Yes, that’s where the cable outlet is. Is it expensive to move cable outlets? I was thinking of putting a couch perpendicular to the door to create an entryway, then add a small table or shoe storage cabinet for keys by the door. This means we would have to move the cable outlet or go without cable and just watch Netflix and Apple TV. We would have cable in the bedroom instead. Thanks for the tip to not rush to decorate! We are adding pieces in very slowly. Just a couch and bar stools for now. We kept our old coffee table and small dining table for now. Closet storage is another big thing. We will probably buy closet units from ikea.

You've bought a new house and have no idea where to start or probably even what you like. So stop right there and start looking at photos. Make an ideabook for each room in the house, go through the photos on Houzz or the internet and save the ones you love. Right now we have no clue what style or colors you're drawn to--you may not even know yourself--but before you lay out a bunch of money for furnishings and painting, do yourself (and us) a favor and find the look you want.

Bahaha, I didn't even notice they looked like "boob lights" until you pointed it out. What has been seen cannot be unseen! Structurally, we're in great shape. No major fixes are needed for at least another 5-10 years, at which point the windows will have to be done. Otherwise, everything else is already new (or relatively new). These are all great ideas and I'm so grateful to everyone that chimed in. I think I've just been feeling so overwhelmed and like I need to tackle everything at once... but as so many of you pointed out, it's OK to sit on it for a while (even years, if I want to)! One of my biggest issues is that I just don't know what I like. I know that sounds crazy, but since I was never really able to make changes to my space before now (we even lived in an apartment when I was a kid), I never had the opportunity to develop what my "taste" is. I will definitely spend some time on my idea books and start narrowing down what it is I like. I have found between Pinterest and now this site (which I just found today) that I seem to be leaning toward a more rustic-type look. PS. I don't actually love all that tan. It's a bit darker than the color in the living room and although the lighter color looks decent in the living room, it's "meh" for me in the dining/kitchen area. Any thoughts on what might look OK with the current kitchen schema, or should I just go for white and revisit later? Thanks again, everyone! I so appreciate the help.

First steps, have the wainscoting taken up the staircase in line with the rest of the room so that it doesn’t just terminate at the edge of the stairs, paint the whole wall, including the wainscoting one color( the white bottom just draws attention to the height, and not in a good way), and change out the stair railing( it is far too plain and farmhouse/ 1980 for your glam intentions).