@bluemarble Thank you for cheering me on! It was all about the location indeed. And it was an uphill battle, with the housing demand driving bidding wars. I was looking for a house for almost a year and the last 6-months were really stressful. When I thought I would just sign a 1-yr lease, this house came up on a Sunday morning :) It did not have a view, but it has a nice backyard buffer on all sides and it is only 3-min to a park with nice trails and a lake. So, here we are :)

And here is the update on the LR with the gray rug. Any comments are welcome. And now onto the Study Room. Cheers!

We've heard about those bidding wars. Yikes! Three minutes to a park with trails and a lake sounds pretty awesome. Love the rug and the way the LR turned out. I have that bamboo chair from Pier 1. Any idea where we can get cushions to fit now that they don't sell them anymore? I have a couple, but would like to update. Probably just have to have one custom made.

Hi all 👋 @Maureen @In View of Design @BeverlyFLADeziner @ital mover @bluemarble @mtnrdredux_gw Here goes the study room. Since I am not changing the wall paint for now, then I thought the abstract pieces will shine brightly here... another option would be the 2 oil paints with the golden frames. Your thoughts?

Not sure what the golden framed oil paintings are, but I know that wall color is the perfect backdrop for any art! Just beautiful with those bright abstract pieces.

Gold frames would complement the gold doors nicely

@bluemarble Yay, Pier1 had some good pieces. Let me check, they are back online only. <EDITED> Here are the dimensions: Temani Brown Wicker Chair SKU 2281861 Chair cushion: 22" wide, 23" deep (rounded back)- 4" thick; Ottoman cushion: 23" wide, 19" deep - 4" thick. If anyone can find these cushions is @ital mover ;)

Thanks, lobo! Having the dimensions of the cushions is a huge help for an online search or if I decide to have custom made. I miss walking into a Pier 1 store.

And here are the 2 oil paints with the golden frames and 3 more:

Really like those, too. Still like the abstracts with the teal walls. The deckled edge and cloth pieces are amazing!

Fun color on the study walls. I think all your tropical colors will look great in there. I would ditch the old fashioned turned-wood lamp if you haven’t already. Wondering if it would be fun to have an acapulco chair or rocker in the study, or maybe they’re not your idea of comfortable.

Here’s some dark blue rooms for inspiration

Colourful house · More Info

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151 Sloane Avenue · More Info

Hi all, I haven't done much because of urgent matters... now back to the important 😊. 1) LR: Another layout, suggested by @In View of Design; painter's tape showing where the piano could be. I tried it for 1 week, but I still follow the hallway, along the wall. What do you all think?

2) Study: Now would need to be used as guest room soon ... so I'm looking for a nice, comfortable sofabed. Any suggestions?

Hi Lobo! I thought the living room was set. Were you unhappy with the location of the piano next to the fireplace? Maybe that's the problem...a piano next to a fireplace haha. It would look nice on the stair wall, but seems like it would impede the traffic flow. Would the daybed work at the foot of your bed?

We bought a queen sized Rowe sleeper sofa that had serious lasting power. We replaced it with a regular sofa after 18 years mostly because I just wanted something new and the color of the fabric had faded a bit. It was sturdy and comfortable. I like a firm sofa, so the support the bed provides to the seating area gives that comfort and longevity. I guess my advice is to get a true sofa bed of decent quality instead of something like a futon. Make sure you measure the fit based on the size of the bed when pulled out. Duh, right? Here is an article that offers some things to consider:

https://www.sleep.org/sleeper-sofas-how-to-buy-the-best-one/

Hi @bluemarble -you said ref LR "! I thought the living room was set." Me too, except that the black piano against the brown paneling seems off: like the wall has a "black hole" in it. I considered having the 2 chairs in lieu of the piano, and then move the piano to the stair wall, but the traffic flow is not right like you said.

-you said ref BR " the daybed work at the foot of your bed? No room there, but I also love to have it in the LR now.

-you said ref Study/sofa: "Rowe sleeper sofa". I will check it out, and thank you for the article! Today I found these recommendations on Best Sofa Beds by Forbes, Does anyone have a review on the Nordby (Lull Blue) by Article? I like the slide-out sleeper mechanism, but would this blue be too much blue for the room? or just right? (I am checking the inspo below sent by @User ref San Carlos ;)

Is painting the paneling an option? Seems a lot of the people who have purchased that sleeper sofa were happy with it. One person complained that you can't tuck sheets in very well? As long as it fits your needs size-wise. Can you get a fabric sample to make sure the color works, or are you in a time-crunch?

