You need storage for games and balls....maybe an armour where your game boxes are. The chest with mirror, while pretty, looks cramed in....is there a place for it in your dining room? A living room rug with blue in it would look nice...maybe matching for dining room.

Erinsean, thanks for the reply!

The balls aren't staying there, they will be moved. Temporary convenient storage. The bookshelf is usually more tidy but I have 5 kids and the smallest is 3 and kind of a tornado. I will think about were to put the dresser (also filled with games.) All of which will be moved to the basement in the near future when we finish it into another bedroom/play-tv room. I would love a new rug.

I was hoping someone could help with sizing for furniture, placement, and rug size. I had never thought about actually decorating for the space (stupid, I know) before and just used what we had, was cheap, or what I liked. But now I am. I'm just not sure of the best way to move forward.

The unbalanced feel of the room is a challenge - there is the bay window, the fireplace that isn't centered because of the dining room and wall of the kitchen. If anyone has some suggestions that would be amazing!

The plan is to make a mantle for the fireplace (more than the brick one it has now). Finished in place hardwood on this level and upstairs, tile ground level (subfloor) and bathrooms, and carpet in basement. We want to cover up the popcorn ceiling with whitewashed wood (probably, unless that's not a good idea?) and adding some more lighting. I had thought of doing built ins on either side of fireplace. Possibly making a window seat with bookcases underneath in the bay. I'm not sure. Thoughts?

Looking into dining area.

We are replacing French doors with a new slider (gasp! but it makes more sense for us with this space, the French doors take up too much room into the room) We can't center the door (so says the engineer husband). The slider will be in the same opening.

We need to decide on how to trim out the new windows and doors.

On the hunt for a new table. This one we have had for 12 years and we want a regular height table. Needs to seat 8 and fit in the space. I can try the dresser to the right of the doors but I think it is too deep.

(Ignore the laundry rack and extra stools)

Future plan is to widen opening into kitchen a few inches, new light, and decorations, curtains. Not sure we have enough room but was hoping to fit a very skinny buffet on the right wall, maybe a tall plant in the back right corner, or even a narrow cabinet, or not. I'm lost. Help me. Please!

I moved some things around and I think I like it better. I know the rug is too small and it shouldn't be "floating" but I don't want a new one until we get the other changes done.

I moved the dresser into the dining room and hung (probably too high but couldn't convince 6'3" hubby to lower it and he had a point about being out of reach of the tornado. haha) the sign and pictures that had been on the mantle in the dining room. We also took off the ridiculous trim board they had up because we will be replacing the slider soon. So many things in this house like that silliness.

I organized most of the books and moved the bookshelf. And grabbed a few canvases (I know they are small but can't remember where we left my big one) I did the flower, my dad painted the one on the right in Vietnam in '68.

We need to fix the coffee table my dad built that's in the garage, I'll put it in front of the sofa, it's a little under 6'long, so it might be technically too big but, again, it's what I have.

How'd I do?

Anyone want to chime in on thoughts for future furniture purchases? What size pieces should I be on the lookout for? Nothing has to stay, as I said we will be refreshing with new paint, floors, trim, and hopefully adding in n some more lights eventually (the project list is long) but I'm a planner. :)

Or thoughts on potential layout, if something else might work better for the future or now would be appreciated. :)

Thanks, Grover! That is a fantastic idea. No TV here. It will be a basement dweller.

I do love my chairs too and am on the hunt for a canvas for the fireplace.

Yes, find a canvas you love and then let's look for a rug to complement it.

I have eschewed your kitchen dilemma because it's 1) not my forte and 2) way too involved. If there is a way to open it up to the dining, even partially, I would do it. BTW, I had to laugh at Green Designs telling you no designer wants to work with an engineer. My architect husband got all his designer and engineer friends to contribute to our plans when we built our house. It was a true collaborative effort and nobody went away mad. ;-)

Grover, hahaha... I just laughed. I love that they all worked together on your home! I was wondering how I could keep him out when he lives here. (Reference my bathroom idea book vs. his.- I like color and pattern, he likes traditional and kind of boring, in my opinion. The 2 semi interesting bathrooms in his, I added. It makes life fun, though.) Hahaha!

I will try to get that opening as big as I can! It is going to be a project, for sure!

I really do appreciate all your advice. I'll keep looking for some art. I did have a larger canvas my dad painted but I'm not 100% sure of its current location.. hmmm.