Oh my goodness. God Bless your Mom and you for helping her at this tough stage of life.

I will check out on my scale drawing board. Can you measure width and depth of each of these pieces. Secretary, curio and sofa.

Hold off moving until I verify measurements. 😍

@vidsquid, you're back. Yay. We were all patiently waiting. Your secretary is absolutely stunning inside. I do agree that if you opened it, with a pretty lamp and maybe a few books, a floral arrangement, it would shine.

Following your post, and am excited to see how the room evolves. (and definitely use slidders for moving things!)

Is there room for either piece in the dining room?

That secretary is unbelievable. It needs to be open and in a spot where everyone can admire it. I agree with @BeverlyFLADeziner that a rug with green will work, and her placement idea is also good. All will depend on the final furniture arrangement.

It looks SOOO much better now with @Flo Mangan's layout.

I like your Hummels. I've had a small collection since I was in elementary school. Maybe I've always been an old lady, though.

Your secretary is gorgeous. My grandmother had one similar to that. We all loved it and it was her treasure.

That Secretary is a “diamond”. And you have kept it in perfect condition.

It is exquisite. I am big antique fan so I am drooling over your pieces. Do you know who or where it was made?

Curio 44” length 17” depth
Secretary 35” x 21”

I love antiques and your Hummels!

And length of sofa?

85” x 40”. Did fast this morning it’s a

Ok. That only 2” shorter than the template I put in. The Secretary and the sofa would fit on that wall but it’s tight. But I want to play with other pieces on the scale drawing. If you like things symmetrical this will feel unbalanced to you. Perhaps a large plant on right side might help. I will be back later today. Have a great day. Thanks for the info.

I do like the arrangement now. The only thing is showing off the Secretary however it may look like hello I have big mahogany pieces!! 😂. Ur configuration is terrific. We shall see.

Flo u are the best really!!!

That’s a beautiful sofa.

Ok. Here is Option 2. It will fit just not sure of two big pieces on the one side? I put dotted line where you can open up Secretary. And a small desk chair slipped under the desk pulled down. (Gad zooks, look at that book matched surface on pull dow desk! Unreal workmanship! Dazzling!). I put tall plant on right side of sofa to help balance the secretary height. Still would want art over sofa but not sure of type and sizing yet. Art could go on wall between windows. If I have time later today, I will do quick sketch for you before you move this stuff again. Sit in sofa and visualize what your views will be to get feel before you move the big items. 😀

I just noticed that the upper shelves of your secretary are moveable. You might take out the shelves and “paper” the back of the secretary with poster board and either paint it or apply a wall paper to add some color to that spot. Especially if you open the doors to the secretary. It will “lighten” it up. Note: I am NOT suggesting that you actually paint the back wall of the secretary. Same with the curio cabinet. Just a suggestion….

Another question…how wide are the walls on either side of the entrance into your room. Is there any chance that the curio cabinet could be angled with its back into one of those entrance corners? So that the cabinets don’t dominate the room, visually, as you enter? You will see the more delicate secretary and the curio cabinet will be at your back or side as you enter the room. Just a thought…

Here is sketch #2. I too wondered about angling curio to the front right corner. But from the pictures you had posted I couldn’t tell if that would work with width etc of curio. I just put triptych (3 pictures that show one scene) over sofa. They would all be same size. Just a option. An Asian cherry blossom tree look that you might like as an example. Kind of simple lines but graceful and not demanding too much attention. All personal choices.

This is a great thought there are no table lights except on the secretary. We all will have to sit in this :)

Are the Secretary and/or the curio lighted? Do you plan to read in this room? You could slip a slim floor lamp on end of sofa with the plant for reading light. You could also put sconces (plug ins) on wall between windows if you choose this layout. I am sure I don’t have the angles just right, so you might have to try it to make final decisions.