@bluemarble you asked, "Is painting the paneling an option?". I thought about living with the current paint colors and paneling for a while and concentrate on layout first. BUT I checked the paneling in LR/DR and found that the brown paneling over the fireplace mantle is covering another white-washed horizontal paneling underneath. So I am thinking about removing just this portion over the fireplace while keeping the paneling on the 2 opposite walls (i.e. no holes to patch, no walls to paint hopefully). I'll move the furniture this afternoon and post again.

Sleeper sofa, Nordby (Lull Blue) by Article, I just got the swatches, and I am trying SpaceJoy, a site that shows your furniture in your room for a basic design fee. So I am aiming for the end of September (max October) to have it all set up. Cheers :)

Well, would you look at that? Up to you which you prefer, of course. I was wondering about painting the paneling, because you felt the piano looked like a black hole against it. Are we considering the paneling a barn siding? Is that shiplap or barn siding behind the portion over the mantel?

@User @bluemarble @aprilneverends @BeverlyFLADeziner @Maureen @In View of Design @mtnrdredux_gw LR/DR: Finally moved the piano; what do you think?

Perfect

(I am thinking that either picking up from the nubbly coverlet on your day bed, or maybe the stony gray in the carpet, their is a shade of off-white that could replace the stark white of the fireplace surround — or, for me even more fun, maybe a pastel tropical color, something a bit fruity, one of the colors in your artworks for the fireplace surround, pull it all together…)

Looks great! As long as you’re happy with the flow, the room feels very inviting.

@bluemarble @User Thank you for the comments and encouragement! Today, I removed the overmantle brown paneling. Fireplace overmantle= white wood panels; legs and mantle= white; surround= white subway tile; hearth= b&w tile. Good enough?

Before, the fireplace was too busy. After removing the brown paneling, the fireplace looks like a unit... except for its right side, which shows the light gray sidewall (note that there is no such side on the left, but just goes to the window wall :(

I love @User's thinking outside of the black/ gray/ white box" going for "a pastel tropical color, something a bit fruity": Maybe citrus happiness (orange or green from the owl canvas)? I will think about it. Here it is for now:

Here is the completed Room#1 LR/DR:

Oil painting (instead of the metal sculpture) in LR:

Oil painting in DR:

Piano by stair wall (looking for a mirror ilo window to reflect the views):

Reading nook, lonesome owl needs the guitars? or some other art? (also looking for a floor lamp):

Your thoughts? Is it done, and moving into Room#2 Office/ Guest?

Ha! I was typing a comment for you when your edit just popped up.

Yes, the fireplace looks more unified. I'm struggling a bit with the gold tones (yellow-gold frames, antique brass light fixtures). How do they look IRL? Are you still looking for a floor lamp? Also, I thought the room looked like this with a shelf and tv bracket (?) on the wall...

@bluemarble I got some handyman help to remove the overmantle brown paneling (to uncover the white planks), and also had him remove all the small shelves and tv brackets that were through the house :)

Yes, I think the fireplace looks improved. Now for the overmantle decor, I tried the blackbird sculpture, the oil paintings, and the owl canvas. I think the owl canvas looks the best of all, with no frame, large size, and it pulls all the colors of the other pieces.

You said "I'm struggling a bit with the gold tones": me too ;) I like the oil paintings but I have been thinking about changing those frames for a while, ideas?

Also, I would like to add a floor lamp and mirror to reflect the window views. .. and move onto finishing up room #2?

The owl makes a great statement as a stand-alone piece. I played around with framing for the landscape in the dining room. Frames should compliment the art, but I believe these work with the other metallics in the rooms, too. Ideally, whatever you settle on works with the paneled walls as well. A silver frame would probably look nice with the blues in the painting, but I love the gold.

Standard, gorgeous gallery gold

Slim frame with linen matting and gold reveal

If you wanted to keep a similar profile as your current one but with a less yellowed tint

Had to show this one, because it's a tad better than awesome LOL. The wide mat is more suited for a smaller work of art, but maybe it will give further inspiration. The color would be interesting with your paneling. I'm imagining it as a soft fabric with watercolor art. I know yours is oil, but...I'm just rambling.

