No-green-thumb .. what a nice post to read, thank you. My household is crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade my DH, my girls, dogs, cat, chickens or Mr. Bun for the world. I'm very glad the instructions that I put up helped you all out! Angelcub .. the people across the street very recently painted their home the same yellow as our house. I had posted for suggestions on whether to repaint or not, and everyone here very graciously helped me out, including Squirrel doing some wonderful mock-ups for me of different colors. IMO, it's just a little too much of the same thing, leaning just a tiny bit toward the look of a showroom of vintage metal porch furniture, perhaps? Leahcate, this is exactly what I was wondering. I like the wicker mixed in with the metal furniture too. I love the picture that I posted of the metal glider painted the lime green and then they picked up that color on the cushions of the wicker. I like the two wicker chairs flanking the large glider that we have. I wonder how a wicker swing would look on the other half of the porch? Then do the same thing, paint the glider a brighter color, and pick up the color in the wicker cushion. Paint the little glider and chairs to match, but put them on the back deck .. that way there is continuity from the front to back of the house. Before I can put a metal set out there, I need to buy a retractable awning for the back deck though .. I've always wanted one for out there.

I think you should subscribe to some deco blogs if you're not reading them already (there are some great ones coming from young adults and who are on a budget...lots to learn from them -- where to splurge, where to save) and also find some home magazines and/or decorating books to look at. Not so much because I think that you should try to copy what you see, but so that you can get a better sense of what your own style is. You'll get a feel for what you are really drawn to. And you might be really suprised at what you find your style to be... Don't just go out and buy the first leather couch you see because it's leather, brown, and on sale. What style of couch do you really want? Something with straight/modern lines...or big and poofy? That's the sort of thing you should be thinking about before you start spending cash. There's not much worse in decorating than realizing that something is absolutely not your style after its been in your place for just a few months but now you can't afford to replace it!! Save your money, get what you really want the first time...or what you can live with for a set number of years. Take your time. You are lucky because you have a few things to hold you over until you can afford different.

I'm confused on the layout as it looks reversed in the floor plan...is the fireplace in the corner by the bathroom? Or is it on the outside corner? Clearly TV viewing is a big activity. Are there other activities that you'd like to accommodate? Such as board or card games or puzzles or a play space on the floor? A reading nook? Musical instruments? The space should work to meet your needs and functions first.

What a beautiful room! What kind of floor is this?