OMG!!!!! Ideagirl, that is THE most over the top, well crafted kitsch I've ever seen!!! I love the bridge!! Absolutely to the eclectic decor, as in you'd need to dilute it. I think it would be great with some angular, chromed out MCMly rigid leather slings and outrageous arrows. John said, What I really want to do is, furnish my living room and foyer like a cocktail lounge / jazz club. Club chairs in twos and threes, around small round tables, with shaded lights and deep shadows, Dusty Springfield on the hi-fi, and well-trained mute children serving drinks. I'm tired of the couch and armchairs around the fireplace thing. I totally get that! I think I went to college with Marcolo's West Coast counterpart. Have to say, however, that the current living room furniture in the picture goes rather perfectly with the elephant columns and craftsman built-ins. I know many people who try to achieve that kind of look in similar houses and get the proportions all wrong and it doesn't work. Yours does. Children who make airplanes and death stars are more interesting than mute serving shrimps too. :) Eames chairs are pretty uncomfortable too. How about adding in exquisite pieces as you find them, on the basis of their artistic contribution to the house, and redo the rest when you have them all collected? By then, the noisy, messy children will be grown up and away, so you can have your perfect lounge in between visits from the grandchildren.

Breezy- You are not a pain!! You are wonderful and very helpful. If it would not be for you I would have a misplaced prep sink!! I was just looking at the paint chips. And then today I went to BM and one of their consultants helped me. She did not like the idea of the beige colors or the true grays. We both really liked "Gray Wisp" which is almost identical to RH Silver Sage (she had a color chip for it)and "Quiet Moments". The first is more green and rich and the second lighter and more blue. I am really leaning towards the first. She gave me really large swatches to take home and try out. So I will let you know what I find out. Also the mud on the drywall is taking longer to dry so the earliest they can paint is Friday. So I have a wee bit of time to figure this out. Slush- Would love to see your photos of Revere Pewter and Carrington Beige. Since the living room/hallway is all monroe bisque is probably a good idea that I stay away from beige for the kitchen/dining area since those two rooms open into the LR and that is just a lot of beige. Lavender- Thanks

Okay, Rugknots is selling those things, but I think her advice is fine. See how lovely the picture above is. Too bad you already have a rug. Fun thing is the grey chair at the dining room table. To prevent it from becoming too predictable. How lovely is the view outside? I mean, is it over the top lovely so you have to see it all the time? Or could you place a not too big sectional in the current TV corner and place your TV on the opposite wall, where the brown couch is now? A chair diagonal like the brown one here, but closer to the sectional would allow for conversation. I'd keep the coffee table light and airy, like a glass one, since this space is not that big. Small end tables for some beautiful, but airy lamps. Perhaps an accent color (or two) in artwork, pillows, vases.

What color will your walls be? What finish are the ceiling light fixtures, vent grates, and smoke alarms? I have to say, my main ceiling paint regret has been choosing a shade that made the “white” smoke alarms and “white” can lights look dingy and yellow.