Carol.. thanks SO much! I had forgotten all about the idea of an Armoire to store the homeschool stuff in. I actually Had considered that but then I have Totally forgot about that LOL. Plus I was in a panic to get organized for our next school quarter. I may have to revisit that idea. I mean then I could have Function and still have the FC look I want. As far as hubby's workstation. You know it is not even HIS workstation. He has a whole other room with his desk/office in it. This one is an extra computer with printer. I do use it for our schooling but it could be moved. If I put seating on one side of fireplace I could put the school armoire on the other. I was thinking shabby wood, with wood shelves. perhaps with the curtains showing behind the chicken wire. along those lines. One concern I had about having a large tall armoire flanking the fireplace is that it would compete in size with the fireplace but eh.. gotta do what you gotta do. I am thinking if I went that way put it on the Left side? the seating on the right? I NEED an overstuffed chair big enough for Both my son and I to sit in side by side to Read. we read together a lot during the day. If I chose a chair that large, then there wouldn't be room for two. However I could still go with 2 smaller chairs on one of the sides and put the Overstuffed chair in the Living room, Or a loveseat. The ones I have now (sofa , love) are what we read together on now, but they are SO Uncomfortable! I love the idea of doing the legs in white. I LOVE white anyways. I love the colors WHITE, Yellow, and Blue, Ochre, and Yellow (provence colors) and touch of Red LOL. I also love white ruffles, white skirtings, thus the cottage shabby flair. But overall I want French Country, not shabby LOL. My new countertops are white 4X4 tiles on the diagonal so the white will tie in. The chandelier has to stay at least for a long while. I HAD to choose something ONLY from home depot because we were purchasing on my husbands home depot card that his boss opened that account for us. It's not my fault sigh. I don't know if I even have the leftover chain for it anymore. My handman said "It's too late it can't go any lower now" Okay not thinking about that now, I will get mad grr So LITERALLY there was like One choice that had the dark finish (I wanted dark finish to match existing hardware) and that would remotely work. I measured exactly the height from the table when hanging that thing but I agree it could be lower. It *measures* what they say it should be in distance though. At least it has curvy lines LOL. It's possible I could investigate new globes but after everything else and after I have either A. Liquored up my husband OR B. Used my feminine wiles on him (i.e. Oldest Trick in the Book that makes him forget how many chandeliers have been bought) C. Both of the above I have some wonderful fabric I could sew for a tablecloth (I will take your suggestion and only cover Part of the table) Hadn't thought of that. It wouldn't be enough fabric to make pads. But it doesn't have to match. Maybe ticking stripe for the pads. Never mind on second thought. It would be a nightmare lining up the stripes. I LOVE LOVE the idea of a long basket under the hutch. Ooooh I could put linens or whatever! Any idea that gives function and storage I am all for! Even copper pots and pans (usually hung) but it could work! I have no real hanging space so that is one idea. thanks again for taking the time to respond. You have set my creative juices flowing with the basket idea LOL loretta

I vote for the pink ones but also feel the runner is not necessary. I would think a crystal teardrop chandelier would look lovely in that room and tie in with the look of the lamps and furniture. Please forgive me if you mind my mentioning this but the wall hanging with the wine bottle etc. is more of a French bistro look and doesn't seem to go with the elegance of the remainder of your furnishings. I would also try to bring up the green of your area rug into some paintings on the wall. Some landscapes in gold frames would look lovely. I hope you don't mind these extraneous comments. Ingrid

I agree the best placement is the wall with the blue artwork and high windows. You could incorporate the windows into the mill work of whatever built-in style you decide to go with. If you want to have a shallow counter area and not just tower cabinets and shelving, I highly recommend going with some sort of granite or stone on the counter area (like in first inspiration pic) if you will use it as a buffet area to serve food or beverages from. Painted wood will not hold us as well, for food service. Do you plan to keep that same table? I think you should move it forward more, so it's centered in front of the wall with the bookcase, leaving a clear path from the doorway.You may also consider relocating the bookcase to another spot in your home once you add the built-ins. The walls will look too closed in with furnishings on both walls. If you look at both of your inspiration photos, the built-ins are the only 'furniture' aside from the dining table, in the room which makes the space look larger and more open.

I live by William Morris' quote: "If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." Your pieces are lovely, no question, but that doesn't mean they are right for you. Keeping things because you have a sense that you "should," regardless of whether that comes from guilt, love, memories, or any other reason is really, truly not a reason to keep them. My mother is on Hospice (my father died in 2012), and when she goes probably almost everything in the very large family home will be sold to antique dealers (if it has value these days) and in a massive garage sale. There are five children and I know four of us want very little. My other sister, who might take more, can't because she lives in low-income housing and has only a small studio. I wouldn't take any of it because I have what I love acquired over the years--and I want no more. To me, it's better that it be sold to someone outside the family IF that someone will love it and make it theirs than for it to stick around, unloved and possibly resented, just to keep it in the family because those kinds of feeling, which will grow with each year it takes up room, will eventually lead to just getting rid of it any way, any place.