I like your new arrangements. Nice job on painting the pillow. I agree the new pillows in the foyer area look more relaxed and I think it looks effortless. I like the coffee tables too!

Thanks so much for the nice comments. Ishack, the "busy" coffee table is in the front entry room and is more for show than use. I have a good-sized collection of antique Chinese porcelain and like to have it around me. I have a TV room and living room to hang out in which are more for comfort.

Rita, thank you for your appreciation of the coffee table arrangement. As for the kitchen it's 38 years old and all I've done is put in a new cooktop, so you can imagine what the rest looks like. The tile counters seem unhygienic to me and need to be changed, but otherwise I may just have the cabinets resurfaced and new handles put on to update the look. I'm not a fan of ripping everything out and starting over, just want things to be functional, so we may be a minority of two.

I think I did want affirmation that it looked nice. Not sure I deserve this level of contempt, though.

Looks pretty, ingrid. I like both sets of pillows -- the yellow and blue look more like Spring to me, but I still have snow out the window and I know you're in California : ) .

I wouldn't have thought to put a decorative plate under the coffee table like that!

What happened to the floral sofa you had in the Entry room? Was its slipcover?

I had meant to add- there really is no right or wrong with decor. Some people like to display a lot of cherished possessions while others think 'less is more'. I used to be in the first group, but am now in the latter. It's all personal opinion, not right or wrong

Halt. :) Leave those coffee table arrangements. I fall into both camps with decorating a coffee table. I think it sometimes depends on the room too. I especially really, really, really like the arrangement in the entry. The art, pillow, coffee table stuff it works really well together.

Ishack, it was the tone of your communication as much as what was said, and in fact the tone of both communications. However, life is short and this is a minor matter.

pandtkendall, I gave the floral sofa away. I bought it used a long time ago and it was rightly pointed out here that it had seen better days. The recipient was so happy to have it, so I consider that a win/win. You're right, of course, there is no right or wrong way to do things, as long as certain rules of decorating are kept in mind. Some people can even break the rules and make it all look good, but I'm not one of them.

becky and Sheisback, thank you for the lovely words. I'm not the most confident decorator, and I've received much advice here about different rooms that I've really appreciated. Sometimes I've been steered in directions that hadn't even occurred to me. Other times it's nice just to hear I've done okay.