Thank you all for your very kind words. I really appreciate it because it's scary venturing out of the box in decor. There's sometimes a fine line between "wow" and "yuck." It's very comforting to think maybe I'm staying on the right side of that line. Hi Debbimc and welcome! Yes the entryway light fixture is too modern. I will haunt CL for a deal. It took me over a week of work to hand paint that border, but I probably should paint it out. Or, I could continue it through the DR but it was so much work. The legal bookcase can go downstairs when I can get some help in carrying it. Thanks about my furniture. Moonkat, I'm eagerly awaiting threads where you reveal pics of the inside of your house (did I miss some and if so can you give the urls, please?). I think we all should decorate with whatever turns us on. If you start with antiques, you don't have to worry about fads. You're *always* out of style. hehe. Yeah, doesn't Les have a wonderful eye for things? I love the more gentle, rounded look of the chairs she suggested, plus they sure look comfy. Cooperbailey, yes the big window is Gallery Glass. You all can do it! I think I will spray the rocker black and trim it with a wee bit of gold. If it's still not good there I can always move it downstairs or sell it. It's just my favorite seat when company comes. Thanks for the tips about restore a finish -- very good for us all to know. Looks like you had great results with it. Walkin ~~ I stopped at the hardware store today for spray black paint and a drop cloth. I'm going to hit all the chairs with it and reupholster the seats, which is easy. Then live with it while I look for something better. When/if I sell them on CL I should get more for them as I've fixed them up. Painting is a ton easier than stripping. So I just parked my car outside for the night and I'll see if I revive enough energy to do a little sanding/painting tin the garage. Jerseygirl ~~ Thanks so much for looking for a chandy for me. I'm thinking masses of crystal, but I'll haunt CL with your idea in mind too, and see what I can find. Pictures would be most welcome. Another possibility is an art deco fixture. Dilly ~~ Wow, you supplied a ton of really creative, fun ideas. Much for me to think about. I never would have thought about sticking crystals into the existing light fixture. You are so clever! YUM on that chandy you pictured. Parma ~~ Thanks for your thoughts on the lawyer's cabinet. I can't move it immediately. It really is a versatile piece, isn't it? You can display anything in there, I think. I love it. Slateberry ~~ What an interesting idea! I love to mess around with paint. Patser ~~ Yes the DR table is oak and I love the grain of it. Right... I think the chairs might be fruitwood, as I recall, but no visible grain. Wow, those chairs are gorgeous! WAY too much money, but gorgeous. I'm going to continue to haunt CL I think. Meanwhile, I'll see what I can do with these chairs to improve their looks. I'm thinking about the set of chairs I have that are not comfy and they're probably perfect for that table. I can't remember, but I think they are oak but need to be stripped. I just wish they were comfy.

Doppelgänger. The two chairs are different despite their similarities. I think if you upholster them in an identical way it will serve to highlight the differences rather than make them look like a "set". Since you want a more contemporary look I would do them slightly different using the same fabrics in both. (I love the fabric Les found!) Maybe even keep one with cushion, and one without, like they are now. I would not paint the wood. I think the natural wood seems richer than painted in that style, and you are not going for a Shabby Chic look with the upholstery so don't paint them. With all that black in the fabric painting the wood black might be overkill and make them look flat and uninteresting. Of course this might depend on the overall decor in the room....Do you already have a lot of painted pieces? Or a lot of natural pieces?

I agree that none of the above is the answer. The trellises all seem too clean and too geometric to work with the rug, and the ikat is ....I'm not sure, maybe too large. Plus none of the sample colors seem to work well with the carpet either. They seem to provide too much contrast. About the curtains, I think you need them. The room has a definite formal look, and to my eyes, the window as it is now looks unfinished, but not in an intentional way. What you do with the window might depend on how you feel about pattern. If you want to limit patterns to the carpet and chairs, then one possibility might be curtains in as close to the color of wall as possible. If you want more pattern, then how about the colors in the carpet? I don't think white, ivory, or cream curtains would work. I think they would give the effect of three walls in that interesting gray (?) color and then one big white wall. That would be too modern for your look. I also think you do need curtains rather than a valence or swag. Reasoning? There is a large expanse of white blind, and the blinds look contemporary. If there were an array of other contemporary elements in the room, I think they'd work, but there is a soothing "stillness" that comes from your furniture, accessories, and color choices. So the blinds look jarring and out of place. I think they need the softening effect of full-length curtains. Sigh. It's always so much easier to give a critique of other people's spaces than to finish any of the rooms here!

Please post photos of the space you're working with.