LOL, yes keep looking, doesn't have to be colorful per se, especially if you go for a colorful wallpaper, but size does matter. anymore antique pieces? tall, clear vases that you could place in front of an art piece you may have???

Since you mention selling in a year, I probably would not change the flooring. A good real estate agent in YOUR area could best advise. Because of this timeline, you seem to be on the staging/freshening up for re-sale...so it is a good time to consider every change through that prism.

What I would do is keep the shelves lean as in Beth's pics. No wallpaper backing. (unless you love it but for resale, it suggests that the shelving is damaged) You might find these helpful https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/styling-long-open-shelves https://www.studio-mcgee.com/studioblog/2020/2/7/tips-for-styling-objects

Add some art with colour over fireplace and consider a move of the photo that is next to the fireplace to the opposite wall. (replacing what looks to be a smaller photo??) I'd change the rug. Prior to listing, consider removing a chair or even two.

You have a lovely home. I appreciate the flow of it all....and I'd bet a future buyer will,too ;-)

maybe the stems you have to the.rightbof the fireplace, put some of them in a different vase and put in one of the tall niches, or if you have enough put them in two vases and put in one of the tallest and then a shorter cubby on the other side, so not completely symmetrical on both sides....

Not a Pro.

I would not do wallpaper, but I would do art in your open shelves.

Use this for inspiration: I think this is a bit cluttered, but I do like the way the art is displayed.

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hollybar, thank you. And, yes, you are correct. This project was inspired by a refresh/staging thought, but since we have moved the date out I decided to go for the refresh now and enjoy a different space for a year. I have been wanting to do this for a couple of years, but for one reason or another, we never had time. I am capitalizing on time at home and satisfying the need for something new :)

I think I will explore the wallpaper idea since Susan Davis made the suggestion of putting it on foam core! I thought that was brilliant and since not installing over the wood, it would be easily removed when I need/want something different again.

You are suggesting moving the artwork by the fireplace to the opposite wall? Smaller picture being the round mirror next to the entertainment center? or above the Bombay chest? This would be so the artwork over the fireplace is the statement piece and the walls beside the fireplace would be bare? Correct? Trying to get the visual...

Theresa Janssen, I will look to see if we have pieces in the attic being stored. Not sure what we moved and what was sold when we moved! The difficult part was knowing this house was more traditional and light, but our belongings were eclectic as my husband has family pieces (antiques and furniture) and I had more soft fabric pieces. Somehow we have made it work, now I want to make it better!

love antiques sprinkled in with more current pieces, to me that's what makes it YOU and your individual taste and your home. we have a lot of family heirlooms as well that I swap in out of different rooms. makes it so much more.personal. cant wait to see what you find in your attic.

If you are listing your house in a year, do not touch your flooring. Mess around with the decor in your built ins, maybe change the rug, but leave the rest as is. Your house is beautiful and someone will love it as is. If they want to change anything, leave that for them to figure out.

Yes,Patty, allowing the new art over the fireplace minimum competition was my rationale. Because of the prominence of that fireplace wall, sometimes a large piece plus a small two stack of complimenting images, hung lower on one side or the other, can look terrific and de-emphasize a feature you don't love. But because of your high windows, size (meaning small enough) would really,really matter. For similar reasons, I'd move the candlesticks to the hearth, about where the sticks are?

My other idea was indeed to put the current fireside piece over the Bombay chest. And I'd remove the mirror and replace with the image currently over the chest...or nothing at all. Might depend on how happy I ended up with the shelving unit ;-)

ps- ya know, you've got me giving the side-eye to my FR styling choices ,too.

Theresa Janssen mentioned, above, using your trunks as a side table. Here are some examples:

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Looks like an overwhelming NO on changing floors :) Should I consider changing the counter stools? Thought about reupholstering them, but really not worth the investment in my mind. These were a quick purchase when we first moved in, something to fill the space until I found what I really liked. I find them busy, prefer something more solid or simple, light. Should I wait until the FR is settled or will this assist in making the rooms balanced?

IMO I would work on the FR first, get that how you like it, and then see how the bar stools work.

