My house was built in 1916 as a parsonage for the United Methodist-Episcopal South Church. No real owners - just transient ministers, so nothing interesting garden-wise. The most interesting features are an intricately-designed 15-ft.-deep cistern, and the brickwork of 3 chimneys that serve 6 fireplaces. I tilled most of the flower beds and ran across enough broken dishes and silverware to conclude that many a bad meal was served here over the decades! Also beds of used coal, garbage and antique bottles, even a piece of petrified wood. For reasons unknown to me, I found many old and very small horseshoes. Also found a silver Deutsche Mark minted in nazi Germany (complete with nazi symbol imprinted on front). But my very best find was while tilling up the front yard for sodding. Underneath several inches of soil I discovered a ruby Mason's ring. Many months later I found the owner. He was in his late 70's and had lost it while roofing the house several decades ago. He replaced the ring some time after losing it, but "retired" the replacement after getting the original ring back. He sacked groceries at the local grocery store and always raised his hand to my face to let me know he was wearing the original ring whenever I came in. In short, I love my old home so much that almost everything I have unearthed goes on display!

What's in the armoire? I would place it opposite the fireplace to serve as a visual counter balance to it. Then put your TV on the former armoire wall, above a credenza 25% wider than the TV. Hang large art 5" above the mantel. Use your sofa table behind the sofa without the buffet lamps (do you have a formal dining room for them?) Remove the bergere chair as it doesn't fit the casual feeling of the other seating pieces. Do you have a foyer where it would be pretty? Put the large armchair in its place. Try a new, more casual feeling rug and drapes. Replace all the other art and photos with new art. Hang pieces centered 5' above the floor or 5" above furniture. Upgrade all the lamps and add a nice ceiling fixture in place of the fan. If you like the idea of a mirror above the mantle, you could install a pretty chandelier to be reflected in it.

@GN Builders, in my area of South Florida, if your roof is a shingle roof and over 20 years old, it is nearly impossible for the buyer to get homeowners insurance without a roof replacement. I say nearly because you can get it, but it is special lines type insurance and more than double the cost of our already very high homeowners insurance premiums. For an average 2000 sf home normal insurance is $2400/yr (could be much more) and special lines is well over $5k per year (could be much more). I used an average example. Insurance varies tremendously here. The difference in this premium knocks out a bunch of buyers if they are financing the home (hurts debt ratios). This makes the property very difficult to sell unless you sell to a cash buyer for an extreme discount. The seller will do better, normally, by replacing the 20 year old roof before putting it on the market and having it languish or risk a sale that costs the seller more than the roof cost in a reduced price. It truly varies by area. A little further up the coast here and the insurance is significantly less. Edit: The roof condition/age/type is 40% of the windstorm premium so that is one of the reasons why the insurance companies are so adamant about not insuring a shingle roof over 20 years old. Believe me, it makes it extremely difficult to sell a home with an old roof here even if it isn't leaking.

My husband and I moved in to a new home. The living room area is long and has a large wall. Everything is open, the walls are different heights. Do I paint the walls? Should I put curtains? I don't know how to tie it all in. I just bought what little we have in neutral colors. Some is from our old apt. Please help!