with two little ones.

When adding curtains consider hanging them high. Gives the room the height it deserves.

Beautiful floors and woodwork!!!

Those are some beautiful floors and woodwork! Are the living and playrooms the only ones with painted woodwork? And were they originally stained? I'd be tempted to eventually return them to stained if possible.

As as far as table and floor lamps with little kids, I have always had them because we have lived in old houses with no ceiling fixtures in most rooms. I put floor lamps behind furniture so they can't be reached. If the overhead fixture needs to stay for the immediate future, a more vintage looking fixture would help. Refurbished vintage fixtures are a possibility. Some possible sources for reproduction lighting: school house electric, house of antique hardware, and rejuvenation .

I think thrift stores and antique markets and the like are the best sources for more vintage looking decor items so I think you are on the right track.

I might also look at some of the historic paint color palettes and see if there are colors that are appealing. I don't know enough about your style and era of house to say what colors might have been used, but I would guess maybe something darker/richer.

Holy smokes. You've got some amazing detail in that house! I'd work on it slowly, over time, so that you can do it all right.

I would add the crown molding back too. Our old house had over head lighting. I changed one to a fan with light and the other to a different pendant. Those make for something quick at the wall to turn on, but I have lamps for enjoying the room. I found ceiling medallions that repeat a feature on the fireplace mantle.

Maybe you can reuse those curtains in a different room where the do not blend with the furniture

crl_, The guy I'm meeting with at Sherwin Williams suggested we look at their historic collection so I'm excited bout that :) When my husband bought the house all the door frames, parts of the staircase and the fireplace were painted white. He, and my brother-in-law, stripped the paint off the fireplace, stairs, but not the door frames...it's on our to-do list :)

Our home is indeed beautiful so we want to do it justice by restoring its historic charm, and the family gets emotional every time they visit and they see the work we've done.

Glad you suggested putting lamps behind furniture. One of the couches is too big for the space, so based on all of your suggestions, I'm putting a narrow wood table behind it with a tall lamp.

I would put the brakes on buying until you come up with a plan, removing *at least* half (more in the case of the fireplace,) of the "stuff" cluttering up every surface since the cover-every-surface is a modern day affliction and is in total competition with the amazing architectural details you have- that floor! That stairway! That fireplace!

Oh, except the hanging light fixture- that I would replace right away. Probably something era correct- cast iron, most likely. Lots of choices on sites like ebay and rewiring is super simple so it's safe.

Instead of buying TJ Maxx furniture that will always look like TJ Maxx furniture save the money until you find the right *real* pieces for the house. Era correct furniture will be so much better quality and do a much better job of honoring the house and the hard work you and your husband have been doing and they become heirloom pieces that your children value and may have in their own homes some day. Is that a printer in the corner? Try putting it inside the furniture instead of on top of it. I'd probably look for an era appropriate armoire for ALL of the modern electronics that can be closed when you're not using them and give you some more hidden storage.

I would not put a table behind that couch, instead of looking like you have a couch that doesn't fit in the room it will look like you have a couch and a table that don't fit in the room and it will just end up with more "stuff" on top of it. If you can't replace the couch set now deal with it until it's time to buy new furniture and then buy something that works with the space you have.

Our house is a few years newer than yours (1914) so we went with the Sherwin Williams Craftsman paint palette and love it! Darker walls really highlight the woodwork.

I agree about the table behind the couch- adding more furniture wont make what you have fit better. Perhaps there is a different configuration you can do to take full advantage of the space? You have nice ceiling height so use it. Bring the decor to the walls instead of connected to the floor.

Stripping the woodwork is a long-term goal but a great one! I like white wood work but if your trim is in good shape, it will make a big difference in the feel of the house. Your first pictures made the rooms feel washed out with the wall color and white trim. However, the next set felt warm and home-y. Its that overhead light!! If you cant replace it now, maybe look for yellow light bulbs to dim the room a bit.

I agree. Take your time. Take away furniture, don't add. Save that money for when you have more of the historical elements added. I'd die for a house like that!!!

any pics of your kitchen??

Spam Alert, re: Natalia Nomma's "here".

I really appreciate your responses. After meeting with the Sherwin guy, I've chosen Library Pewter as our wall color. I'm layering the drapes...so keeping the ones pictured, but adding an embroidered orange toned curtain on top. The plan is to keep looking around for furniture. Someone in our town sews many things, including curtains, so I've asked her to make drapes for this room and the kitchen.

aktillery9, our kitchen is almost done :) The floor tiles are being removed next week, and flooring restored soon after. We replaced our seating nook with a countertop and dog crate area. I plan to either paint the cabinetry in the new dog crate area, with Benjamin Moore's Acadia white or stain it.