That's a good idea, someone else suggested that. I guess I haven't quite found the right mix of the two tones. Do you have any photos of your last kitchen? Unfortunately, I'm on a lower budget since it's going to be a rental for a while, but someday we may move there, which is why it's a bit trickier to decide on style. I've been looking at lowes & home depot for cost purposes. I originally found some really unique italian looking red, blue & green crackly tiles that are in a mosaic style, which I thought would be fun for behind the stove area & then going with simple blue/green field tiles for the back splash area above counters. That doesn't really tie in cream or white but it's maybe more limiting for a renter? Thoughts?

So update on the table. My wonderful step dad who also happens to be a carpenter by trade, offered to build us a new tabletop however we want it! He plans on shipping it in two parts since he lives half way across the country but I'm ecstatic! He's currently finishing recreating this beautiful West Elm shelf for us: West Elm Round Wooden Shelf I believe, I will go ahead and paint the bottom white and allow the new wood top to take over the rest. I just wanted to extend my appreciation again to everyone whom replied. I hope that it is able to help others too!

Me again, Tammy. Thanks for sharing all the photos of your cozy home. If you like it the way it is, just enjoy it. If you're wanting a more modern look, start two Ideabooks on Houzz, one "Transitional" and one "Modern Farmhouse." Save photos of houses you like that seem realistic with the style of your house--the "bones" of it, and what you already have. Look up something called "negative space." Here's an article on it in Houzz. It's about the nice sense of space and flow you get when your eye can rest on empty space. Not every wall has to have some little object on it. More space means you focus on a few nice pieces, an art work, some photographs, plants, etc. so your eye doesn't get too overwhelmed at taking in too many small things. That's why I suggested removing your metal shelves in the dining room to focus on your lovely hutch, whether it has a top on it or not. [https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-power-of-negative-space-in-interior-design-stsetivw-vs~97343035 [(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-power-of-negative-space-in-interior-design-stsetivw-vs~97343035) Consider removing nearly all of your "signs" -- not all of them -- and other objects from walls, cabinet tops, etc. Put the stuff in a box for a while and see if your rooms seem simpler and spacious. Comments on your photos: --The bathroom is really nice--great paint choice; not too many knick knacks; nice shower curtain. --Sun porch: take off everything from the walls behind the corner wicker chair. If you want, add a little modern-ish reading light over the chair to suggest a cozy reading corner. One pillow--tops-per chair! How can you sit down otherwise? --Daybed/office room. If budget allows, a simple blue tailored print or solid cover would work better than the ornate spread on there now. Get a nice horizontal painting for over the daybed and remove the other little painting entirely and take off the metal thing. --Bedroom with brown tufted headboard. Hang the mirror and get yellow and blue curtains with coordinating yellow and blue shams and bedding. --Den with big brown couches. Move the sofas about a a half foot from the wall to add some visual space to the room. Move the the horse art to the window wall with nothing else--zero. That way, they'll be the first thing you see when you enter the room. Get a ledge shelf for the other wall and arrange JUST A FEW PIECES YOU LIKE ON IT! Negative space is a positive! Get a round tray for the ottoman in an accent color and leave it empty for people to put down drinks, food, etc. No pillows would be better than the floppy oversized ones on the couch that just look kind of sloppy. Less is more. --Fireplace room and everything that can be seen looks nice. If you have doodads hanging elsewhere in that room, take them down, so the focal point is that lovely fireplace. --The big bedroom. Move the mirror elsewhere. Center the dresser. It'll have more impact by itself. Again, doodads off the walls. Remove the little chest from the window. It's just another piece of visual clutter. You want a sense of the windows and light uninterrupted by that piece. Get some great curtains for this room and bedding that goes with them. With all the bitty things removed, these full curtains, hung very high and right to the floor, will have an impact. So will your nice bedroom furniture.

And, because where you have farm houses, you have farm children, and therefore schools... Some one room schoolhouses from the same area This one has been purchases by the local hysterical, er, historical society. The plaque gives dates of establishment, when THIS building was erected, when it closed, etc. This one is the same brick style as many of the homes around it. The little "shed" entrance is a later (rather awful) addition. This one belongs to a local boy scout troop. Finally, this one was a private residence for a while. Then it was bought up by another local history group and restored pretty thoroughly: