Ok I am back..... Wow, I just read thro' all the responses and you guys rock !!! I love this forum :))) So far the consensus seems to be to open it up. To answer some of your questions.... oakleyok: The rooms are small. LR is 13 x 18 and FR is 11 x 18. So if we open it up, it will prob. be around 24 x 18 which I think is a nice size....Not too big nor small... bumbledoodle & jan in wisconsin: Thanks for sharing :) I am glad you love the openess....Its very affirming. We currently have a full set of furniture in the LR(Sofa, loveseat, 2 chairs, coffee & end tables). In the FR, we have a loveseat, 3 accent chairs and the TV which is currently on a console. One wall in the FR is dominated by a brick fireplace, similar to the inspiration photo that I linked. So I guess we will have two separate seating areas, even if we open up the rooms. Prob. one will be near the fireplace and another TV watching area.... lynninnewmex, nanny2a & bronwynsmom: Yes, I def. plan to check with an architect if its a load bearing wall or not. I've read (in cote de texas's blog) that if you put in a doorway, it wouldn't cause an issue to the structure as opposed to removing the entire wall. Is this right?? palimpset & pps7: Thanks for letting me know that traditional homes have open architecture...I never knew that. I didn't grow up in this country, so a lot of it is new to me......Now I feel better that I won't be really messing up with the integrity of the house :) Scanmike: Thanks for sharing your pics. You have a beautiful home. I really love your sunroom..I wish I had one and also some new kittens :) susanilz: I think we'll be here for atleast the next 5 yrs...Maybe 10 yrs...I don't have the energy to move anytime soon...So I guess, it makes sense to make it into something functional for us.... vampiressrn: We don't entertain a lot...But def. a few times a year, we have large gatherings for 30+ ppl....Maybe we'll be more prone to entertaining with an open area...I am feeling really pressurized cos we're having a formal gathering of nearly 50 ppl...Its a prayer meeting, so everyone will be sitting together in the same space unlike a party where ppl can move around... Initially, I was considering putting in only a regular doorway (with a french door or pocket door). But after committing to hosting such a large gathering, I am really at a loss on how we're going to accomodate everyone. This was the trigger to everything..... jamaraz: Thanks for sharing your experience...I am scared about the unknowns...Sometimes I think I am opening up a can of worms :) monablair: I am not sure it would work for us. Like I said, the FR has a fireplace and has a very cozy vibe..Maybe I could place some seating around it and have some bookshelves against the adjacent wall to create like a reading/library room (similar to the little reading nook in Somethings gotta give)....I love my books :))) awm: Thats exactly the look I wanted initially. But somehow DH is against the idea of french doors or pocket doors. He wants a more open feel I don't know if I should really listen to him. He doesn't hang out obsessively in design forums like I do, KWIM :)) He's pretty clueless when it comes to design..... How wide do you think that opening is in the pic?? I initially did want doors. But I am not sure how wide the opening would be if we put in doors(like I said, we're trying to accomodate nearly 50 in one space) Also, with french doors, I am thinking if it will hamper the space/furniture placement when we open the door. tomorrowisanotherday: Yes, I really don't want to lose real estate value...I will have to somehow figure this out and make it work.... dlm: Thanks for sharing your pics :) Your french doors are so gorgeous...I don't have any in my home and I really love the look of one :( teaforwendy: We do have a door connecting the FR to the breakfast nook & kitchen. Its not as open as I would like it to be but I don't mind it too much for now...Maybe it could be a project for the future...... kjmama: Yes, we did talk before :) Infact, I searched and pulled up your thread yday to get more ideas. How's the doorway working for you?? Are you done with decorating? Any pics to share :) Please keep the ideas coming...Right now, I am def. leaning twds putting in a doorway...Our "handyman" is coming to take a look tomorrow...But I need to check with an architect about the load bearing aspect of it before we start on anything....Will keep you all updated and will also, try to figure out how to post pics meanwhile..... Thanks once again :)

You love the chair rail, but should you remove it? Hmmm. Will the room really look larger if you do? :) It's more how you use the rail that'll make a difference. If you paint it cerise to contrast with white walls and form a belt around them, it will squeeze them in. If you do the walls and molding in harmonizing shades that blend into each other and to some degree with most of the furniture and curtains, the room will feel a lot more spacious than ripping all detail out could accomplish, and the molding will ad depth and shadowing, part of the layering of interest. Small rooms can be wonderful because they're small. I remember Katharine Graham, a very wealthy woman, saying her ideal size for relaxing and chatting was 15x15 (tiny in her houses). How about looking at that as an asset to develop?

All good points above. Talk to a trusted experienced Realtor in your area as they will know your specific market. In general, each condo community has a certain personality that attracts different buyers (young professionals/empty nesters/retirees/boaters/etc). You don't have to go entirely neutral, however, it will open up your condo market to more buyers if you neutralize what you have now. When you have personalized your space to the extent that you have, you limit the market to those buyers only looking for very heavy traditional decor; which is polar opposite to the condo market here in S Florida (generally). Wallpaper is particularly difficult to pull off when selling these days. Having the various rooms you created out of the space can limit your market too. This is why you want an experienced, knowledgeable Realtor to come see it and tell you what the target market is for your condo and what that market is seeking. One last comment: today marketing your space is heavily dependent on photos. Professional photos of your space make all the difference in marketing your listing. If the space appears cluttered or small, you will lose buyers. They simply will skip your condo and not call their agent to see it. Contrary to popular belief, even in very hot markets there are properties that do not sell. Usually the reason is because the amount of work, or perceived work, is too much for the price point. It takes seconds for the buyers to swipe right over your listing to the next one that is more appealing to that buyer. Removing wallpaper is high on the list of work projects that buyers just don't want to tackle.

This is a crude drawing but goes with what I described below. Floating furniture and making two seating areas will eliminate the waiting room feeling. You'll need more pieces. Here yellow is seating and blue is casegoods (more or less) plus lamps, plants. "X" is just not in that location. Added TV to the big wall end of the space. The description starts at the top of this illustration and works through to the bottom of it. Hope it is helpful and you have some budget for added items. Angle your two chairs flanking the console. Hang art 5" above the console and keep it within 75% of the console's width. Add 1-2 lamps to the console. Then turn the loveseat to face the console and two chairs. Put the coffee table with that group (12-18" from all the seats) and you have one sitting area Push the larger sofa up behind the loveseat to face the big empty wall at the other end. Back to the console side of this, fill in the area where the big sofa overlaps the smaller one with a pair of plants that do well in low light like ferns or palms in nice baskets for some texture. Buy two more matched small coffee tables, a backless sofa, and another pair of swivel chairs. Float the backless sofa with the two small coffee tables either side of it. Add the swivel chairs on the side of this group nearest the large wall. The two small coffee tables serve all 5 seats so allow 12-18" between each seat and the tables. Buy a credenza and TV for the big wall. Flank it with two large scale floor lamps. Hang a gallery wall opposite the window. Here is a backless sofa. The two smaller coffee tables would be on either side of it, all three between the larger sofa and two new swivel chairs.