Thanks for the thought provoking questions and comments. The door between the kitchen and living room is open most of the time and there is a lot of traffic between the two rooms, so I think that I need to coordinate the color schemes. On second thought, it may be the boldness of the print in the kitchen which I dislike more than the colors. I prefer a softer look. The living room is painted paneling. I wonder how it would look to put up a chair rail in the living room and paint the wall below the chair rail a green, blue or taupe which matches the wallpaper in the kitchen but maybe in a lighter tint? A chair rail might look strange with the vaulted ceilings though. There would be one-third color on the bottom of the wall and two-thirds off-white on the top. Is the chair rail a good idea or do any of you have other suggestions? If I go with green, blue or taupe wall color beneath the chair rail and keep the off-white color above, what color sofa would look good with each color -- green would look good with sofa color? -- blue would look good with sofa color ? etc. When I look at the maple furniture against the off-white walls, I think that has a harsh look. I would like it to look softer, but am just not sure what color would accomplish that. You may be getting the idea by now that I'm color challenged -- LOL The current rug in the room is taupe and burgundy (it does look a bit gray in the picture). I do intend to replace the rug with a much larger rug -- probably 9 X 12. I like the maple furniture because it's what I grew up with. My mother and aunts have this type of furniture in their homes. But, a friend of mine recently suggested that the furniture is a little dated. So, I just wanted some other opinions about whether I should think about replacing this. I was looking for solutions to the fireplace and came across a web site called Brick Anew -- http://www.brick-anew.com/. Any opinions or experience with this product? I like the suggestion of covering over the brick, but it's probably not in my budget right now. Maybe Brick Anew would be a short-term solution and later I can box in the fireplace.

Thank you so much for all these ideas. I have eclectic taste but like contemporary, midcentury modern, global, a mix of these or other styles. For the space the astro console looks super cute. Here are some random things i've been collecting in carts that I like: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N79WZFS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 (I like rust color- don't know how to coordinate with grey etc.... but can swing to blue, red , green, darker grey, etc.) https://www.westelm.com/products/phoebe-chair-s2643/?pkey=e%7Cphoebe%2Bchair%7C3%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C3&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH (red could be nice too-just don't know how to tie in coordinating colors in the room) This coffee table looks neat but then what kind of console to get and is white the better color to design around or is taupe, dark brown better: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QUE7NFK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_12?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 Here it is in cement color: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBF5JHF/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_16?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3SQ9YFE6CSCS0 I was hoping to decorate wall or nick naks with mediative/mind-body items like a painting of buddha or lotus and or horse painting. https://www.houzz.com/products/marmont-hill-fire-horse-by-irena-orlov-painting-on-wrapped-canvas-24x16-prvw-vr~84354093 https://www.icanvas.com/canvas-print/sitting-buddha-val346#1PC3-40x26 https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Charm-Peaceful-Decoration-Artwork/dp/B01MYGO95D/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1507078846&sr=1-11&keywords=lotus+print Thanks so much for the ideas! I attached screenshots of pics I like...

Love love love all these ideas! Thanks everdebz and 2pups4me!! My head is spinning but in a great way. I loved the Montana fabric but I think ur right still too red and when I went by there today after closing the window treatments that are up and YES I am keeping them, for now anyways and maybe for good, are you guessed it, red and cream. So I guess I really need to go with the other neutral colors... I’m loving golds, creams, sage greens.... I will be there tomorrow waiting on a fedex delivery of bed so I will take some pics and post later this week.... no internet yet. Wooo so much going on trying to move a little at a time, work an hour away and get decorated!! Thank you all for all the ideas, can’t wait to go forward and get this done! Stick with me, I’ve got a dining room, bedroom after this!

Will you be keeping dining table and couches for a while, as you mentioned you will be replacing? That will dictate suggestions for lighting, etc and even ideas for a better possible layout. https://blog.modsy.com/home-design-tips-guides/layout-guides/living-and-dining-room-layout-designs/ If replacing shortly, if you could provide more details in regards to your taste, needs, and style. Either way, could you provide better pictures of the whole space and what your plans are with the furniture. Repainting, if you go that route, should be the last decision.