I love your antique trunk - that will certainly help set a country/cottage mood. It's really useful too, since it can be a coffee table or a media stand, or a side table. Also interesting that your sofa back is sort of a reverse Camel back. If it works, I'd like to see the sofa on the wall without windows, so that the straight line of the window sill does not compete with the reverse curve. Your rug is pretty and colors are a close match to sofa, but it is rather small. Would it work in your entry way instead? Remember to make your bench cushion 4-5 inches thick. Right now the only pattern that you have is from the afghans. It will be easier to furnish the room after you introduce a pattern or two. I'd probably start with patterned draperies, because they'll have a big effect. Then you can either choose a subdued rug or layer more pattern. Same with the upholstery for your chairs. I love quilts on the wall, but I think your afghan would probably stretch out too much, so I'd continue to use them as throws instead. As others have suggested, take it slowly - you'll have a better result, and hopefully it's more enjoyable too.

I got all of mine kinda sorta potted- not the neatest job in the world but enough to hold them over until the weekend. I had forgotten all the bulbs I had ordered- lilies and liatris out the yahoo. It was quite funny, though- I had gone out with intentions of sticking them into quart pots or even large Solo cups with drainage holes drilled that I use to start seedlings. Being this was my first Hallson's order I was not prepared for the hugeness of the plants! Most times when I open a box of plants I find myself wishing they were larger but in yesterday's case each new bag opened was "OMG it's so huge" and "Oh crap, those roots are enormous!" The astilbe roots are simply massive, the daylilies could each be split into many plants, the ferns simply enormous, and some of the groundcover I swear would be sold as ten plants by other vendors. It was funny, but nothing fit into anything any smaller than a trade gallon pot, and many of those are kind of crammed. I used up all my mixed potting media and was trying to avoid mixing up another batch, so I culled some baby palms I have been nursing along and robbed some more media there. Hustling around like a fool trying to get everything in a decent shape for holding. It was so cold and rainy and while I was working under cover it was quite uncomfortable, but I got it done. What a pleasant surprise on the plant sizes, though- I already have another order started... And I love the wheelbarrow idea, but both of ours are full to the brim of compost I had husband dig out for me to use this spring for planting and topdressing. I have him well trained to keep them full for me- don't want to spoil that habit at all.

Any plant that responds to moisture and humidity is going to respond differently depending on how far east/west you are. So location matters. With roses it matters a great deal, since disease pressure depends on the humidity. The usual suspects for cold climate 'climbing' roses are the Explorers. They were developed by AgCanada at a research station in southern Quebec. While they are really just very large (8-12 ft) shrubs, they are the best repeating climbers for anywhere colder than a very warm 5b. On a wall, I'd fan them out. This is Captain Samuel Holland on a pillar. While this is the June flush, it usually has some flowers all summer. This is Quadra on an arch. Unlike the Captain, Quadra should be deadheaded because it will hold onto those full flowers. Quadra is also a lot thornier. However, it also will have some flowers all summer. Neither of them believe in blackspot or winterkill (at least where I am) By far the hardest part of growing these is finding them. High Country Roses has them on occasion. Palatine in Ontario has them for a few days after the fall ordering frenzy starts.

We think these images here might help you figure out what you want to do with your space. It looks kind of like an entryway. Please note the chandeliers, artwork, chairs, rugs, wallpaper, and console tables.