Olivesmom, you do have many choices, but you may be best served by some further study as to what you really prefer. The three photos are very, very different architectural styles, and have quite different interior spaces. For example: --The Williamsburg Colonial: a handsome example of the Colonial Style with upgraded details and materials. Colonials tend to be simple rectangles, 3- or 5-bays wide, with a simple gable roof whose ridgeline parallels the front elevation. Decoration and self-styled carpenter details are minimal. Interiors are seldom deeper than two modest rooms--they were Colonials after all! Growth and expansion typically took place off one or both ends, and/or a perpendicular wing off the rear elevation (sometimes 2-stories); --Second example: This may be called a "cabin" style, but it's really just a builder's approach to a woodsy vernacular from the region. The many gables parallel to the front and the heavy fascias, plus the natural stain colors, characterize this as a house in the tradition of areas where there are lots of woods (and lots of carpenters)! The direction of the roof suggests the house is much deeper than it is wide. --Third example: Again, this is a sort of "hansel and grettel" carpenter's or builder-style house (certainly not Colonial in any fashion) with a most odd "tobacco-shed drying roof", common in southern tobacco growing regions. The partial end gables were used to allow air to enter and circulate in the building's interior to help dry and season the hanging tobacco leaves. Such a roof on a house of this size, and in a western forested setting, is ill-proportioned for this structure and historically a bit ludicrous, IMO. The rest of the exterior has various moutain/western region detailing, ie, porch roofs and supporting columns, etc. I think your search for your "perfect house" might be aided by a good guide book, such as A Field Guide to American Houses, by Virginia and Lee McAlester. It's a well written and illustrated small paperback book that's excellent in describing the various styles of houses. Good luck with your project!

I have the same hall way, so really loved everyone's ideas! I have thought about clearing out a closet on one wall, removing the doors and putting a sleeping closet in there that stays open to the hallway to give it more width. It would only be cot sized because of the depth possibly with book shelves and a light looking like one of those European wall niches with a bed. Because I love rustic, I would layer it with a collection of wool blankets, fun pillows and maybe a pictures and/or old postcards. I have lots of guest and a child could sleep on the cot. Now, to figure out what to do with what is in the closet! What do you think of that idea? My hallway is actually the same color. I've also been thinking of running a 2 pieces of wood down the hall apart enough to hang pictures between them in an effort to make a more tidy gallery, but fear it would lengthen and skinny up the look of the hallway. If the ceiling was darker than the walls would it cause the widith to look wider? Here is a link that might be useful: Winchuck River Store

To vase or not to vase, hmmmm Part of the reason I was looking for a vase (or something) at the end of the hallway is that it needs of focal point. Here is the vase as you look out of the kitchen. The other reason for the vase is that it looks nice reflecting in the mirror kitty corner away (the wall behind the fireplace.) Languages -- walkin you are impressive!!! Shalom * Salaam (Yup, Hebrew and Arabic) Vitejte * Wilkommen * Sveiki * Failte (Czech, German, Lithuanian, and Gaelic) Witamy * Dobro pozhalovat * Zayt vikum (Polish, Russian and Yiddish, although I am not sure of this translation and need to ask my MIL.) Bienvenidos * Benvenuto * Pasaykamuy (Spanish, Italian, Quechua) Tistik * Irashaimasu * Sushri akal (Mayan Mexican, Spanish, and Pujabi Indian). Except for Gaelic, all of the languages in the first four lines were or are spoken by members of my immediate family or our parents and grandparents. (We have to go back further in my family to find a Gaelic speaker.) The languages in the next two lines represent places that my family has spent a fair amount of time in or (in the case of Punjabi India) somewhere where we are hoping to travel soon. By the way, if anyone can improve upon these translations, please do!

Just about any major carpet store can help you by making a custom runner and not too pricey. The cheapie way would be to get 3 short rugs (all the same) and arrange them evenly following hallway path. HD offers a limited variety of runners thru a vendor and perhaps vendor can do custom runner