Look how long we've been struggling with voles! I first looked them up on gardenweb years ago when we had tons. I remember a day when I snap-trapped fourteen in a couple of hours! Here is an odd solution which has worked (apparently) for me. In frustration I began flooding the holes and tunnels with the end of my hose. Amazingly it seemed to work. I have done this for several years and where I use to have LOTS of voles and vole damage I rarely see a hole now and when I do I immediately flood it. I did use oyster shells but I have such large gardens that it was completely impractical. And now where I did use them they keep coming to the surface - years later - and I don't like the look of them. This year I have grubs and thus I have moles as well as skunks which dig holes in the lawn. I was able to move the moles away from the very front part of my yard also by flooding (stick the brass nozzle of the hose right through the turf into the tunnel) - it doesn't get rid of them like it seemed to get rid of the voles. But it did make them move. I am not a lawn fanatic but between brown spots from grubs and holes from skunks it's too ratty. I am using milky spore and it'll take quite some time before this solves the problem but it's the non-poison way to go and once established it'll do the trick for years. Just to say - unless I missed this on this long thread - moles and voles have not got the same habits and thus need different solutions. Voles are not carniverous, do not eat grubs so getting rid of the grubs won't deal with the voles. I only brought up the topic of moles as they also don't seem to like flooded muddy tunnels. After I tried my vole-death/relocation-by-flooding I read in an article somewhere that in Mexico some farmers were protecting their fields which were under vole attack by putting trenches filled with water around them. Well, hope somebody else tried flooding and writes about how it works for them . If nothing else, it is very satisfying!!

I was looking at this thread again for pictures of my brass lamps. I am not too happy with the adorable crystal lamps I bought on Ebay (good price but expensive shipping... and I paid extra for the lamp shades) since despite being too cute, I can't seem to find a place in my home for them. I may take pictures and see if anyone on this list wants them for what I paid for them. Everyone that sees them falls in love with them but my new stereo I just bought is so modern with the piano black speakers. Maybe I will find a place in the room.... I had also bought another antique crystal lamp from the same seller to save on shipping. I am finding out that I am more of a modern, traditional girl with a touch of country, a touch of traditional and a touch of victorian. I love antiques in the homes of others but I am finding out I like newer things that are not old. I guess I am learning my style. I still love the modern crystal lamps that I bought at fortunoff, especially the pair of Hannah Lamps that I put on the double dresser with flowers in the middle thanks to Squirrel's visuals. I will have to post pics of my satin brass lamps in my other room that I loved in their until I just recently bought the white wicker dresser and now I wish I had white lamps. That are beautiful but I am learning that things must go in the room and not just be a beautiful object. :) I sold my friend my perfect stereo that was perfect in every way but was too big for the room for a smaller book shelf stereo that looks better in the room but has so many less features and sounds very nice but not as good. I guess I can't have everything. :) It has a silver receiver and black speakers that looks good in the room but now the brass lamps look out of place.

Nursetammi, instead of messing with the trim--because you're not really ready for that, why not paint the walls a similarly medium-dark-to-dark color that looks wonderful in lamplight, makes the trim a quiet detail, the whole coordinating with the kitchen wall at the other end? Very significantly, erasing most of the contrast provided by trim and possessions against light walls, so that your decor blended harmoniously, would keep the richness they bring but lose any feeling of clutter. This is why so many of the rich old layered rooms were in dark values. To me, going this direction would only build on the inviting coziness you've already created in that area and make it a very appealing alternative to the brightness of the seating area by the kitchen. Most of my house is white with whites because it's not that large and I like that, but I think the trend for almost exclusively light walls in this era is regrettable, causing people to miss out on some very special options. http://gossiplankasinhala.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Dark-Green-Living-Room.jpg

Here it is with the wallpaper and new bulbs, which echo the ones over the kitchen bar which is similar to the console. I know the chandelier isn't a showstopper, but do like the way everything relates to each other, and am thrilled to just have the house done. Thank you, rred, for all the help and suggestions!