Love the room! I admire your courage in going dark (I love the look, but am into a 'neutral walls' phase right now. Might be laziness, really.) BTW: re: RH pic of the books with the covers ripped off. Do you suppose they do that because of liability issues? I mean, couldn't the publishers of books featured in ads go after the advertiser for using their books without permission? So, it's easier for ad directors to simply remove the covers rather than have to get permission from all those publishers to use the image?

Deb, one question that I haven't heard yet is, is your library-media room the main gathering/ tv watching in your home? It's a really lovely room (actually every room you've shown us is lovely). I'm so impressed with the gorgeous bookcases your DH built. I see that you have steps down to this room, which would mean that you'd be carrying platters and bowls of food, plates, glasses, etc, down those steps for every meal that you serve in there, as your new dining room. It's only two steps, but you need to seriously think about whether this would become a real irritant after a while, let alone a possible tripping danger. Unfortunately, having the steps would make it near to impossible to move the wall between the present dining room and library, to give you more space in the dining room. That would have been ideal . . . if it was possible. More questions and thoughts: ~do you have a family room or living room that you can move the tv into comfortably? ~ what do you and your DH actually need the most, a home office or a butler's pantry? ~ With both rooms having wide doorways that open into it, instead of actual doors that you can close off, will you be happy seeing a desk and other office things in full view from your kitchen (which is lovely, BTW)? Friends and family will be passing through it getting from your kitchen to the new dining room. ~ If you turn it into a butler's pantry, are you willing to set it up nicely enough so as not to detract from your kitchen or your new dining room? ~ another idea to consider is to just incorporate the present dining room into the kitchen with, perhaps, built-in cabs to house your nice serving pieces, china and crystal in glass-fronted cabs with closed cabs below for storing what ever you need. You could set up a seating area on that side, too, and/or a secretary desk and chair that you can close up when company arrives for a meal. Personally, I think that turning your present dining room into a sitting room, would be a wasted space, that probably wouldn't be used all that much. But, that's JMHO. Anyhoo, just some other things to think about. Lynn

I would start out with a large, beautiful rug in warm colors (terracotta or red Oriental rug mixed with other colors. I feel sectionals often confine you in how to organize your room. I would choose a fabric couch in a neutral, not too dark color (not gray, which is on its way out and not a warm color), and add two chairs in a different color or at least a different material and style. Try to keep the height of these pieces similar. Two end tables in wood (they don't have to be the same, but make sure the heights are fairly similar and a metal and glass coffee table would look great, with table lamps or floor lamps even if you have overhead lighting, which is always harsh. Pick colors from the rug for pillows and you'll have a beautifully coordinated living space. Books, good paintings and some tall plants will add warmth and personality to your room. People too often don't add these elements and then wonder why their rooms look bare and cold. This may be more colorful than you want to go. and this is a small rug because there is carpeting underneath, but it gives you the idea of neutral furniture and how it can be made more lively with accessories, pillows, coffee table styling etc.

I doubt you can squeeze the bookcase and sofa on shelf wall. There is a sequence to use in redesigning a room. 1. Determine layout of main pieces. 2. Select rug(s). 3. Select wall and ceiling color(s). 4. Paint. 5. Ensure everything works well, make adjustments as needed. 6. Set out wall hangings to determine best layouts. 7. Hang art. 8. Add final accessories such as decorative pillows and throws, trays and plants. Sometimes this sequence isn’t possible but if not roughly followed a lot of redo is generally needed which takes more time and resources.