You last sketch is so lovely Flo and I love the idea of a triptych in a simple Asian style theme. Here is one I found on Etsy, that comes in various size panels.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1052367133/sakai-hoitsublossoming-cherry-trees?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=asian+triptych&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1

Thanks Dawn - funny I too saw that group on Etsy and saved it just in case. Might to too large but a good example of my vision. Did you notice the arms of the sofa are very similar style to Visquid’s except it’s fabric and theirs is leather. Thanks!

Perhaps a small, discreet brass pharmacy lamp near one of the chairs might work for additional light in the room? Modern, low profile?

Guess what? I have a pharmacy lamp….I am a pharmacist! 😜😛. Yes I love to read need lights. And the curio is lighted Secretary is not. I’m not wild about the 3 panel pic or Asian theme. I do love chinoiserie look. I think they are different-Asian and chinoiserie?

Flo could u do a sketch of my kids??? 😂😂😂😂 agreed love all these responses. I love architecture, design. U folks are so talented. Thank u keep the ideas coming. At ur convenience-o know everyone is busy. Sometimes it’s nice to do something not urgent 😂😛🤓

What type of art do you prefer over the sofa? You don’t want 3-panels?

If you browse art.com or greatbigcanvas.com you can find something you like over the couch. I am not a fan of the three panel idea either but you do need something big and fabulous there.

The last layout of @Flo Mangan’s looks great -except for the lighting issue. Try your pharmacy light. Putting one of the antique cabinets on that wall is a great idea.

Chinoiserie is a art form actually created in Europe depicting Chinese imagined forms and scenes of ancient beauty. Today, it comes in many forms and mediums. A Chinoiserie panel above your sofa would be beautiful. There are also many very low profile lighting choices you could deploy in this room. A floor lamp in front corner could work well as one layer, a ceiling chandelier that was on a proper dimmer, and perhaps floor uplight for a tall plant. Many options. Just google “layered lighting” and there is a wealth of information out there. Here are some basics.

Art is very personal. And budget for said art. We can find anything you want. But first things first. Determine best layout for you and the room. Once that’s firmed up the sizing for art will get better defined. Funny about drawing your kids! You are sweet to enjoy my humble sketches. 😊

Chinoiserie is Asian art, no? What would be the difference?

Chinoiserie (word is French for "imitating Chinese style") originated as a European interpretation of East Asian design. It is actually rooted in Rococo style. I would call it a design style more than an art form.

This is an example of Chinoiserie. Although there are now Chinese producers of this style, so it is confusing.

This is one example of Asian art - a Japanese woodblock print - created by a Japanese artist and popular for several centuries.

Yep. That’s the deal. For simplicity, I just refer to it as Asian due it it’s relative nature. At any rate, I love the look and have incorporated the look a lot in my work. I recently have been developing a small Asian inspired spot in our front entry. A tiny spot I can gaze on with morning tea or Latte!

This is beautiful as is the art Flo suggested.

Good one Amanda. Love those.

@Flo Mangan - Your “scribbles” are impressive, my friend.

I love the suggestion of chinoiserie for your living room. It will pull together the “old and new” pieces. And it’s gorgeous.

Food for thought:

@RedRyder oh, I love the third print that you posted, would look great in this room!

I like all but not loving. I’m not digging pinks, teals, peaches, mauves…… a part of me wants to get an oil/water/sketch of my 2 boys when they were little. I am all over the place…..I so appreciate all these ideas. Please keep them coming. Wish u all lived close and we get together in the living room with our pads, computers and appetizers and plan. 😂. Seriously. I do love all these ideas. I really can’t believe how much better the living room looks with Flos first drawing

How about this?

That is cool

I think something horizontal tho

Any developments?

No 😂

Taking a pause 😂

Ok. Keep me posted. I am committed or need to be committed! Lol. Too hot to work much. Stay cool.

Thoughts?

Have you consider a natural cowhide rug? On a dark floor, a light colored cowhide, like Grey or a contrasted Tricolor cowhide rug could work very nice!