I am very sorry if I made you feel stomped-on - I didn't really mean to. I must have been tired, but that's still not a good excuse. :-( (Man, it's embarrassing to be compared to the vultures on on Rate My Space. Ow. I am rebuked.) Yes, I did mean that I suggest not doing anything with the walls except hanging some properly scaled artworks on them. (And maybe painting them a different color, but that's just me. LOL) Shopping for art is so much fun too! I think once you do that, bringing in some color and "oomph", you will feel differently about the room as a whole. At least wait to make these kinds of permanent, harder-to-reverse changes while you are refining your style and plans for the room and your other "stuff", anyway, as Bronwynsmom says. And after all, you're going to need artwork anyway even if you do do this molding job, so why not look for something you love that can serve as an inspiration piece for the rest of the room? You do not have to do everything at once, although I know all too well the desire to just get it over with. :-) I have made expensive mistakes before when trying to rush things together without having an overall "vision", and if that can save someone else from throwing their hard-earned money away it's not quite so much of a waste... Hmm, this might help. Over on the kitchen forum they have something called "The Sweeby Test". This page I've linked has her (I think Sweeby's a her) original post on the subject of writing a "Mission Statement" for a room the same way you would if you were starting a business or a charity. Her post is about choosing things for kitchens, but I think it applies to every room in the house. I have found it VERY helpful.

First off, I love your home and the entry is stunning and is the focal point. IMO the robin's egg blue ceiling is for a more casual home and yours is quite formal. If it were me I would stay with the natural wood or white, either would be fabulous. New homes don't compare to these older homes. How old is your house if you don't mind me asking? .....Jane

I have beadboard in various places in my home. Some of it is 42 inches high at finish and some is 8 ft. at finish. It is also a country home. I painted the same color throughout home, which was RH's Butter. In our greatroom the BB is the 8 ft. finish. It is a big room about 1200 sq. ft. with a large wood burning fireplace. All the BB is SW's dover white, which I love. I personally love BB and those who know my house here know that I have used it liberally, but it definitely works and gives that finished look I love.

I am very undecided about this. I think a short soapstone BS would be the easiest to keep clean, but I also like the look of beadboard down to the counter. (that would also save some $$). All I am sure of is that I have lost all interest in tile. So many beautiful kitchens are pictured in this thread! Maybe I can't go wrong either way. Momof3 - I love the simple trim you used. I worry about trim like that getting damaged when used behind the sink or a workspace such as next to the stove. Your beautiful brick veneer will never look dirty. The cabinet order is going in this week, so I am getting very excited. I need to decide about this backsplash so I can move on to other decisions - paint color and hardware. What do you think of this idea: The kitchen will be entirely fitted with cabinets, so my GC has suggested putting beadboard on all exposed walls: backsplash, behind the range, tiny wall section with wall-hung radiator, and above the 2 windows and 3 doors. (10 x 12 room). Will that look too "cute"? The walls are plaster (and plasterwork will be needed either way), and the ceiling will be drywall.