Here are some pics from Houzz that might give you some ideas. I love the blinds in the first on that hide the upper windows, but it's a pretty contemporary look. The interest on the ceiling along with the chandelier brings it down a bit. [contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by new york interior designer David Landy ASID CID NY State This has a strong horizontal element with lighting that breaks up the height: [traditional living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by dc metro general contractor Moss Building and Design [ the last two use lots of wood/built-ins to add heft and interest [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/st-clements-great-room-traditional-family-room-toronto-phvw-vp~81556) [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by toronto design-build Schnarr Craftsmen Inc [traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by atlanta interior designer Mary Trantow

trish-I hope you see this, you posted almost a week ago, I have not been on these boards for a few days! Can you PLEASE take a picture of the furniture and post it? I am dying to see it in another setting. Do you think the DR set was in the house originally? What year was your house built? What color are the seats...and are they the same at your neighbor's house across the street? Where do you live? Ok, so my DH actually had possession of *HIS* dining room set, that was exactly like MINE...up until the mid nineties. His mom had saved it (parents are divorced). He tried to sell it at one point, and refinshed the top and spruced it up nicely. I think he was asking 1k for the whole set...hutch, table, chairs...and he had NO ONE buy it. They would come, look, offer him 200 bucks, he just couldn't (wouldn't, I suppose, LOL) sell it at that price. Then again, this was BEFORE the internet. He didn't reach too many potential buyers with his ad in the paper. I was kind of happy, cuz I said, "Good, let's keep it for the extra chairs and leaf and just store the rest of it!" His office has a warehouse/storage area, so that's why I considered it...I am not a believer in paying good money to store more "things." But since it is available, we do it sometimes. Well, at this time, his dad did not have a DR table so DH just put it there to keep it, and so his dad would have a table. A few months later, one of his sisters moved in, brought her own stuff...and GAVE AWAY the hutch and two end chairs...and PUT THE TABLE OUT BY THE CURB FOR BULK PICKUP! *fanning self* I was LIVID! I still talk about it to this day, but my DH keeps saying, "Let it go, honey!!" I think he is mad too, but also embarrassed. SO...remember...just a few years ago, I saw this table for sale on a grocery store bulletin board, and the whole set with hutch was in the $200 range...maybe $250? It really is heavy duty, solid wood. BUT...apparently very common and mass produced! I would just like to know a little more about it. I cannot find any name on it as to who made it, where it is from originally, etc. BTW...his sister moved out a few months later, and once again, DH''s dad was left with no table. *sigh*

It's the scale of the lamps that you need to concentrate on the most. I've found that most homeowners tend to purchase lamps that are too short/small. I use 28"-30" as my guide. I rarely use shorter than 28" unless maybe in a bedroom or for an occasional table, and over 30" starts to look odd in most homes. If you're looking at a lamp in person, rather than online (which has the measurements) just measure from the top of the shade down to the table. Also, purchasing inexpensive end tables and lamps first can really help change the look of a room, while you're saving up for the more expensive items (sofa, nice coffee table). Here's a before/after of a living room I did for a homeowner, where all I added were lamps, end tables and throw pillows (just reworked her other items). The end tables I used are really great, they work with a lot of furniture styles, plus they have a shelf and they're less than $100. I use them with a lot of clients! Since end tables don't get a lot of abuse, a "cheaper" one is a real budget saver. Great End Table As you can see in the Before, this furniture is large and overstuffed. A too small lamp would look silly. Using the above linked end tables and 30" lamps: You can use an end table like those (they're 24" high) and the proper size lamp, and it will work with just about any sofa you choose. Also, when choosing throw cushions I would get rid of the two red cushions on your sofa, and replace with a neutral. Maybe throw in a lumbar on one of your two chairs. And here's a room (while we were rearranging furniture) where the homeowner's furniture was not oversized/overstuffed. As you can see, these same end tables come up higher on her sofa, but still work. I can't remember how tall these lamps were, probably around 27"-28".

Hey There: We suggest that you go with blinds or shades for each window individually. A window treatment must be functional at first and looking at your pictures, the new tenant needs privacy and light management. I assume that the bottom window blinds will never be used in the first place but they will allow for light coming in and for privacy. Check us out at www.fenstermann.com or give us a call at 619.665.9446