We started by refinishing the floors in a rich ebony. This immediatly created a cozy warm feeling. In addition going darker saved money as it concealed damage instead of having to replace the floor. Next we added built-in cabinets flanking the fireplace. This added much needed storage and a place for the family to display nick-nacks...in a classy sort of way. Lastly, we changed the stone on the fire place to a more modern yet classic Carrara marble tile....much better!