Les - the window trim is stained the same color as the rest of the house. I thought it would be better to be consistent with the trim and not try to match the furniture in each room. I thought the light colored rods would blend in with the Navajo White walls, but at least they have big finials. I'm not heartbroken to take them back, though, since I thought it looked a little strange not to have the valance return back to the wall. Unfortunately, I can't cover the vertical trim or the stools completely without making full-length drapes that will end up behind the mirrored drop-center vanity. Since the baseboard, the closet doors (bifold), the room door and the trim around the doors is all the honey color, it wouldn't help much IMO to hide the window trim with drapes. Now, what do you mean to use the border around the edge of the ceiling? Apply it to the ceiling where it meets the walls, instead of the walls where they meet the ceiling? She does have a white "lacy" looking ceiling fan we could put a medallion under - blends in with the white ceiling, but latticework on housing and ruffled glass shades just give some texture. We didn't want to have heavy-looking dark fixture up there. Another thing we were thinking to soften the look was to take the fabric that matches the valances (don't remember how much I bought - but I have a partial bolt, not just the crib sheet), and make a "canopy" that would hang from a hook or knob centered over the headboard and then swag down (I'd just cut a length to some width that would hang over the knob and then swag it like a scarf valance, nothing lined or mitred since I can't sew)? DD (5.5 yrs old) calls this her "princess bedroom".

Are we talking "gold" or "polished brass" ? Not the same thing at all but many of the young use the term interchangeably. I used polished brass in a guest room bath as it has and antique footed tub and antique footed basin out of an old local hotel. It looks right. In master bath, I used polished nickel- again it just looks right in this 1948 house, First for full bath has polished chrome as that was what was in the tub and I was not gutting the entire bath - just new toilet, basin with legs and wallpaper.

Your range is not far from an outside wall and probably a duct could be done. That would depend on how you cook and your budget. Some cook a lot with spices or fry up lots of bacon, run their fan frequently and would never consider a ductless vent. I run my fan frequently and find it helps keep grease off surfaces, but that is me. Some people rarely cook on the range top or just don't find a fan important. It is a good idea to look at the little touches mentioned by Studio Boise. If you can live without the cabinet to the right of the window, you could put a set of shelves there or replace the center panels with glass or remove the doors, finish the inside and use as an open cabinet. That is not quite the same as the wood shelves, but might be an imbetween step while you see how you like that area open. Some will say you should not take away the storage - it depends on how much you have elsewhere. I retrofitted a cabinet with a plate rail - I am sure some would feel the space could have been better used as a cabinet, but like you I wanted to add some of my own touches / style. Shelves - like in some of your inspiration pic: This is more farmhouse / cottage: You might be able to use the cabinet elsewhere if you do shelves: Also - like others have said, once you add you own decor touches, the space will feel more like your space. My style is different from yours - more cottage - but I've got art and other touches that give it a sense of my space as opposed to any of the other similar (older oak) kitchens. https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854029 https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854052

@ShadyWillowFarm Thanks so much yes those blue chairs have coasters on them but recently moved to the living room because they are too light and my dog likes to barrel into them a litte too much😆 @Jennifer Schuessler thinking of adding a bookcase light—my husband just needs to wire it something similar to this @arcy_gw thanks for all the great suggestions! i am thinking about repainting the fireplace and bookcase in a warmer white. When I did it, it was on a whim while my husband was away for a few weeks . I hsve thought about stacking logs inside—thanks for the reminder. The space is definitely a pass through but I wanted to at least use the space for something @daisychain Zn3b ooh I love the idea of some woven art. I placed the mirror there because there was already a dowel sticking out. But I can try Bigger! and Lower!