We've been working on this house since 2004, so it's hard to stay motivated at times. I should be finishing the kitchen, but just could not get the ambition,so I've done not much of anything on the house all summer. I finally told me self "forget the kitchen and mess with the dining room" and at least I'm back to doing something. I hope I'll get back into the habit of working on the house again, and get things wrapped up. It's literally been a part time job for years now. So far I've got most of the wallpaper down, but not the backing yet. Kind of neat as the paper backing is almost the same color I was considering putting in the room. Does not photo that way though. The sewing machine has been moved to the . . .sewing room LOL! It was one of the spur of the moment purchases that I should not have made. Reading though all the ideas got me to wandering around the house, giving things a hard look. After over 30 years and three houses, I have too much "stuff" that probably does not really fit in this house. My son (still single) just bought a big house and he has almost nothing to fill it with. If he wasn't 1,200 miles away, I'd load half of what I have up and dump it on him! My daughter has told me she wants all my furniture when she gets a house, but she's still in school. I'm going to move my horse stuff out of the library and put it in the den (which is open to the library). I'm making a hard decision, but the nautical stuff is going out. Does not really fit in a house in the middle of SD anyway. I've been working on a needlepoint since my daughter was a baby (she's 26 now) of a sailing ship, and for three houses I've had a spot it would go if I ever got it done. I guess at this point if I ever do get it done, I can give it to one of the kids for their homes. I kind of hope someday I'll get back to sewing and needle crafts - when I'm done with my "work on the house till I'm dead" phase. I though I only needed some design help with the dining room, but I'm getting help getting out of the rut I didn't realize I'd got myself into.

change the mudroom door to oven position...build a small office over on fridge wall...... remove partition wall between den and great room......use that old den area for dinette zone....in more the middle of your kitchen/great room sq footage construct a double island or galley kitchen that straddles great room and area where your diagonal sink is....one of the islands or galley runs can have counter extended for seating.....Although nice looking, I find seating at tables in bay alcoves isn't so hot in reality. With a dinette table you can place up into that old den spot and ability to have stool or bar seating in more the "middle of things" you embrace more the open floor plan and social aspect..... I think the space could be more dynamic for you and young adults. Depends on whether den could be eliminated..and a small office would suffice. Do you really need either den or office now with laptops and hand held devices?? with good counter or island seating that's where people will congregate...you have the space. I'd think about maybe a pantry outside mudroom, once you shift the mudroom door, and NO office or den, as your great room will expand...., but it depends on what you want.

It's a very open question. It would help to have her go through the different elements in the rooms and identify which fall in each of these categories Hate/gotta go Don't really like but would replace if I could afford it Indifferent/could live with it indefinitely Love/never want to change With an open-ended question, you are likely to get comments from people about what THEY hate and THEY would change, often without respect to budget. Since you say she doesn't like the yellows and greens, the fireplace wall seems an obvious place to start (the green looks truly awful with the rug). I assume that is a paint treatment, so it should be easy enough to paint over. The moldings look easy enough to remove if she doesn't like them. With respect to the paint chips propped on the counter, the cooler grays look like they work better with the counter: the two on the right, and the one on the left. If it's for the whole space, I'd go with one of the lighter colors. Though having noted how bad the green faux paint job looks with the rug, you should also consider how any new paint goes with the rug, not just the kitchen.

Other than valances, and too many shelves of different kind that are there to cover the storage issue I believe-I don't see anything bad about the kitchen. The wood is actually back, the tiles are fun. I'd leave the corbel shelf, and one of a free standing pieces (I'd be inclined to leave a narrow one..looks more different thus more intentional:) also can be reused as a bookcase or whatever, if renters don't like in the kitchen). BTW-different color/a tad different style hutches in kitchens gain big popularity recently. If you're worried about what's dated.. Bottom line-if you really want to tackle storage-take both shelves out, put in over the counter cabs in different color, similar style..done. Switch the knobs for bigger ones -can make a very pleasing difference. Not that the ones you have are bad. It looks like a nice house, I wouldn't overhaul things too much. As for color scheme-as long as you keep colors related(same degree of mutedness/brightness for example) it'll be harmonious and work. Give the renters the possibility to repaint if they wish-and repaint back when they're out. I'd personally leave the windows between rooms-unless they interfere with functionality a lot. You'll know better as you know the space. These are good windows:) They don't make anything like these for cheap no more:) People with kids and pets will be overjoyed to rent this place. I know I'd be. Don't worry too much about newest high end finishes that often only look high end, and condos that are cool(I spent most of my life in apartments, condos and townhouses) but are different kind of living arrangements, with pros and cons of their own. I was a renter for many years, and nothing would scare me off your place. Except for yard maintenance and only if very complicated. Laminate is better for pets, or so I heard. (I've a friend that owns three big dogs. And two cats. And lots of smaller pets. and two pythons)) In short she knows what she talks about)) But of course if you want continious flooring makes sense to pull it out still. If you're ok with pets-already brings you many people in. If you're cheaper than other places-multiply your appeal. Bottom line-your kitchen, in terms of colors and all, is moving very fast into a direction of current. Maybe not everybody figured it out yet-but they who're really into what's going on-they know..:) Streamline storage a bit, get rid of several things, you'll be just fine. Your renters will be too.