Love what you/DH have done with the entertainment center. It's by far the nicest home crafted piece I've seen. The barn tin is a perfect touch! I also love the pieces in your room -- lots of interesting pieces and those candlesticks are JUST what I've been looking for on my mantle. I agree with decorpas that you may want to consider rearranging the furniture to provide a more cozy space in front of the fireplace and tv. Perhaps as simple as swapping the sofa and chairs. You have done a good job of adding visual interest higher up on the walls-- the higher mantle and beams demand interest higher up. The only thing I struggle with is that it leaves you with an uncomfortable spot between the fireplace and the mantle.. I am not sure what yuo can do there. Perhaps an interesting iron piece? I don't think it needs to be anything too big or heavy-- just a touch of visual interest. Again.. great job on the entertainment center. I just love it.

Thanks for the plan ML...I did miss it. I printed them out. They are very, very helpful. My husband knew how to enlarge them, and I'm going to cut them out. I can then move them around like puzzle pieces. I sent the designer a rather scathing e-mail. When I get REALLY ticked off, my mind clarifies. Basically, I said that my detailed lists, and what had been said at our meeting had obviously not been read or listened to, like everyone else I have paid. I also said that I would not tolerate any further disrespect. No reply so far. The guy is not someone I want doing our final drawings and blueprints, so my DH can do that with his software, and said he is going to work on it after mowing today. He sure likes our little tractor. Maybe we will get something usable on the floor plan from the designer, but I seriously doubt it. This is a guy who says to me when I was trying to decide on logs versus log siding, or loft or no loft, will say "Oh, so we're back to that again", rather sarcastically. I made a huge point in my e-mail today that it was MY house paid with money earned by my husband and I. I could just spit nails right now. Middle age is a blessing in that one ceases to care about what someone else, who is trying to push them around, thinks. I am starting to draw out a floor plan with a second story loft. The stairs will run along the bedroom wall in the great room. I'm thinking the second bathroom can run between the bedroom wall and stairway, accessable to both the master and great room. Maybe it will work...don't know yet. I'm hoping it would be private enough. An extra bedroom WIC could sit next to that along the same wall area. Sort of like building rooms back to back with the bedroom. The "study" could be turned into a nice foyer, not as large, with the laundry access off that. There could be a door from the master bathroom into the laundry room as well. These ideas, combined with the space that stairs take up, will create a hall, with privacy gained into the bedroom. The foyer can be a spot for my large roll top desk, which would be awful to get up into a loft, and a nice bench or chair, so as not to be wasted "show" space. The beautiful door with leaded glass and sidelights would really set this area off. I would also like to see an access point from the foyer into the kitchen. There will still be another kitchen door somewhere so we can go outside to the porch, and also grill, maybe between the dining area and counter run. I'll try to post here later. The kitchen will be reworked from how he did it, but the basic concept of it and dining running the direction they are. I can pivcture storage closets with a window seat on the front east wall of the kitchen. Maybe that's where the access from the foyer can cut in to run along that wall. At least my ideas are starting to flow again. Does any of the above make any sense? Hard sometimes to see it with just a bunch of words. I think we can come up with enough to satisfy the county, (and me), so we can get started, with small "remodels" made as we build. I guess I had to get good and P.O.'d. It sure does make it easier taking the sewing room off the main floor. It makes for a nice plan that isn't boxed in. The other good point is that even though we do not care about resale and are out to please only us, the loft makes the home versatile for resale when we finally kick the bucket. Another point made to me by a log home builder was that it is good to at least build for a future loft in these types of homes, even if the whole space were walled off and not used. The reason being, the walls could come off, and the second story finished. He and his wife ended up with custody of a couple grandchildren. His point was that we cannot predict when we might need extra bedrooms. Sure wish you gals lived close by. We'd have this thing done and engineer stamped in the blink of an eye. And we'd have fun doing it. Sigh....haven't met any ladies here like you yet. So it's a little lonesome. Society isn't the same any more. Sandy

I think the height of the bed is fine. I would put the nightstand on the other side of the bed, to give you just a little distance from the wall. The bed won't feel so jammed in, and it will be easier to make the bed. I would skip spending money on the headboard for now, and get a flat tv. You can get a really nice sized one for very little money these days, and that will make a huge difference in how the room feels there. Watch Craigslist for an inexpensive dresser that can serve as storage and hold the tv on top. Add a lamp there as well, and you can eliminate the need for the harsh overhead lighting. I would move the fan to the other side of the tv, so that it not only points out toward your bed but also to the rest of the room. I think the blinds are fine - adding a valance up above will soften the window but not crowd the room. Craigslist is also a source for a taller nightstand and a taller lamp that will help fill the wall space and give you nicer lighting in the room. The nightstand could be a bookcase or small cabinet to give you additional storage as well as style. Once you get all the major pieces in place, then you can add some inexpensive art. Frame some inexpensive photos or postcards or even pieces of cool scrapbook paper. Do enough (maybe 5 in a line above the bed)to have visual impact and take the place of a headboard. Love your bedding! Do you have an accent color in mind?

No, I would not paint a bathroom in a home I'm trying to sell black. That is too specific to appeal to the masses (which is your target audience). Could a designer make black walls look amazing? Yes. Can people on this forum send you pictures of bathrooms with black walls? Yes, But none of that relates to you because you're not a designer and "most" people will probably not respond positively to that. Yes, your bathroom is very dated. But what I would do is start with A) a budget, and B) an overall plan. Get someone with some decorating sense to help you BEFORE you do anything. There are too many things wrong in that space to start calling it all out without knowing how much money you have to spend on this and the style of the home, but in general if you can't remove that paneling then you're looking at painting it a light, neutral color. You're looking at painting all of that cabinetry and trim. You're looking at a new counter top and sinks. You will need new mirrors (you need two, one over each sink), new lighting fixtures and new faucets and cabinet hardware. And then you're going to have to remove that weird angled wall piece, I'm not sure what that is actually, but it has to be removed.