Welcome out of lurkdom Brenda. I would love to help, but a picture is worth a thousand words, so if you can post a pix that would really help.

It looks like a naturally dramatic space, and you have all those windows so there's the "outside coming in" feel. With all the visual elements, I feel you need a simpler backdrop, which would be wonderful for some genuine artworks. Remove everything, paint all the walls and ceiling one color of cream/off-white. I like your rugs, you could use some of their color for accents. Any pros correct me, but I think the mantel needs more presence, maybe stone work. Have you thought about new light fixtures or even furniture? How much change are you wanting?

I like it also.....hang the picture, leave the vase and one lantern....items should be 3 or 5..uneven numbers. I have un-kitchen items displayed in my kitchen.....plants, crosses, mirrors, apothacary jars, or whatever strikes my fancy. Brimful could decorate that shelf at Christmas time into something very pretty if she wants to.

Photos of Hubby and I, children and grandchildren are all in similar black frames. I have 3 photos inherited from my grandmother, my mom and aunts that are in blond frames from the 1950s and 1960s. I'm hesitant to lose the vintage quality. They were scattered but I could hang them as a grouping. I have a couple other old photos I'd like to add so our grandchildren can see them without having to haul out and wade through 3 different albums.