I looked through your artwork and wonder if the artwork that shows the red room with a blue door would look nice over the fireplace, maybe with other things on the mantel as well

Thank you for the ideas! For now: Update Room#1 LR/DR: I tried the 2 coastal oil paintings on the 2 brown paneled walls (LR and DR below). Also, I tried the 2 small abstract pieces over the mantle. I think the proportions are off. Keep trying ;)

Update Room #2 Office/Guest: so far I got all the pieces. The bistro table and chairs are "holders" for the sofabed placement (window length =90"). The small desk on the right can be moved out. I think the coastal oil paintings along with the abstract of the sailing boats (the one over credenza) could coexist here. A bit like being in an aquarium ;).

Update Room #3 Loft: Finally found the layout, but I have yet to organize the books, decide on the art (the posters, the golden ladies, others), and dispose of the leftover desks/ chairs...
Room#1 LR/DR:

Room #2 Office/Guest:

Room #3 Loft:

Was there supposed to be a photo of the loft? Looks like you're on the right track with the office.

I don't know if both of the oil paintings would be too much on the LR wall, but thought I'd throw out a visual. Could reverse it with the paintings on the right if that balances better with the owl. Or maybe something other than the owl on mantle in this case.

Idea for mirror over piano...

I like Mr Owl over the fp, but it is quite a statement. Have you tried any of the artwork photographed earlier in your study over the mantle?

i like the mirror by the piano. The lady above could use a simple frame, maybe metal…?

@User The abstract pieces have a black frame that shows too stark against the white paneling (see below), but they might look ok against the brown? By contrast, the frameless owl canvas seems to have found its niche ;)

@bluemarble Thank you for the mockups. I am contemplating your "awesome idea" of changing the oil painting frames with the wide gray linen passe-partout. For now, I am trying them as they are in the office ;)

I think you might have missed the uploading of room #3.

Here are some more pics:

Abstracts on fireplace: too small, too stark?

3 mirrors from West Elm: which one?

@ital mover @bluemarble @Maureen @In View of Design @mtnrdredux_gw @aprilneverends @BeverlyFLADeziner My final moves Room #1- Abstracts along with the owl that stays over the mantle; your thoughts?

Room #1 LR:

DR:

Room #2- Oils/seascapes: I have tried the 2 oils on the South wall with the armoire, and the small one over the credenza, but the arrangement does not seem right; maybe just the 2 oils? suggestions? Room #2 Office:

lobo, the art looks so vivid in the living room. Are you happy with it? I love the one in the dining room. It adds the perfect, singular statement. It even sort of mimics the pattern in the wall treatment. Nice choice!

As to the office, I just remembered you were planning to get a sofa bed? Is that still happening? If so, were you thinking of putting the two oils above it? If the armoire is staying to the right of that one door, I don't see room for art. Am I missing something? Did you mean next to the windows?

So sorry that I failed to respond about the mirrors you chose. Size will dictate to some degree, but I really like the Everett and Jakarta.

Big yes to the abstracts in the living room. They help the paneling on the wall make sense.

I think I’d actually hang the owl rather than just set it on the mantle. I might consider framing it, maybe even just simply in a rust-finished metal frame, or a bamboo-type frame, or maybe something more striking. I don’t know. It looks fine unframed.

I really enjoy the choice of the art in the dining room. I’d get a great ethnic print table cloth or table runner

Solid Color Twig Table Runner, Orange · More Info

Polka Dot Twig Table Runner · More Info

Love that polka dot twig runner

Maybe a bamboo blind for the dining room window, or a funkier more fun valance?

Fleetwood 14" Valance · More Info

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Floral Sunshine Yellow Hummingbirds Window Curtain Valance, 18"x52" · More Info

Gigi Valance White 70X14 · More Info

WIND CHILL 45x15 VALANCE w/HT · More Info

TY @bluemarble & @User for the suggestions and encouragement 😍!

--LR/DR-- Abstract Art: Yes, I am happy with the placement now, so it will stay in this combo LR/DR :) Mirror over the piano: Everett's concave carved wood is 24", while the other 2 are 30". I am undecided between the Jakarta, rattan in black, (would it be a rattan overload with all the other pieces?) and the Parsons, gray herringbone, (does it tie better, with the gray in the walls and rug?). Valances: definitely removing the white tulles and hanging the valances higher. I was considering a crude fabric with texture only, allowing the windows to show off. I had not thought about macrame; thank you for the idea. It will definitely work with the daybed texture!! and those runners are beautiful. I am very excited about those additions 😃.

