Fothergilla will require acid soil and won't tolerate clay. Think about some dwarf conifers? Thuja, tsuga/ hemlok/ and taxus/ yew/ have great shade tolerance and have many dwarf forms. Hosta and juniper will look good together and junipers are adapatable to city conditions and some shade. Container clematis? I have Cezanne and Versalis and they both can be left at 2 feet height while blooming their heads off. Itea virginica Little Henry blooms in the summer very nicely. Dwarf viburnum? Dwarf acer- palmatum dissectum are my favorites. Thuja had many dwarf forms some of them golden ones, will take some shade and clay soil. Sambucus Golden locks won't grow more than 3 feet and has lacy dissected yellow leaves, white blooms and red berries in the fall. Some chamaecyparis is gorgeous and has slow growing/ dwarf varieties, not all of them are hardy for zone 5 but worth looking into.

Thanks to the posters who complimented our FR! We are very happy with the way it turned out and really enjoy hanging out down there, watching TV with the fireplace going. I popped in to reply--first chance I had after reading our comments, but It's too late for me to really look at the wonderful rooms posted since I posted mine. Mental note to savor them tomorrow!!!

I have been sidetracked lately! We have been thinking about adopting a 3rd cat, and now are thinking of a 4th, too. A lot to ponder! My husband thinks I am crazy. Just hope we do not regret! Anyway, back to my sad room. JGBMe: Are you sure you are new? I knew someone here with a similar name and they were always so helpful to me, just like you! No, I am not married to the color in the sunroom. I did not paint it. I just like that it feels sort of done. The PO put in those nice, matching Restoration Hardware curtains and I would not be able to stomach getting similar ones for the same price! You are right, though, the undertones in general are a problem. Part of the issue is that I picked the paint when different lighting was in the room (sconces that were so dim and cluttered the walls). Now the new can lights are good in the daytime (very dark without them), but feel VERY cold and too bright at night. (I dim them, but everyone gets annoyed at me!) Makes the paint look its worst at night. I also agree that it is very monotone. And, you are right about the brick-- that is why I have done nothing! It is just that the brick is so "busy." I feel like the contrast of the bricks makes it look like a Caricature Fireplace. The mirror I have there will have to be toned down if it stays with some Rub n' Buff, I think. Lirio, thank you so much!!! You are a wealth of information. I can repaint the sunroom. I agree that the shades are way too stark. I did not pick them (PO). In fact, I never use them in the sunroom, so I could take them down completely. In the LR I am either going to replace them with something more natural OR get sheers. Part of why I want sheers is that one of my views is my neighbor's stark white house. It is glaringly white, and a very boring view. I wish I could go paint some nice picture on the side of their house, haha! Can't plant anything because the shared driveway is right there. The stained wood trim does complicate matters, for sure. I also don't get why the baseboards are a nice size, but the crown molding is on the wimpy side. Why??? It simply would not fit the character of the house to paint the trim, however. Our stairs are really pretty in the same wood and I love the color of the hardwoods (matching) in the DR and sunroom. I played around with the BM site, painting the ceiling the same color as the walls. It helped, I thought, with not just the trim issue but everything. I will think about painting just the crown molding, though it would be a problem with the trim around the sunroom. I also appreciate all of the painting tips. It is making me feel better because I think NOT not painting the ceiling is not an option. What?? In other words, I have to paint the ceiling! It will make a huge difference. How neat about your honeybees! We just went to hear a talk given by a local beekeeper. Amazing. I bet your hive boxes are the talk of bees everywhere! I'll try to remember them and keep the fun in decorating! annkh, WOW. Love the paint colors you chose. It really makes such a difference. What I like is that the ceiling works so well with the wall color, that it doesn't stick out. Very warm and inviting! Roarah, you are right-- the ceiling contrast is not quite so jarring IRL, but it definitely does nothing for the wall color. The problem is, wall color aside-- it does nothing for the trim. And yes, the curtains look pretty horrible with the wall color. I just put them up for now (didn't mean to use them) because I also am tired of just seeing the stark white shades. I am having a problem with the linen curtains because the fabric I've found is either too yellow or too brown. I don't know where to get a simple "off white." I am also considering muslin, if the color would work better. You are so right that paint should be last-- I broke this rule and am paying for it! Thank you so much for the compliments. I really need them! I get very discouraged looking at the room. I don't even want to be in it sometimes, because it feels so thick with the brown mud walls! And, it's not always clean! There isn't a lot in the room for the kids to mess up. :) Of course, since we are still trying to figure out how to prevent another flood in our basement, we lost a major part of our house and toys are encroaching areas that do not have enough space. Me and my first world problems!!!!!! Thanks again, everyone. I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate you helping me with this!!! Seems like there is a lot of work and $ ahead, but I will take it slow. You have helped me focus on major areas that need attention and how to approach them.

congrats on your new condo! she is lovely in and out. Well, I am sure we could help you make the inside look more like the outside. but i have to say the inside looks just like newly built houses. so that is more your choice i think. and perhaps you just want to use what you have and add a few pieces that will give you more of the look you want, but it does not have to match the exterior. you mentioned a lot of pics from around the world, I am guessing you want to know how to use. I have collected some idea. the one thing that is universal is using the same color frames. you can use varied but you have to have more skills to make it work.in a black frameanother external frame main subject in center bits of subject around.this is a set of family pics in a format.