Here is an update to the landscaping, we got all the block walls and beds in, we still have to build that porch and deck area but it sure has come a long ways! I have all of 3 plants planted so far!! A royalty crabapple tree, a blue globe spruce and a corkscrew trunck laceleaf japanese maple. So far so good. Thought you might want to see it. house front side angle another angle royalty crabapple tree Don't mind our crazy front steps rf other rough edges, in a few weeks we'll have so much more done but for now this is how it looks. Notice the drift wood positioned in front of the gas meter so hopefully it will camoflauge it some. (we paid to have the meter moved to there rather than right next to the front door where we'd have to build the deck around it etc!!) We have some finishing up work on our siding and to paint and all those details as well but I am so happy not to have a mud front yard I had to share! Enjoy! Thanks for the advice all. Now I just have to get a few plants each paycheck. I have lots shrubs and plants on my list of wants, I also have to decide on a second tree now.....maybe I should get a 2nd royalty crabapple? Here are some of the plants I have planned: burning bushes (group of 3), magic carpet spirea (7 all along front porch area), barberry (not sure DH does not like thorns), In the shade bed-hostas (blue, blue/green variegated, and white/green variegated), bleeding hearts, daylillies (little business), my monet weigela, mugo pines, blue rug juniper (under the japanese maple, I saw that combo somewhere in a pic and it was so neat the blue and red tones were amazing), purple fountain grass, and two redtwig variegated dogwood's (ivory halo) on each corner of the house I thought the red twigs would look good against the house in winter. I am excited! Can't you tell?

Goodness you all! I think the last two comments summarize the groupÂs split opinion on this LR DR space. Half of you think the space is headed in the right direction, but that the furniture needs rearranging and editing to give it more coherence. You would place the two dominant red print chairs closer together, add red to the couch, and cull some of the mismatched stuff (the rocker, black chair, tapestry. . .) The other half of you are less bothered by the mismatching and think the room just needs something to tie it all together, such as a DR rug, serving table in the DR, or window treatments. I am somewhere in between the two groups. To my mind, because the room has so few colors, mostly just yellow, goldish tan, crème, red and black, the mismatching generally is o.k.(and is what we can afford!) I do think, however, that some changes are needed to bring more coherence. This is what I am thinking now. (1) Leave the chairs apart, like spurned lovers. Reuniting them just feels like too much red pattern in a not-large room. (2) Get the black wood chair out of the LR (maybe putting it back by the fireplace instead of the yellow DR chair.) (3) Stain or replace the octagonal table in the LR to make it blend in better. (4) Add a small black serving cart (on wheels) for the DR under the light switches to better demarcate this DR and for functionality. (5) Change the lampshades in the DR chandy to mimic those in the LR. (6) Reconsider, maybe, my general antidrapery bias. In terms of cooper and sheshareeÂs questions. . . .the ottoman is a pretty old one from LEE. I got it used. I am very happy with its style, comfortable, and its maneuverability. The chair is 16 years old, made by Century and was called it Gatsby style. I donÂt see it on their website now. The chair has a tight seat and back and pretty exposed legs. Because its cushions are tight, it takes a slipcover well. Any more comments/suggestions?

cat_mom, I'm good. You're kind to ask! My kitchen is finished except for the backsplash, so I haven't posted pictures yet. I was burned out from the remodel and decided to put the backsplash on the back burner. I love your glass tile, and almost purchased it, but my space is traditional, so I second guessed myself. With the kids heading back to school on Monday, I'm ready to get this wrapped up soon and even begin a few minor redecorating projects, so I enjoy lurking here. Good to see you around as well!

The mock up is a little box, shaped to scale like the room. Here's a pic of the ceiling: Inside the hole you see is the current light fixture, which is a hanging lantern currently installed in the room. They left the two walls blank so we could talk placement of furniture. His bed is a 1930's style bed, and it will be beneeth the monkey tree so below that will mostly be foliage. It won't be tucked tight against the window wall. On one side there will be a stack of antique suitcases (all made child safe) with his other lantern (when I find one good for a child's room). Then he has a short amoire which will go between the bed and the closet wall (the other blank wall). They'll paint some monkeys high in a tree playing with the giraffe above it, but still do the foliage all around the room. His only other piece of furniture is a small toy storage unit, in black wood and wicker. It will go in the corner opposite the lion, again blocking only foliage, not animals :) On the floor we'll have a few worn rugs like you might see in an African safari tent now a days, and then there will still be the canvas curtains in each corner. There are wood supports on each wall and around the ceiling like crown molding, which will appear to be holding the tent up. We have to keep the bed fairly simple so it won't block too much (It's not a huge room). I picked up some wonderful faux furs from Diva Design Fabrics for nothing which I will make into huge throw pillows for the floor, and I also picked up several of those $1.99 twin cotton duvets from Ikea on our last trip outside which I'll be using for his comforters. I've also been collecting seffra bedding (twin size) in white, tan an browns, for his bed decor. They're amazingly cheap if you only get one or two things (like a brown pillow slip etc). I love ebay LOL The back wall, where the lion is, and the window wall, are the primary decorative walls. They're not really good for furniture placement given that they have a door opening up into the room (which would hide the lion somewhat when open all the way) and then the window, which is off center on the shorter wall. The long wall with the monkey and giraffe are the best for furniture. I'm also having his closet built out on the inside so he won't need a dresser in the room. (We have one just outside the room in the family room that we will be using for him). I want to leave as much floor space as possible for play. I can't wait until they get started :) Today I have to go paint the closet doors and the trim in the base colors. The artist that is doing the walls is still at work upstairs, but he'll be done on Tuesday, then he'll be working on the mural with his wife who is also an artist (she does the animals, he does the trees). I know it's an over the top room :) LIterally with that ceiling, but for both DH and myself, it's nice to imagine him enjoying it, since we had many times in his first year that we didn't expect him to make it to toddlerhood. And having my design come to life (I could NEVER have done this well) is really a kick. Gad knows in two years the kid will want Star Wars on the walls LOL. But we'll try to talk him out of that for a while. Hopefully Sue is right, his friends might talk him out of it instead :)