It's a pretty house! I think it will change dramatically when the former owner's furniture is out of there, allowing you to see what it's really like.

If you really dislike the color of the floors, I would start there and then tackle the other things after your budget replenishes. The paint colors in the house aren't bad and I think if the floors were lighter (no gray on them, please), perhaps closer to the color of the cabinets, it will really lighten and modernize the space. They will also coordinate better with the kitchen floor.

I'd leave the cabinets for now and paint out the trim except the windows, as. Patricia suggests; I'd also paint those columns so they recede a bit. Lightening the floors will also make the trim on the staircase become less noticeable, because there won't be so much contrast.

no farm style in this house

I really appreciate the comments (even those making fun of the size of our new baseboards). After thinking about these more and reading the comments again, I think I will paint the trim and columns white, leaving the window trim and stairs as is for now. Will swap out the chandeliers and probably play with some paint colors to find warm/neutral colors that hopefully flow. One issue is that our furniture will not match unless we get really creative with the paint, I realize that furniture is cheaper than some of the things we are considering, so will probably see how things work out with these changes and our existing furniture. I added a few pictures of our furniture below in case anyone has any ideas of paint colors or any other ideas. Thanks again to all of you - it is great to hear the helpful, honest feedback from all of you.

Thank you for your kind feedback, HU-86428064

I see no pictures(( I think forum is a bit glitchy lately. Usually photos do show in the comment section. Can you try again to attach them?

Yep I’m still trying to upload thank you

I really appreciate the comments (even those making fun of the size of our new baseboards).

Pointing out that the baseboards are undersized in relation to ceiling height, which is in part how their size is determined, isn't making fun of the baseboards : ) . It's just how it is, and all of us reading here know that you bought the existing house rather than had it built.

There will be more than enough to stress over between moving, decorating, and buying new furnishings, so don't add this to the pile : ) .

No pictures visible for me either.

Ok finally got some pictures of our current place/furniture to upload. We are moving to a different state (from GA to OH) by the way. About the making fun of my baseboards comments, was just kidding. I actually didn’t realize they were so small until someone pointed that out and I am glad they did!

One last picture of new house:

Seems larger than your current home, although real estate photography is deceiving. You may need ALL your living room and great room furniture just for the family room.You may find the scale of furniture looks light and small in the new space. Resist the urge to simply fill space in a huge hurry, whether that is the floor area or the walls.

In any case? My guess is you've bitten quite a bit more than you can chew all at once. Take your time, and make a long term plan. Rome and HOME, were never built in a single day.

Such a difference from your homes pics and the realtor pics!! I can see why it strikes you has a lot to change. You will be moving into color and LIGHT and such a happier space. Wood trim is a neutral--goes with everything. The current walls are white--again will go with all your black and gray just fine. Perhaps the sheen of the flooring is a bit too much? Tread lightly before painting all the beauty out of this new home!!!

I'd go in a different direction from your old home. Rooms done in gray, black and white can look sad and dreary. Your wood trim adds an organic quality that is necessary for a house to feel like a home. Definitely live in it for a while before you dive into redecorating, and consider some colorful patterns to liven it up.

Your new floors are beautiful and classic. I would try to continue that flooring into any of the tiled areas. I totally agree with Diana. Leaving the gray/black behind is a positive thing. Adding some warm color to your walls, some colorful rugs, and replacing the metal stair balusters will be great.

You had originally mentioned trying to do a farmhouse style like your existing home. While I am not an interior decorator, the pictures you posted don't feel farmhouse to me at all. Some pieces do but not overall.

So wait til you get all your stuff in your house first and see.. I would focus on painting bedrooms if needed and bathrooms. Leave this first level... for now...

It is a big job, you will get through... it's a beautiful home even as it is right now...

Best of luck! You got this!!

What a lovely new home! When you are in a new locale, the light will be different, the house may be cold or warm to live in. So wait awhile to get a feel for it before you spend all your money. Also, since you are moving a long distance, will you be moving again in the foreseeable future? Different parts of the country have different vernaculars. Will you be able to sell the house if you paint all the wood trim? Good luck!!

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Your furniture does not look esp. “farmhouse” to me, but it is fairly neutral. Personally, I think you’ll be fine. I’d try to think of a warmer colour that will bridge your neutrals with the more colourful floors, like red or teal. Maybe some rugs will reduce the expanse of wood floor. Your space could have a bit more of a “loft” feel, ie. a bit more on the industrial side, although those railings do really broadcast a certain style, (Italianate?) that’s for sure. Oh and the trim around the floor and doors, not sure if that’s anything more than the cheapest most basic trim, I don’t know if you would devalue the house by painting it, the kitchen, I’d hesitate to paint that as wood wears better than paint.

https://www.pufikhomes.com/en/stili-interera/loft/

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It is great to continue to get all of this feedback. I think the pictures of my old house did not do it justice as I took them with my phone versus the realtor pictures. Here are realtor pictures of the house we are moving from to help explain what I meant by farmhouse (which maybe technically isn’t farmhouse). Not looking back, I just wanted to give everyone a better idea of our current furniture. Anyways, great advice to focus on updating bedrooms and doing something about trim but holding off on the rest. Still trying to understand what warmer colors is referring to as it sounds like there are several opinions that warmer colors could offset or even supplement my new hardwood floors. Thanks again to everyone.

