Open concept is a huge success for the builders who increased profits by doing less work, then turned their corner-cutting strategy into a selling feature via HGTV. Large rooms actually look smaller if they are completely open. With no place to stop, the eye collapses the space. It is far better to see somewhat defined spaces that still connect with each other. Open concept is horrendously noisy, especially with children. I talked to one couple that actually discussed renting a room across the street to get away from their teenagers. Given that most people have little to inadequate cooking ventilation, it's also a recipe for greasy disaster on furnishings and fabrics. Hilariously, a hot topic on Kitchens is "working," "back" or "hidden" kitchens, where the actual messy work of cooking can be carried out while the show kitchen remains pristine. Openness works in small spaces--I once rented a 1200 s.f. apartment that would never have worked if the living areas weren't open. Modest, flexible openness also work, with wide openings between rooms that can ideally be closed as needed. What absolutely doesn't work is knocking down all the walls in old houses. This is especially true where ceilings are not high, so that the resulting squished space looks like someone sat on it.

A floor plan will really help. It will let us see what lights you can see from where. Is your faucet and your hardware both chrome? and your door handles the dark finish. I can't tell if it is antique brass or not? What is your DR chandy - is it brass? You need to figure out, if you are following the article that you posted what category each of the above elements fall into. (the faucet, hardware, etc.) My feeling is that you have already mixed your metals. For example - in the kitchen you have chrome hardware/faucet (step 1). Step 2 would indicate picking a matching metal which you did with the island light and either of the window lights. (I prefer A2 as it adds another element - the white glass shade - into the mix while retaining the metal. Where I am bogging down is in the transition areas between the rooms which is why a floorplan would be helpful. For the foyer/LR I would pick H2 and J1 but that is subject to change depending on the floorplan and how the rooms are connected. Edited to add: Don't forget, unlike a bathroom, a kitchen comes with other metals. What are your appliances, pots/pans, cutlery. What are your plans for your stools - any metal there? In your foyer, LR and GR - does any of the furniture have any metal in them and if so - what type. Are any of your accessories metal. How about your backsplash. This thought and question was triggered while I was just in my kitchen and happened to notice my copper backsplash which is behind and underneath my stainless steel range and vent. My hardware and faucets are brushed nickel while my lights in the eating area and family room are aged bronze. My pendants are a mix of the two and act as a transition. I treated each `area of the house as a separate area. Kitchen/eating area/family room is one area while the DR and LR was treated as a separate area. Because the Kitchen/eating area/family room had a mix of metals I felt comfortable using either of those 2 metals in other rooms. The copper backsplash was my jumping off point for using copper in a variety of accessories throughout the house.. So, 3 metals throughout the house. This post was edited by blfenton on Wed, Nov 5, 14 at 18:30

I’m considering a 54 inch or 56. Inches fan to keep the space cooler I have a lot of natural light coming in with the sun hit and the morning and afternoon.

Suggest solid drapes (in dining room also if possible) and if you want added interest and warmth, add a rattan blind. Rattan blinds alone is another option. IKEA sells nice linen-like drapes and blinds at very reasonable prices. Add color with cushions and repeat color in the dining room‘s art to connect the rooms. Don’t overdo with MCM pieces, I think what you have is just fine and your rug is as well. Instead spend your money in the dining room. You could add a lamp on side table and/or a floor lamp in corner (or a large plant) near tv. I’m not a fan of glass tables and I assume you are going with white chairs to complement kitchen. I think the dining table should feel warmer to better work with the living room and add some lovely pottery as a centrepiece.