@valinsv, thanks for your clarification of how they would work on my doors. But I think this solution still doesn't allow me to open one door up 180* and lay flat against the other, right? And that is how that door is for most of the summer. We open it all the way, then just use the sliding screen door to get in and out (and keep the bugs out.) I don't want to give up that ability, as the door just sticks right out into the room if it's not all the way open or closed. @blondie...I will try today to take a picture of the fabric close-up. It's actaully got reddish and greenish cross-threads, It's not really "pretty" close-up, but it reads a a beautiful beige when you see it. As for the decision, we have leather in the living room, and it does wipe off, but there is absolutely NO coziness factor. No cuddling in with sick kids and lots of blankets--they slide right off. It's cool year round. And the thing I hat e th most is I have to dust it regulaly because everything shows on it--ugh. We also have some of those microfiber ottomans, and those things are a wreck. They always look bad, like they need to be cleaned, b/c someone smooshed banana into it, or wiped a syrupy mouth or a boogary nose on it. And the lines they can draw in them--my sons love to practice their letters on it like a chalkboard! Now, they were not a high-quality, I know, but I'd never get a whole couch in that fabric! I did inherit 2 Fairfield chairs that I love but really need to reupholster, and I think Stainless Steel might do the trick--thanks for the suggestion :)

With young kids, you want to be careful with any treatments that have cords. Any cordless product is a great choice. Top down, bottom up...........another great option. Roller/solar shades are nice and neat..........the nice kind, not the big box store ones. There are so many fabric/textile choices for these too and a good price point.

I find the cabinets being very nice looking, but boy that layout would make me re-work the kitchen asap if I had the money. Are the cabinets built as one piece or are they each separate individual cabinets? If individual you can probably move the stove into another spot and re-use the cabinets. You'd likely have to replace at least part of the granite to do this, but it is possible you could work it out without having to do so too. Since we can't see the whole kitchen it is hard to make suggestions that are more specific when it comes to the layout part. I agree with Nelly Bluth that the tones of everything isn't working together. However on my monitor the granite works better with the floor than the wall-color does and the wall color doesn't work well at all with either. Undertones are very tricky to work with and I think you'd need a warmer gray to work with the tile if you decide to keep it. That said on me liking the cabinets. It doesn't matter at all if you don't like them. If you'd be happier to paint them then do so. You are the one living there. We have painted bath cabinets that have never chipped in the last 10 years - no matter how I wish that they would have so I could convince DH to change them out. They were painted with oil paint though I've used latex in other houses and they were fine too, just need to do the proper prep work to avoid any issues.

I would do top-down/bottom-up shades. You'll keep the look simple and you'll be able to lower the top half to see the night sky. They are also available with room darkening fabrics.