squirrel: Lucky for me we have a Lamps Plus store. I liked this one though was nervous about the scale as the shade was so much bigger than the surrounding ones in the store, but I told myself, squirrel photoshopped it in, it looked great, just get it.... and it does. Glad I did not take DH though as he would've nixed it for a smaller shade, but when he saw it in the room without the other lamps to compare, he thought it looked fine. However, the other table lamps of this style were huge so I am scouting around for a ginger jar (under $100) as I think I have enought bronzy stuff in there. I was hoping you'd play around--since now it will be more nails to put in. Flanking the entry table is another option for the sconces I had been considering as well. It looks nice there also, though the wall is not that large so it looks complete without it. I guess I am rather stumped what to do on either side of the fireplace. I was thinking of doing my botonical prints, but I feel the scale might not work so am thinking of using them elsewhere. I like the feel of a more vertical arrangement with two landscape directional (not necessarily a landscape) prints one on top of the other; at the same time I don't want to fall into the symmetry trap of doing the same things to either side. Balance, not symmetry is the effect I am looking for. Too much symmetry can be boring as it's expected. That is why I was thinking of doing the arrangement with the little mirror in between. For the sconces are you suggesting I put the candle in without the glass? I'd be afraid it'd fall out. I was thinking putting the candle in the glass, though not sure what size. It looks like what it is meant for since there are designs in the glass which you would see when a candle is lit inside. However, I'm not totally sure if it's meant for a candle and if so, what type/size. If you can photoshop some accessories on my mantle that would help--esp. the clock. My classic is boring.... Ha!Ha! I love the honest responses. So what do you think would work? I put a plant there, though it's small right now, it will grow. kim: I realized that after I looked at the pics. I can't quite tell if they look bronze or antique brass (which is so OUT). Perhaps because it was a thrift store find. I think I'll leave as is. decorpas: It looks more like the one I took on my hardwood floor. The other one (taken w/o a flash) where it is just a tad darker is what I was thinking of; yet I would not want to loose the gold accents. sarschlos_remodler: What type of clock do you see working there? If I have a vision in my mind, I'm pretty good looking for it.

On the refinishing- For getting off the finish - which is more likely to be varnish than poly - try Citristrip gel. My local Rockler guys recommended it and it was a piece of cake to take the finish off a 3 x 5 coffee table. Sooooo much easier than the stuff that I used years ago to strip miles of woodwork in a Victorian. And easier and cheaper than sanding. You'll be sanding plenty later with that orbital between coats. Here's my $15 Goodwill table, big, solid, heavy and nice shape and leg detail But the finish was really shot with both black and white water rings and gouges - the trifecta! I was able to bleach out the black rings and it came out really nice. Discovered there was a stunning swirling pattern in the fruitwood graining! Isn't she lovely? But...while it looks great, I've changed my mind on the look and shape I want. I've decided to go with a more rustic square pine table instead, so this one is going on CL or back to Goodwill. You can do it. Really. It just takes a little time and patience. You can always strip again - I think I stripped this piece three times because I was experimenting with stains and didn't like the colors. No biggy to redo it once you have it set up.

Thanks again! The blog's latest entry is 1/8/09, and I see a list of of dates for newsletter, the latest being Dec. 2014. I looked at that one and saw the cutest Christmas Santa Hat brownies idea! You never know what you'll find doing research.Ingredients: - 1 pan of your favorite brownies - 12 to 16 small strawberries, washed & hulled - 1 container Cool-Whip Directions: Bake brownies according to directions. Once they've cooled, cut brownies into small circles. Pipe a small amount of Cool-Whip onto the top of each brownie. Cut the base of each strawberry so it's flat and then place it upside down on each brownie. Pipe a small dot of Cool-Whip on the tip of the strawberry & you've got some cute and delicious Santa hats!

Put just the one above the TV for now. That might work with just one piece because it looks like the same width as the TV, which is a good thing :) When your console comes in and you hang the art, we can experiment with having a vase at one end to see how it looks. You aren't restricted to just wall art. You just don't want to get too busy on the wall and console. So some of this will be trial and error to get the right look. As to the love seat: it does need to move to the left if it stays in the room. If you had a smaller end table there you could probably pick up 6 to 10 inches. If both end tables were smaller then you could move the sofa down too and pick up more room on the love seat wall. Are you keeping the chair in the room? It would be ideal if you could keep the sofa on the long wall and the chair on the wall where the love seat is now and find another place in your home for the love seat. But I understand if that isn't in your plan.