parma42, thanks for the Blonde chuckle! Those furniture sites are addicting too.. I spend so much time there! I like the one you posted a link to as well, but now (I am such a nut) think I found another... and after really studying the space and playing with photoshop, I decided the bombe chest #3 is too bulky for the area, so I am ruling that out. My list is shrinking and once again think Les is correct on her thoughts. So, I found this one that is a console - but is a chest too. The size is right, color seems to compliment floors and other furniture.. not sure if the 'style' really flows with the other wood pieces (bTW - I don't like the dining room furniture. It is new - but darker and plainer then I would have picked for this home). Here is my newest find, which is similar to kmcg85 posted. I like the bottom shelf, and that it is also open, but yet has storage. It's simple, yet my dining toom furniture is very plain and simple.

I agree with moving the table to the top of the stairs; the space seems too small for a table. Not sure what your budget is, but I know you can buy really inexpensive polypropylene runners quite cheaply and I think I'd add one on top of your carpeting...like this: I think it would make all the difference in your entry. Check out kswl's thread about her fairly inexpensive runners: $149 runners Here's a link from her thread to one that's only $69: $69 runner

oh man Renee - yes welcome to the north! lol! I have more coats than my kids but I have work coats, and walking/running coats of varying weights, windjackets, snowblowing coat (old), lighter weight fleece coat, etc. I use them all weekly with the crazy weather around here and the different activities I do. Summertime which is a very short 3 months - it's a lot less congested but still more than one jacket with the weather swings. cevamal-I agree on double or triple hooks. I hate having to unload the hook to get to the coat on the bottom and I'm the Mom. My kids would just let it fall on the bench... We also have a place for our boot dryer to plug in and on any given day there are gloves sitting on the vent to dry out. I also like a side mudroom/closet because of all of the wet that melt off produces. We don't wear shoes in the house and when I walk down that hall I do not want to be walking in puddled water. The mudroom off of the hall solves that issue as well. The backpacks make their home in the mudroom, lunchboxes live there over the weekends and breaks or hot lunch days (so you are right they unload in the kitchen and stay their for re-packing for the next day). They take their binders out when they need to do homework. I do not want the backpacks sitting in the kitchen where I have to work around them. Homework is often done at island counter but whether it's the binder of the whole pack, back to the mudroom it goes when they are finished. It's all right in one spot when we are trying to get out the door in the morning. But that's just how we do it. I was tired of the kitchen clutter so when we built and incorporated a mudroom it all resides there where I don't have to step over and around it or work over and around it. But now instead of papers my kitchen counters hold electronic devices - go figure!

It looks like ceiling has dark stained beams! Once you determine the true style you are pursuing, consider painting the ceiling and beams offwhite to brighten hall and visually lift ceiling. As to flooring, again after research, I would consult with good local flooring people and get their input and ideas on how to approach this flooring project. It is big, so you have good negotiating position for that reason. Verify if they have employees as installers with experience in this age and type home. We owned a home built in 1900 and speaking from “restoring” that home, to do things right, cost 2-3 times more than just “remuddling” it. We resisted remuddling and never regretted it. Key thing is the installers. I can see several possible approaches. Here are a few.