You all have been amazingly helpful. I worked on each suggestion each of you made. Some I wasn't able to execute. For example, I will buy the right size hurricane candle holder but nothing I have now simulates it correctly  I know I will use it, if not for this then in the summer when it will all change. I lowered the painting; there must have been five holes behind it, but none in the exact spot that Les suggested. Some of the suggestions didn't work right IRL and so the pictures aren't included here, and some looked good in IRL but the pictures somehow did not do justice. The inspiration picture had no context  it was a tiny picture of the compote and plant only, but I recognized the compote as mine. And thank you for all the general decorating tips  I will try to learn to apply them. Brutuses: I bought the real baby tears plants a few weeks ago for this project. They are in the original plastic pots with a plastic pot plate underneath, fitting perfectly in the compote. They are moisture and humidity-loving and prefer bright filtered light. They are now next to a south-facing window with sheer curtains and seemingly thriving. I have to water them every couple of days. Jejvtr: my DR is not ready for viewing yet! IÂm working on it but it's not at the stage where I can ask a coherent question. I have a mirror that is perfect for the dresser, but it is so massive that it projects too much from the wall when hung. So it looks quite ugly from the two main entrances to the DR which are to the left in my pictures. Maybe I should rearrange the DR  later. Someone asked for my favorite. I'm not sure yet, but DH weighed in for using the china. I'm definitely in the market for a larger new clock and a collection of different-height candlestick holders, maybe for summer. In the meantime, I put the clock back in its original home with the rectangular silver tray underneath. Looks really nice. Here are some additional pictures if you're curious about the results.

Do you have pictures of what you want it to look like when it's finished? Check out the our gallery, magazines, books, etc for inspiration. It also helps to put a name on what you want. Someone mentioned this in the *Real* Decorating Tips thread. For instance, I'm about to start redecorating my MB and I'm naming it "Refined Woodland Cottage Retreat". This might mean different things to others but I have a mental picture of what this is and every thing I buy has to fit this image. This is especially helpful if you are buying things over a period of time.

I love the idea of making your spaces work for your lifestyle. Your room is pretty small and the sofa is pretty large and your chair is large, so this is creating a bit of a problem. You might have been better doing a couple comfy chairs and an ottoman instead of the large sofa. Is the sofa staying? If so, you need a larger rug to "ground" your space. I would look for a combination ottoman/coffee table arrangement so you have the best of both worlds. Here is one to give you the "concept". These come in a variety of styles and shapes. Look for ottoman/bench/coffee table in key words.

Candid! The first thing I saw in both rooms were the window treatments. The living room valances, although formal in design, are a dated look even for kitchens. The dining room drapes and swag should be framing the stage in a theater; they're just too heavy and dark. The red art in the dining room and the blue art in the living room are "off" elements in contrast to you furniture. The red ones might work in your kitchen, and the blue could theme another space. Dried floral arrangements and sticks as decor faded a long time ago. The living room rug should be as large as the one in the dining room. What to do... Here's a favorite house of mine and you have the furniture to pull off a similar look if you just simplify and get a larger rug and some side tables and a coffee table that are in scale with your other pieces. Click through the link with the photo to see other rooms in this lovely home. Brighten up your space by painting both rooms as below (believed to be Navajo White walls and White Dove Trim.) Consider wainscot for the dining room and a new chandelier. Updated window treatments that match in both rooms, larger rugs and less clutter would improve things. If you do paint, then removing all the tchotkes will happen anyway. Pack them up and only put them back judiciously.