Les, You know I actually did that for my mom yesterday, showed her my very first "before" picture and then the one I just posted and I agree. I took a deep breath and told myself not to sweat the small stuff all at once cause it's SO much better now. I can relax now and find the perfect lamp, cushion, plates, etc. but in the meantime I'm very very pleased with the difference you all have helped me make in there. It's not a place I avoid looking at when I walk through now. I walk in and pause and smile. magothrivergirl...Thanks so much for the link! The ivory and ebony one are both pretty, better than any I've seen so far and I've got it bookmarked as I start my search. I appreciate the tip and I want to look some more but those are great. Thank you again. carriem25...Anybody here is qualified to add their opinion and I appreciate ALL comments. Sometimes when somebody doesn't like something it will at least make me take a second look at that element and make sure I'm not overlooking something. Sometimes I focus on one thing and never see something else obvious. And sometimes things don't translate well in pictures so I have to walk in there to actually see in person how it looks. I honestly think when I'm in the foyer the space is large enough that the bells don't look that busy. The entire expanse of wall going up the stairs is blank so it still has an open feel in the space. I think for now I'm going to leave the bells grouped together but I do appreciate you making me take a second look at that. Thanks for the compliment on the chest and lamp too :-)

Funcolors thank you for your reply. After reading many of your posts here I'm happy to get your knowledgeable advice. :) I've tried out 9 different paint samples and looked at probably 100 tan/beiges before finding Sierra Hills so glad to hear my choice is a good one. :) Seirra Hills looks close to SW Nomadic Desert to me on paint chip which is one up from Latte. I've thought about getting sample of it. What would you say would be different in these two colors? We are painting the upstairs hallway the same color. What should we do about the hallway ceiling? I don't want it to be too dark going down the long hallway. Should I leave it the off white or paint it a shade or two lighter then the foyer. We had changed the original house plans to add a office downstairs and bedroom upstairs so this is how the foyer struture ended up. There is a wide ledge/shelf under window then the front door below. The walls have needed painting for a long time so I'm excited to get it done soon. Nancy

Phaedrus29 - we are thrilled with Snow Storm. We found the counters to be the hardest choice, since we knew we wanted green shaker cabinets. We wanted something that wasn't too stark white, not too yellow, and didn't have veining like "fake marble" but some kind of texture to it. Snow Storm is PERFECT. It wears beautifully and cleans easily, and the very subtle tonal circle pattern is really nice. It is a very neutral white - neither grey nor yellow, but a little bit warm. It is perhaps the thing we are most happy with which is great since it was such a hard find! I can send you some more photos if you like, do you have an email?

Annap, don't worry about a couple of months or a couple of years, actually to make finish choices. Really. Think about it. If you go with something that's not AH HA THAT'S IT, you'll end up changing it and wasting money. I'm here to tell ya'. After all. I installed reuse center cabinets. I reconfigured, gave them away or redonated, and built most of the next set myself. Then. I. Discovered. That. Beaded inset. SCREAMED my name. I gave all those away/donated and started again, with yet another reconfiguration. (Then I moved my refrigerator into the mudroom and cut off the peninsula, but kept the cabinets.) So just take it easy and go with what you love. I think I might put a sticky on it or something, so you don't get used to it. That way, something vaguely annoying that you remember you don't like will remain a (dare i? Sticking point) something to address. How are you enjoying those gorgeous windows?