Years ago I used a light fabric to cover foamcore in the back of my oak bookcase. It was simple to do and inexpensive. Here is a before and after although not in the best lighting. Hope it helps.

Before:

After:

self stick wall paper in the back only; use foam core so you do not damage your wood backing. hooray for you! Keep going.

Thank you so much for your inspiration! I am enjoying the changes so far, I just get anxious about not having what I need to make it truly work. This forum is a lifesaver ❤️

Foam core is a good idea, but another thought is to use grasscloth. It's stiff enough that it will stand up if there is even one shelf to support it. Or use a bit of double sided tape at the corners to get it to stay in place.

You can spray paint a decor item (vase etc) with a different colour, or a metallic paint etc. if the size and shape are right but the finish is not.

Looking up grasscloth now! Sounds like it would have texture, so may be an option. I am afraid I tend to stay within a box when it comes to decorating...NEVER thought of painting vases, etc. I have seen painted book covers, but not vases :)

Well that looks better already! I’m wondering if these doors can be removed also. If so it would give the whole unit an airier look.

Too much to read but there is Peel & Stick wallpaper available. . Much easier than using foam board. Look at Joss & Main; Target; Wayfair

following

I am sure I am saying the obvious, but you want to stay with the light and bright colors for grasscloth, some are quite dark..

Grass cloth can be pricey! Maybe a burlap type curtain panel might be less expensive but a similar look.

Yes Susan and it can be difficult to work with if you haven’t used it before. Fortunately there are many grass cloth looking printed textured papers that look great and would work fine here as it will be in the background. Just make sure it compliments your wall color and furnishings.

Look ok cause has number of dark: doors, tv [speaker up top?] - I'd remove the end pieces. Let chairs look like they occupy the corners, though you'd hardly have to move them.

Blush is 'in' I think - then keep a delicate rug - your cream chairs and this would soften.

Houzzer posted soft colors - ok cause with smaller rocks, and with softer grey - it doesn't look so rustic or does it in person?

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$179 rug -

I found an area rug I really like. Went for one size larger as suggested, tag said it was 6" wider and 1.5 ft longer which I believe would have been suitable. Turns out it is 1" shorter in width and only approximately 8" longer in length. The sofa is only on the rug by 4", not the 8" that would anchor the piece.

I really like the mix of dark and light colors and does not compete with the fireplace material. The colors actually change with the hours of the day. Wondering if this is a problem, however, as it appears much lighter during daylight hours. The whole purpose of a new rug was to anchor the room with something darker, but how dark do I have to go is the question.

Would love your comments on color and size!

My thought is I need to go at least a foot larger in either direction. Will tape that out today. Once you exit the standard 8x10 or 9x13, which is definitely getting large, the price changes quite significantly!

it feels very similar to your current one in that it is all light and no contrast. i think a light background works but needs a contrasting pop of color sprinkled around, doesnt need a lot but just some so there is some contrast. your leather is bold and the rug should have a little boldness too.

Unfortunately, I agree. In your photos, it really doesn't look like a change from the original light rug.

everdebz, thank you for your thoughts. I like many of the pieces you've shown, especially the rug! If I were starting from scratch I might opt for something very different such as what you've shown, but we are limited on what we have decided to do. I will summarize what has been decided so far as there are many comments and ideas tossed around. The leather furniture is staying, for now, will phase that out when we sell. The custom built-in is staying, wanted to paint it, but not sure that is doable for us...although I have really given the paint idea more thought over the last few days!

What we have done is removed the shelving and all items on and in the entertainment center and will start adding things slowly to make it right. BTW, the one shelf remaining is a speaker shelf that will be removed, just have not had the chance for that as of yet.

Theresa Janssen and deegw, thank you! My husband and I both said the same thing, but had to ask! I did find a couple of other, bolder rugs online, this one was local so it was easy for size and color comparison. It looked quite a bit darker in the store, but not in this room, unfortunately.

Do you agree that I have to make sure the correct rug will not compete with the stone in the fireplace? That is constantly in the back of my mind when I look at photos...

Here are a few I have also considered...

This one is lovely. You need to get a white lampshade for that lamp😉

Are these dark enough? Or am I focusing on too light and neutral?

Good call on lampshades!

