Oh, great ideas! I have some fairlylarge paintings I'm not using, but they are all landscape orientated, not portrait. I have a very large mirror - blfenton, I'm usually the first one to say "mirror is a canvas, whatever it reflects is the art on it" -- so what would I be reflecting? The "formal dining room" (turned home office) and DH pounding away on his keyboard. :) I like the idea of a trunk. I have one that is just sitting somewhere, but it's not large enough (think more the size that you'd keep to the side of a sofa). I will have to keep my eyes open. Do I use faux greenery - yes. A lot. Do I like to admit it? No. Do I really think anyone really believes I keep that pothos perfectly green in a bathroom with no natural light? No. :) Lazy Susans are very 80s to me...but so are tv trays and I certainly have a stash of them! Functionality knows no decade boundaries. :) I saw some interesting candleholders at TJ Maxx today in colors that would go with my overall decor very well. Not exactly the right style, but probably about as close as I will get. I'm finicky. :(

I would buy the largest rug possible for the area with the sectional which will help to "pull out" the sofa from that corner. Something with a bit of color to liven up the monochromatic look of the wall and sectional would really help. Instead of red I would consider yellow or lime green pillows, and also pillows with more colors and patterns. I don't see any lighting in that corner which gives it a rather "dead" look. A tall lamp to the left of the sectional would add height to that area in addition to light. Since the mantel already has a shelf-like look, I'm not sure whether shelves are the best idea. They should at least look very different in design and I would paint them the color of the wall. That will make whatever you put on them really stand out. It's a very nice room otherwise. If you like art, a beautiful picture over the mantel would make that area more of a focal point.

Our fireplace is LARGE! 6” wide. There is 5” of wall space on both sides. Would love builtins. We are looking for a different mantel and painting the stone is not an option for me. How would you decorate mantel and how would you do built ins? Any suggestions are welcome! I am planning to recover blue leather chair with a ticking Stripe pattern. Also fan will be replaced with something

After painting I would perhaps try a couple of things on the hearth....plant, basket, sculpture...? I would be inclined to NOT draw attention to the mantel.