You don't say if you house is on or near the beach, but if it is, carpet is a nightmare. What I have learned in my beach house is to avoid wood and carpet. I replaced my downstairs carpet with wood shortly after I moved in because it got musty (from the moisture) and no amount of vacuuming could bring up all the sand that got ground deep into it. Wood was problematic too with moisture and sand, so after a few years it was looking dull, scratched and pitted from the moisture. I sanded and refinished it, but within a year it started looking bad again, so eventually I gave up and now, downstairs I have wood look ceramic tile (which I love) and an area rug around the couch. I may repeat the tile upstairs, but I am seriously considering Luxury Vinyl Tile (which is an amazing water resistant product that looks great - not like the vinyl of my youth). The great thing about LVT it doesn't require as much labor or prep to install as porcelain tile so the cost is considerably less. You still need to sweep the sand everyday, but the stuff is bulletproof against the sand and moisture.

Thank you so much for your ideas, Flo! I'm afraid the art and rug are staying put but appreciate the thoughts. I saw your suggestion to repeat the coral color elsewhere and was hoping to do that with pillows/throws or maybe an accessory or two. I do have more of the fabric that was on that chair and in fact had two pillow covers made out of it, but when I tried the two, it wasn't right either. Just one pillow on each couch wasn't enough and while I could make two more four seemed too many visually and also kind of cumbersome. I was also wondering if just adding some more pops of bright color, not necessarily coral, would balance the chair too. I showed the pic of the painting above the buffet because that is the inspiration I use for colors throughout. I could use smaller doses of the chair fabric; maybe cording, etc., for pillows too, and could also do solid coral instead of more of the trellis pattern.

As I mentioned before my property was damaged in a fire and while I was fixing the place I wanted to somehow update the curb appeal. Many of you said the exterior wasn't a pressing issue. I've kinda cooled on the concept of a ventilation curtain cladding but still want some improvements to the front rooftop deck to make it more usable in the hot summer months and to provide some protection from the rain and wind. Do you think a shade structure up there will enhance or detract from the look of the place? I did my best to photoshop it into place. I'd use curtains to soften it and to make it more cabana-like. It is a louvered roof that opens to for more of a slatted trellis. I also need to raise the handrails about 8 inches to make it safe up there so maybe I'd add 1-foot tall ombre sand-blasted panels of glass that gives the effect of white smoke rising around the rails. BTW... I can make that shade structure up there ANY color I want. The frame can be one color and the interior roof with the paddles closed can be another. If I do it I would match the frame to the existing galvanized metal and make the ceiling white. Any input would be appreciated!

Ok. No blue then. Tan countertops. to me, kinda take away a possibility of very light gray(or very dark off white lol), that might have worked with the flooring in the kitchen.. of course we all picture a bit different color when we say "tan", so.. that's a bit of a guessing game. then tan needs to work with the tile flooring too. but if you're into more colorful intense space..it can be done. Would be harder to pull off though..the big space, corners, vaulted ceiling.. Easier to use with furnishings etc, than with wall paint. So. I propose to start with the right white ..at least until you know your cabinets and countertops. Also., Can you do that first, paint later? As most of it is white already. And looks not bad at all. I know it's harder when one's already in the house, but easier in terms of picking colors. One always moves, or tries to, from less color variety (as in countertop surfaces -a lot to choose from yet there's a limit on what they can be) to one that can be virtually anything, as in paint. But if you paint now-whites will work. It needs to be right white/off-white, that would work nicely allover..that can be easy or not to pick, depending on the lighting different places get, etc. But it's probably still the safest way to go while you're figuring out the rest. And you might love it enough to stay. You didn't ask me, but i like stain on your cabinets..:) Again, wishing you smooth process of closure, and having fun making it yours.