Patty, those rugs look good in the photos.

If you are ordering rugs online you can avoid some hassle by ordering the smallest sizes available to try it out in your space. If you don't like them, the small size will be much easier to return than lugging a giant rug to the post office.

the fireplace in the end is neutral in color so I feel like it's kinda a non issue if you get a little bolder with the rug. now I will say that the current rug and the new rug are too close in color to the fireplace so that's another reason why one with a bolder color will work better. I like all the blue options you show, hard to see all the colors to make a specific choice, but it's the right direction and my guess is they all could work great.

those rugs also look great with your ivory accent chairs

as for size, I think the size of the new one is fine, can you show the the 4in look, my guess is that its fine. I dont think it needs to be longer, meaning the long end that follows the line of the fireplace looks great to me. in fact I think it might be too long with the next size up.

Have you decided on the final arrangement of the furniture? I am thinking about an arrangement where the sofa faces the TV, with the sofa closer to the fireplace wall so there is a traffic path along the sliding door wall. But I don't think we have seen a picture of that corner of the room, i.e. the corner to the left of the fireplace. That will make a difference in the size and shape of the rug you need.

I am not a person who immediately jumps to 'paint it' - far from it. However, I think you need to lighten those built-ins. The problem is less the decor on the shelves than it is the entire heavy mass weighing down that end of the room. It looks like the rest of the trim in the area is not stained - the crown and window trim appears to be white or off-white. I would have that entire built-in painted/stained to match the rest of the trim in the area. You could display some of your lovely antiques on a lighter built-in without adding to the oppressive mass that you have right now. Taking down the valance was a good move.

Partim, I have actually posted pictures of that corner. They were posted 4 days ago, if you look back at my history you will see 3 or 4 of them. One from the kitchen view, that corner to the family room. One of the corner from inside the room, from in front the built-in and a couple from the leather chair and ottoman on that side. There is a step down into the room from behind the recliner which you can not see well in photos.

Have not decided on the final layout. I did square up the recliners, one on either side, removed one of the chairs in the room and moved the sofa down toward the tv as an experiment. Not sure I love the setup by the fireplace as it shows cords for the lamp :( the lamp on the there end table can be plugged into the floor, so that is not an issue there.

I don’t think you need to paint the cabinets. I do think you need to tweet them though; I would see if you could remove the glass doors and the ones above and lighten the backs that wood go a long way in modernizing this unit. If you go with a rug that has blue in it that can be an inspiration to adding more color to this space. There is sooo much brown on here. I would add add soft shear panels to the window also. Keep in mind that any woven rug will have a light and dark side so you can position it in the way that looks best in your room. I’m not a fan of buying rugs online; most good rug dealers will let you bring rugs home to try out and return. In these trying times I guess it’s hard to shop though. This is a rough sketch, hope it helps.

Lynartist, all great ideas! I am looking for the right material to lighten the backs of the built-ins. The glass doors are an issue, one side is all the electronics for the room. I have not been able to figure out what to do with those items 🤷🏻‍♀️. Possibly the other doors, will look at this again and see what I can come back with.
Panels I need to research. Make them or purchase? High ceilings, need to measure.

OK I see the pics now. I really think the room would look lighter if the full length of the windows were in view. I'd put the sofa facing the TV, tucked closer to the fireplace wall. Then put the pair of chairs where the sofa is now. You can see between the chairs so the room IMO would look much lighter. If you really want to add another chair, put it to the right of the fireplace, but I think that's too much furniture in the room.

I wouldn't buy a rug until the furniture arrangement is finalized.

Partim, we have had sofa there in the past and I really didn’t mind it. I will give it another go and see how it feels

@marymd7 I was thinking the same thing! Would love to see those beautiful built ins painted white! It will update the whole room and make the accessories pop!

I think the wood is attractive and goes with the style of the room. Just lighten up the back.

How wide is the fp? if that is the focal point - why clog up the works with a whole wall --

even if you add nice stuff from home, and Home Goods.

The ONE thing that will change the look and lighten this room is to PAINT the built ins. I get it's not easy, but if you were going to change the flooring, then get someone in to paint them. If they don't change, the feeling of the room won't change much either.