OK. I'm always hesitant to post shots of my house, because it's so difficult to photograph such small spaces without it looking like Barbie's Palace of Clutter -- but I know how hard it is to get images of what paint colors really look like. The dining room is Hubbard Squash on top, BM Affinity Buttered Yam on bottom (the Roycroft Adobe was too burgundy-colored); looking into the living room which is Roycroft Vellum. (For some reason the Hubbard Squash always looks peachy in photos, it really isn't.) My study when it was Morris Room Green, looking into White Hyacinth hallway: My study freshly painted in Buckram Binding, not sure what I think of it in there yet (I live in terror of 1950's chalky peachy off-white), but it makes the room twice as big and blends very well with the other off-whites: Kitchen in Antique Yellow (very similar to your Bungalow Gold) looking into breakfast room in White Hyacinth. I know my trim is lighter than yours (we had to strip everything of 10 layers of paint and re-shellac), but perhaps this helps just a bit.

Oh, if I could do a wider opening and pocket doors between my kitchen and DR, I would. But I'm losing mine when we remodel. Like heidihausfrau, our pocket door between kitchen and DR is narrow; even narrower than hers, mine is only 27"! It's ridiculous. We're widening the doorway to 31" or 32" (can't go wider than that). We had initially planned on installing another pocket door but since the wall that currently houses the pocket door can't accommodate a door any wider than we currently have (runs into exterior wall), we would have to switch the pocket door housing to the other side of the doorway, which meant changing the location of the light switches, tearing into the stairway support wall, changing the shelving in the pantry so that it wouldn't interfere with the pocket door ... in the end, we decided to nix adding a pocket door. We're also widening the doorway between kitchen and hallway, from 29" (swing French door) to 47" (no door). We can't install double pocket doors, either one on each side or double-upped with bottom rail nor do we have room for swing doors (would block light switches, etc). At first we weren't sure about going sans doors for both entries. We used the doors between kitchen and hallway and kitchen and DR when our kids were little but we hardly ever close them now. In fact, we took the hallway/kitchen doorway off its hinges months ago to see if we would miss it and we don't. judeny: thanks for the great idea to do a hinged swing door! I had nixed going with a swing door because my DR is narrow enough as it is; I don't want a swing door eating up space (it would also have to swap sides so it would run along the wall between wall and table). But if I can do a hinged door like you did and keep it folded up against itself along the same wall the pocket door occupies now, I just might be able to install a door between kitchen and DR after all. (I wish you had pics to share with us.) Do you remember how far from the wall the door extends when it's folded against itself? TIA! AujS, don't forget to plan for where your light switches will go on the pocket door wall. I'm sure you want them close to the opening so make sure your contractor knows so that he makes sure there's room for an electrical box to house the switches.

Here is another drawing with a wider kitchen and moving the ensuite toilet. Is moving the wall 11" to create a 15' 8" kitchen worth the effort? Is the kitchen too wide now? Is that island just a barrier? I love having a small table and nook for casual/breakfast family dining. This plan also brings a new window into the kitchen which I like. Buehl's wonderful plan doesn't involve widening the kitchen beyond its current 14' 9" which is fabulous and will certainly be more cost effective. Each square is 1' x 1', my hand drawing is obviously imperfect though, apologies. I will try to perfect using lay out software this weekend.

Don't have time to answer all of your questions but here's what I can suggest: 1) Lower the mantle on fireplace a little, as well as the painting in the niche. (See #2 here) Consider changing the mantle to something less rustic and paint in color A (see next suggestion) 2) Open spaces should be cohesive - which you can easily do with paint. Choose 2 colors or 2 shades of the same color and vary placement in different areas. (see #5 here) Consider adding a simple chair rail to the dining area. For example, with minimal effort, you could use color A below the chair rail in dining area, as the dominant color in window treatments fabric (I"d use draw drapes) , the back wall of niche, throw pillows, lamps ac, and maybe an area rug in living room, and in accessories (see #3 here) in living room and kitchen. I'd consider adding some of that color to kitchen also -- back of open cabinets for example, recovering bar stools and dining room chair seats to match drapery fabric and possibly slip covering one of the armchairs in the living room in a pattern that incorporates the wall colors with other colors in the space. You want to use coordinates, not just the same solid everywhere so look for different textures or patterns to add. Hope that helps. I've inclluded links to additional info about topics I mentioned that I think you'll find helpful. 3) see #2 - I'd choose lamps with either a base or shade to match color A. (See #7 here) 4) Add plants. If you aren't there often enough to take care of them, use artificial greenery.