In theory, pure white and pure black are neither warm nor cool, they are neutral. There are warmer whites and warmer blacks tho. Your colour scheme at home is monochromatic for the most part. Warmer colours are those that are or contain red and yellow which would then include greens, oranges and purples, and so of course do browns, but some greens are def. on the cooler side as they also contain a lot of blue. I’m coming from this from a painters perspective.

Both old and new homes are gorgeous!! OP, your furnishings are very neutral, and you may be able to get them to work better with the new wood tones by using rugs, curtains, and art. Get moved in, and update this thread with new pics. Hope your move is smooth!

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Ok finally providing an update. Took everyone’s advice and painted a few bedrooms and moved in. with our furniture in the house, we feel totally differently. Will probably still stain columns and rest of the oak at some point but really like the house as is, with changes over time. I do have another question though. We are swapping out the crystal chandeliers this weekend. Here are two pictures - one of oil rubbed bronze fixtures that are in the kitchen and one of the brushed nickel chandelier that I brought to the new house. We have the brushed nickel chandelier (that is pictured) for the dining room and an identical, bigger one for the foyer. I am going to buy a fan for the room off the foyer (which currently has a huge crystal light but will be a room with two couches and a tv) and also another fixture for the living room, which is Two stories high and is adjacent to the kitchen (with the oil rubbed bronze fixture). Anyways, to install the brushed nickel chandelier in the two story foyer, I need to rent scaffolding, so I only want to do it once. However, I am not feeling good about having oil rubbed bronze fixtures in the kitchen area (there are three of them) and brushed nickel in the foyer, dining room and the room off the foyer. I can either buy some kind of half oil rubbed bronze and half brushed nickel fixture for the living room (I know that doesn’t exist), live

with two different finishes on the same floor or buy new kitchen fixtures or new chandeliers. Any suggestions?

Good to hear your furnishings have had a transformative effect on the house : ) .

For the lighting, you could try living with it at first to see what you think (sort of like moving in and getting your own things in the house), and then if necessary change the kitchen fixtures down the road.

Your pics didn't post :(

Sorry here are the pictures

Are you still going for a "farmhouse" style? Given how large your new house is, I would call it a chateau rather than a farmhouse. I would choose something like this

French Chateau · More Info

instead of brushed nickel which is more modern looking.

That is really nice. At this point, we are just trying to use the (brushed nickel) fixtures that we have and do some updating versus a specific style.

I like mixing metals throughout a home.... Now if something is very visible because the floor plan is really open, then you may be better using the fixture colors as a commonality between the spaces... tough decision....

I'm kind of surprised how many people like the flooring, the color seems to clash with all the other woodwork and is a dated color. it doesn't look like the kind that refinishes. I would save up and redo all the floors in something updated and neutral. I wouldn't waste money buying new furniture to go with something that is going to keep being not quite right forever.

If by dated you mean not grey than no, it’s not grey. To my eye it just looks like a wood floor, it does have a bit of a reddish/orangish cast to it. The original owners furniture sure doesn’t help the feeling of dated-ness.

By dated I mean red orange, cherry-esque.

It's also laid in a strange fashion with planks going different directions, maybe diy.

Thanks again everyone. I am going to replace the light fixtures then post with my furniture.

I am very glad to hear that you are feeling good about your house! As I mentioned earlier, your floors are gorgeous and classic. They work with everything. The flooring often goes different directions based on the joists of the home. It has nothing to do with DIY versus professional installation.

Thanks grapefruit1!

I'm not saying the flooring is horrible, but it does look like engineered wood in a not so great color with the rest of the wood and would be better laid all in one direction. The 12x12 travertine look tile is also dated and the grout needs a good scrub. If you want your home to look stylish these are some things you should consider. Don't throw too much money at something you will need to change at some point and probably soon.

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HU-86428064 Do you have any updated photos you could share. I am having the same dilemma. I have oak cabinets, flooring, windows and moldings. I would like to update the look. Thanks very much.

i actually do not as I have not made major changes. We ended up deciding to replace or update issues after prioritizing those that we think annoy us the most. For us, that was the exterior lighting (changed from gold to black), the first floor powder room (changed from a brass shower door to orb) and several of the fixtures. Next, we are going to swap out all of the outlets and covers from almond to white and the door levers from brass to chrome. The brushes nickel chandeliers that we installed made a huge difference. In the spring, we decided to get all new flooring, do something with those columns and paint all trim to white. The reason we held off on painting the trim was because we figured it would be easier and less expensive if we waited until taking the flooring off. Lots of work but we are happy in this house and breaking it down into manageable steps is working for us. Thanks

After reading through all your comments - it reminded me of a house I purchased. There was sooo much I wanted to change/update that I couldn't sleep - and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Honestly - it was consuming. The best decision I made was to wait - live there and take it a step at a time. I'm sooo glad I did!

Janette, I remember your amazing transformation!

For the original poster, in addition to Janette's advice to wait and go one step at a time, here's her thread with more photos for inspiration,

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5077955/before-and-after-from-family-room-to-dining-room-to-kitchen

Thank you becksharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally - you are very kind to remember.

Ok we have decided to replace the floors on the entire first floor and box in the columns (just enough to cover them up but not to close off the room). We have dogs so leaking away from hardwood floors and considering imitation wood porcelain tiles. Looking for some flooring suggestions that will not become outdated in this next few years. Thanks again as alw ays