I think it looks beautiful but there is more to consider. Since there is so much variation you need to consider where the wood will be and what other "patterns" will be in the room or rooms. I think this flooring can look very busy especially since there are so many short boards creating so many seams. When this type of flooring is used with colors but not too many patterns and if the short boards are picked out and used in closets I think it is really wonderful. We are currently building and have been very discouraged with board lengths available. We have decided to go to a mill so we can get more of the longer boards. I love wood, I love natural things. I just think you need to be careful that you don't create a lot of chaos in whole. To only see the floor, it is too hard to know if everything else you have in mind works.

jlc712: Thanks for taking the time to give me so many ideas to think through. I have already decided to nix sconce S1 and replace with s2b (so I will be repeating that sconce in three locations total). I would not want to repeat it everywhere -- I need more variety than that. P1 that you suggested leaving was chosen because we felt it would go very well and compete in size with the big island hood. However, the idea of three school house sconces in the kitchen is worth exploring more. I am not sure how large the school house sconces comes in. If it is to replace P1 and go over the island it will need to be large. I will research this more. As per too many finishes that you and others have mentioned, I am using the blog attached below as my guideline. I like the idea of using more than one finish and feel the designer/blog author does a good job of explaining how to mix metals. As per too many styles, that may be a problem. I have tried to choose only lights listed as transitional, but atlas that is a broad category. I have also endeavor to repeat other features (stripes, circles, drums etc) to connect the lights. Could be some more work is needed in this area. Oaktown, Thanks for your help and inspiration pictures. I appreciate you thinking through the lighting with me. We will definitely have some pot lights too (probably more than I would have liked). Pot lights are very unflattering light when shinned on a head, so we are trying to avoid having pot lights over head in any seating areas. You mentioned eliminating the foyer sconces (S2) due to it being close to a closet. There is no closet there, just a very, very narrow niche that we will use for wicker baskets maybe to hold a few purses, umbrellas etc. There is no door on it, so I think the sconces can stay. Our house is a rebuild/addition and previously we just had a large hanging light in the foyer. I know from living in the house with one large hanging overhead light that the light in the foyer was insufficient. I am looking forward to seeing if the sconces will improve the lighting in the foyer. Your inspiration photos are gorgeous. Is the Hicks light from Circa? We chose one sconce light from Circa, but I will take another look at what they offer. Most of our chosen lights are from Hudson Valley or Elk. As per my kitchen cabinet colours, the perimeter cabinets are off white (SW Alabaster) and the island is a dark stained chocolate brown. The blue cabinets that you are correctly associating with my username are going in the laundry room (good memory BTW). Carol Here is a link that might be useful: mixing metal finishes

Chispa, I don't know, she's just so happy to be hanging out with everyone in the mornings, it just seemed mean to crate her again right away. But it's a thought. Here's our no cost, no construction solution (maybe -- hasn't been tested). We had this cushion from an old bench in the attic, and it slides right into the newel post. If it doesn't deter her, we also have the scat mat as backup. She's with DH this week at our beach house so we haven't tested it out yet. But the cushion can be set aside when not needed and popped into place easily when DH comes downstairs each morning. If I were Martha Stewart I might recover the cushion to coordinate with the runner...that's not happening.

Julie--thank you so much for the ideas! Great name btw--lol. I really like the idea of painting the inside of the front door black...would match the stair rail. Where are the step runners from? I like the patterns! Do you think the stair carpet pads and the hallway runner should match or complement each other...matching would be easier for me. I found a light from Bellacor that I think I like for the hallway and would complement the ones we have in the kitchen (the darlana mini lantern). What do you think? http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/minka-lavery-3296-613-audreys-point-polished-nickel-four-light-semi-flush-mount-1742532.htm Thank you! Julie