--Home office-- Sofa bed: I have not selected one yet. I am thinking that when we have visitors, it can go under the 3-windows in the home office. Armoire: I moved it from the nook by the french doors (leading to the entryway) to the corner by the single door (leading to the kitchen). "Available walls for art": (1) West wall =72" over the credenza; (2) South wall =96" over the faux wainscoting. Note: no decor on the window wall, nor on the french door wall (too busy already).

Valance alternative:

SEACOAST 45x15 VALANCE w/HT · More Info

Home Office walls:

You are the best judge on the color of the mirrors working in the space. I like the Everett for dimension and balancing the lighter wood tones. I like the Jakarta very much, but wondered if it was too art deco leaning. I understand your concern about overdoing the rattan, but it's a super cool piece that adds some depth to that wall with the dark coloring. Again, balance. Is the bird art staying above the piano? If not, maybe an oval or larger irregular shaped mirror would work.

I ran across Peruvian painted glass mirrors. There are a few colors and shapes at this etsy store...

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DECORCONTRERAS?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=619999218

I like the idea of a natural material for the kitchen window treatment especially since there won't be full length curtains. Just need to add a little bit of warmth to connect to the DR and LR. You could even look at faux roman shades in cotton or linen, faux bamboo valances or full bamboo blinds. Do you need full window coverage?

Can the armoire be centered on the large wall with the wainscoting? Then you could put an oil painting on each side of it. If it can't be centered, maybe scoot it to the right with the paintings stacked to the left.

@bluemarble & @User Hi Houzzer friends, thank you for your suggestions!

Loft: I haven't progressed much here. I am planning to organize the shelves in the upstairs loft and in the downstairs main BR. And, I need to get rid of some desks ;(

Home Office: After being in here 3mo, I realized that the paint color is too dark for the office, and I really need a light mood in here. So I'll paint it; matching the light gray on the 1st floor.

LR/DR: For now, I am not changing the existing blinds, but only removing the white tulle; so I ordered the crochet valances. Also, I ordered the rattan mirror, but it won't be delivered before December. And I am considering your bamboo suggestion ilo the full-length white tulle on the entryway door and on the home office doors.😃

I forgot to update my profile in Houzz: the items are now being delivered ... to my old address 😒. And I am waiting for someone to paint the home office and a couple of BR. Have a nice weekend. Cheers!

Bummer about the deliveries, but you’re making progress. Can’t remember…did you make final decisions for your bedroom? Sconces and wall pillow headboard thingy.

Happy New Year!! . Final update: #1 LR/DR: I got the crochet valances, but I am still waiting for the back-ordered mirror. #2 Office: I painted the room! #3 I am happy with the new layout, it is only missing art over the bookshelves...

Thanks for helping me out!!

Happy New Year, lobo! Thanks for the updates, and so glad you are happy with the progress. I have enjoyed hanging out with you from time to time. Maybe send us a photo of the painted office when you get a chance.

@ital mover @bluemarble @aprilneverends Here is the photo of the painted office. Though it's gray to match the first-floor paint, it looks much more inviting than before. I placed the gray green/ beige rug and brought the green plants in. I hung the NASA posters and left the other walls empty. I have the seascape oils and ladies waiting for their proper space in the house :0)

@bluemarble I also just updated the bedroom thread that you asked about ;)

TY for following up. Cheers to you all.

That looks awesome, lobo! Just really put together nicely. I’m not so great at giving you advice when I like so much of your tastes and decisions. I feel you can never go wrong! Congrats on another great room.

Hi @bluemarble, Thank you so much for your kind comments. You have been so generous with your time and insight. For me, is more a "trial and error" process, but thanks to your comments and those of other "Houzzers", I feel both inspired and accountable to finish every room.

PS: kind of "finished", there is always something more to do, right?

The "final" final update on room #1 LR/DR :) I got the Jakarta mirror, and I thought about sharing the happy Sunday feel:

Omg! Do you love that?! It’s so awesome, and genius decision to place it sideways! Great photo showing how well the jakarta fits in with the other elements in the room.