Apologies for the long absence. *sigh* Our desktop crashed, and I may have a bit as well. :) We're still waffling. I'm glad I didn't order anything months ago. The space is mysteriously getting more and more contemporary. Two weeks ago, DH and I wanted Option #2. This week, it's #3. The cabinets turned out so sleek! Definitely, though, I'm thinking pewter or brushed nickel or chrome to go with the appliances and faucet. I think those of you who said it'd be too much going on are right. That poor chandelier is just going to have to stand alone. I bet I'll get used to it with time. Mysterymachine, your post makes me laugh every time I read it! I should give your vote extra influence, with that amazing kitchen you turned out. (Okay, now I feel I need a disclaimer; bc everyone's kitchen is amazing!) Laurie, thanks for the vote! Flowerchild, thanks for the link. Those pulls would be great with the chandelier but a bit heavy with the other kitchen elements. Ok, a couple of OT thoughts. First, now that I'm fully recognizing my split-personality decorating style, I really get how some of you have done this several times. Second.... rats, I need more coffee. Completely forgot. Maybe something about how organic this process has been even though I thought I had a set plan long ago. Amy, np with your question. Thanks for bumping this back up, though I missed it Sunday. (I wanted to respond to the last three posters but hesitate about dragging my issues back up after so long!) We are still getting the Basalt Slate, sometime in the next couple of weeks. Templating is this Friday. Hopefully the counters won't take too long. I know most laminates are in stock, and we got really lucky with the engineered quartz. Our installer happened to have our choice in stock, available, and in the right size! Woo hoo!

Thank you for your help everybody, I finally found one color that works in both rooms. It is a BM Gentle Cream which is in the off-white collection. I wanted more color but it looks like with the northern exposure combined with the low ceiling and narrow rooms there is just no visual space for anything more intense. Gentle Cream actually lives up to its name, it doesn't look pink or peach in either room and not too yellow either (Papaya was a little too yellow). And yes, the type if bulbs makes a big difference. We have some kind of "true light" in the DR, similar to Reveal and this particular color looks more yellow there. The LR has halogen recessed lights and the color has a slight green tint to it in that room. I also encountered this issue in my kids' bathroom. Picked a countertop which looked beige-cream in the showroom, almost exactly like the color of the tile we selected. I did cheked the sample at home but during the day, the lighting wasn't istalled yet in the bathroom. Once installed, the counter looked almost yellow in the bathroom with the regular flood bulbs. I couldn't believe I was so off with the color! However, after we switched the bulbs to white light it looks a lot closer to what I thought I picked

Thought I'd share the result! I reused the pillows from when the slipcover was red, and just picked up the throw today. My husband requested fewer pillows, so I moved one small one to a chair in the corner of the room . I need a lamp and the room needs something else, although I'm not sure what. We are in a freeze for a while so I'll come back to this later. It is just a guest room.

Are the drapes staying? If so, I would raise the rod or shorten the drapes so they just barely clear the floor. Large rugs for both the living and dining areas in richer colors than what's there now willground your furniture and cast a warmer light on the walls. Large paintings on the walls in colors and styles that you love will give an immediate lift, as will books and large plants by the window. Everything in those rooms is beige and more beige, which makes the rooms look cold and impersonal. Choose furniture in colors you like, although a chesterfield couch in a lighter neutral color like the one shown is not a bad place to begin. Choose pillows in tones taken from the rug, although the shades can be softer or somewhat different in tone to add some interest. I'm not sure that recessed lights are the way to go. Overhead lighting in living areas is unfriendly and cold, and makes people look not their best. You're much better off having good area lighting, perhaps some kind of chandelier or hanging lamp in the dining area, and several floor or table lamps in the living area where they should be in places that allow seated people to read, sew, play games etc. In homes where I had recessed lighting it was almost never used because it had a glaring quality that table or floor lamps don't.