Thanks for the help! The hall mirror is 9 feet tall. It came from my great grandparents house (who died before WW I) and was stashed gathering layers of coal dust in my grandparents attic for 80 years, until that house was sold 20 years ago. I got it because I was the only family member who had a ceiling tall enough for it and knew how to restore it (plus my Dad talked other family members into it!). The delicate looking settee and chairs are from the same great grandparents. I never met them nor my grandparents from my DadÂs family, so having their pieces makes me feel connected to my heritage. It was a large family so I feel very lucky to have what I do. 2 other chairs and a table are from my MomÂs family. I just learned how to post pictures this week so my stair runner has not been "featured" before. But thanks for your kind words! We replaced the wall to wall on the stairs a few years ago. We hoped the wood underneath would be decent enough to varnish but it was not. So we opted to paint with oil based and chose a wool runner that would go with all the current Persian carpets, all the rest of which are handmade wool or silk. This was just ordered from a regular carpet store and installed by them. I still want to glaze (or something) the banisters and spindles, as the builder used 1 coat of cheesy minwax on them in a dead color I donÂt like. But thatÂs a lot of surface area to cover and I donÂt know that IÂll ever get to it. I got halfway through moving furniture today before I got sidetracked. I went to the basement to get this beautiful large antique looking mirror I bought a few years ago and saved for this room when it was "ready". I wanted to see which wall it would look best on before I got too far ahead. When I unpacked it to show my husband I found the brass had corroded in spots like it was diseased. I wanted to clean it up right away so I could have his help to hang it: itÂs too heavy for one person to handle. I have this strong copper and brass cleaner that up to this point has always worked. But 6 hours later I was still cleaning it! So much for getting this room put to rights today. My feet are killing me from standing up cleaning that thing all day. Why is it that every project snowballs into something unforeseen??? Why canÂt I get anything DONE???

So many extra bedrooms is forcing your actual living spaces to be so small. It seems like such a shame to have so much square feet with so few for actually living in. If you have groups of in-laws at your home at one time, I don't see one room where 6 adults could all sit at one time to visit with adequate space for chairs for everyone without being squeezed together and no extra elbow room. And what does that mean that they travel in groups anyway? How big of a group? I think the plans you have been given, especially Julius, are brilliant because they solve the problems you requested help with but the small living spaces create another problem, IMHO. I only have my tablet with me and haven't figured out how to do floorplans on it or I would try to work something up for you. Sorry. The only thing I can quickly suggest without doing a drawing is to make the wall between the living room and front bedroom a good quality, wide sliding door and then putting a hide-a-bed couch in there so you can use it as an extension of your living room. We have a similar set up and I love the spaciousness. If I wasn't traveling, I would post a photo.

You know if you really want to paint that wall one more time, try this - don't be afraid of a strong color. Not a dark color, but something that ISN'T muted, like the taupes and greys you've been trying. A contrast wall won't look "right" unless it actually contrasts a fair amount. Whatever you like is perfectly ok - all taupe or muted shades of grey, if that's what you like then there's no harm, no foul. But if you REALLY want an accent wall, my guess is that its not looking "right" to you because there still isn't enough contrast. Personally I'd go with something in the orange range. Not orange per se, but something in that spectrum. Think Glidden Orange Blossom, Behr Vitamin C, or Benjamin Moore Cantaloupe. I suggest this (something in the orange spectrum) because you've got lots of heavy dark furniture in the room and its heavy on the brown side - so something that will accentuate that, and draw it out and lighten it, without getting dark and heavy. I think something similar to one of the colors listed will satisfy your apparent preference for more muted colors while also providing actual contrast that will be attractive with the rest of the room. I like seafoams and blue/green colors also, but I don't think either of those would work as well in that room with that furniture as something in the orange range, and anything dark will just be TOO dark. I think something like the Cantaloupe etc would help that wall to sort of "glow" and give a warm feeling to the entire space. Maybe that is what you are looking for? You might even consider something even stronger, like Behr Mango Tango (towards the yellow end) or Citrus Punch (towards the red side). Similar colors include Benjamin Moore Tangerine Mist or Peach Jam, Orange Sherbet, or if you're really brave - Butterfly Wings is a good strong color that might look good. Tangerine Zing is a good bright color more towards the yellow end. Tangerine Fusion. Sooo many choices! Can you tell I have a ton of paint chips hanging about just now? LOL! Both Behr and Benjamin Moore have virtual rooms online to try your colors out. Benjamin Moore's is a lot easier to use, IMO. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/personal-color-viewer?action=category&page=/en-us/photos/living-room Pick the one labeled "Crisp Contemporary Living Room" - it's got an accent wall built in so you can try various color combinations before you take up your paint brush again.

Hang the painting centered 5' above the floor on the wall opposite the window. Replace the brass light with a larger one that has some French flair and hang a mirror to reflect/double it. It should hang about 32" above the table. I would upgrade the lights in the foyer/stairwell too. Those seem very 1980's in style. Drapes would be a plus, as would a rug under the table. A sideboard would look good under the painting/bulkhead. Then lower the painting to 5" above it.