Everdebz, to answer your questions... I don't know how big my dining table is (I haven't seen it in 1.5 years). It seats 6 comfortably or 8 if you crowd the ends. I prefer to keep it to 6. Yes, I am still looking for large scale, abstract, minimalistic art in any colors except red and yellow. I especially like black (if there was a darker color it would be my favorite), grey, dark to medium purple, and dark or rust orange. I'm not a huge fan of whimsical or fantasy. I wouldn't do 3 paintings to make 1 or have something that yells modern cliche to me. I would say I have a thousand dollar taste on a five hundred dollar budget, every time I see some thing I love, I wish it were about half the price. I do understand artists and art dealers need to make a buck but I think my expectations thus far exceed my pocketbook's depth. :)

Thank you all so much. I love lmmcnitt's idea of tone-on-tone wallpaper, I hadn't thought of that (despite loving wallpaper! I did a funky mid-century modern style accent wall in our master). That could really work - adding either a blue tone-on-tone, or even a neutral, could really do the trick, the texture would be a great layer. Special thanks to Groveraxle for the renderings - that is incredibly helpful! I love the first rendering of that mechanical-arc lamp, that's what I was envisioning and seeing it makes me really think that's the way to go (in addition to a tone-on-tone wallpaper that would really complete the space). I'm going to look around for things similar - even taller maybe, as the ceilings are high and can really handle height. I do like everyone's ideas of a plant too - a little green would warm things up. Alas, I am crazy picky about plants, not sure I'd be able to find one I like. It's weird, but it's hard to find 'modern plants'. Cheers everyone, again - much appreciated.

Hi Clare/CDR Design (and all): I hope you are doing well! I hope you don't mind me reaching out again. I apologize I never replied or thanked you for the last post you wrote. Just recently I decided to start "obsessing" over the look of our living room AGAIN and what it is that drives me nuts. And, holy cow, the changes you suggested made most of my angst about my living room cease! First, changing the direction of the rug...wow! That made the world of difference! It made it seem bigger and finally more cohesive. The rug "or something I couldn't put my finger on" seemed so out of place and wrong. Just that little change did the trick and now it's not so annoying to look at for me. :) I would have never thought about the rug direction if it wasn't for you. So, thank you!! Second, I moved the couch forward and away from the wall. Looks SO much better! I wish I could get a different couch b/c it is so big and I don't like the color however that will have to stay for now. Third, I was inspired by your rendering of the living room you designed and shared with me so I moved the arc lamp over the leather chair in the corner and "I think" it looks good?! Fourth, will def add a console behind the couch instead of a floor lamp! LOVE that idea! Fifth, I moved the orange chair to the left of the fireplace and removed the blue chair however, the orange chair is a bit smaller and seems insignificant and a little odd in that corner (maybe b/c it really doesn't match any of the colors in the rug/room). :) The blue chair just seems like a better fit in that corner (to me). And, there is still room for the orange chair in the other corner even though I moved the couch forward a bit. My kids told me that the couch was too close to the TV when I moved it forward even more than it is now. I think it was b/c they had to crane their necks a bit (hence your wondering if we could move the TV to the other wall...) b/c it is a little high. WIth all of that said, I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for all of your suggestions! You hit the nail on the head with all of them and were the first person who actually gave me thoughtful and helpful advice! I have asked a lot of friends (many talented decorators in their own homes but not professionally) for their opinions and no one ever gave me such solid advice and recommendations as you. You truly are so gifted!! And have the most amazing vision! Clare, you have brought me this far - I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me finish this project so that I can FINALLY look at this room and think, "YES!" I love this!" I need to be done thinking so much about it! LOL! If you do not have time, then please no worries at all! I am so appreciative of all the advice you have given me already! I'll include my questions here just so you have them and then include pics of the room as it is now in another post but again, please no worries if you aren't able to answer them at this time. 1) Would a different, more neutral rug pull the room together more? Or should I keep the current one I have and work with it? 2) Arch lamp over chair? I also have one that has a gold metal 12" shade that I haven't put together yet. If you like arch lamp over chair instead of the tree next to the chair, metal or white shade? 3) Do I need another arch lamp in the other corner? If so, matching? If not, table lamp or no lamp? 4) Material of console in back of couch? Wood, black, gold metal? Thinking an 8" or 10" W and at least 56" length? 5) PILLOWS!!! My biggest dilemna. There are so many options and I don't know if I should stick with blue/cream/white or add another color!? Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this (if you do) and for everything!!

DH started collecting the Noah's Ark prints before we were married. He likes the artist and he wanted to gave the whole set. They do make great conversation pieces...any time someone comes into our house they comment on them and spend a couple minutes looking at them. They're not my favorites but since he lives in the house too... And we have 3300 sq ft so there should be plenty of room to hang these along with artwork that's more to my liking. Here's the artwork we currently have. The first one is the only one I really like. The last one is the largest. This is a graphite drawing we got on our honeymoon...thinking of putting it in a larger frame with a mat and put it on the buffet. To give an idea of the type of artwork I like, this is what I'm planning on putting in our dining room.