CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. The ivory is just too much yellow in one room. Plus the cabinets are golden so its too much. The grey will temper this. Though not sure this is the exact right shade? Plus with granite, I prefer a ceramic-its more sophisticated than glass.

iloveittwo I THINK THE IVORY IS JUST TO BLAN. OK ILL TRY TO FIND OTHER CHOICES. THANKS U ALL.

Mona Ives A little too much brown in the room. I would suggest you wait a while when you move in - hopefully and maybe you will decide to replace those bulky furniture pieces or move them to a more casual space in the house. Then you can conceive of the décor better. I would think it would be better to save up for new pieces that are slim and tailored and fit this room. I don't mean to be critical - I just wanted to offer the same sincere advice I'd offer a client.

libradesigneye They might be tall people who are really comfy in large scale furniture guys - but the scale is one reason kristal that I suggested the suzani for the recliners - you might be surprised if you ordered a large swatch of it to see how modern it can make those big comfy chairs. Rustic industrial is modern, and brings in more metal to echo the gray walls. This room can be great fast. So great of mom and dad to try to help start you off - can't refuse good leather furniture that hubby is already in love with, but you can suggest a little change up for your chair and she won't feel offended at all.

Kristal Turner Thank you libradesigneye for your constructive and helpful comments! I really appreciate your help. I love the suzani pattern and want to cover the chairs, but I really like the pale blue, taupe and cream shades the best. What do you think about finding a suzani with those colors instead? Also, the rustic industrial furniture is amazing! I am excited to find a tv stand, entry way table and eating table once we move in

Mona Ives OLD. There are modern wingbacks now that look fantastic. Time to update.

Delfina good grief!!! these chairs whether you paint, stain or whatever else you do to them, they are still ugly, outdated etc...I love to re-purpose and I am darn good with chalk paint too, but I would not waste my paints on these!!! and so what if they are 1968 Ethan Allen chairs, they are still ugly!!!! sorry :(((((

saltcitybabe I find beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....however, I think extreme critics should post a pic of their own decor so we can see if they can do better.

Mona Ives Wow my first thought was noguchi coffee table! Yes, you need art, lamps, and please please do some color on the rug and pillows. I like that this is modern and a bit masculine - but someone even suggested an oriental rug and I love that idea. You might want to look at a dhurrie rug or a kilim rug. But I just want to leave you with the idea that you need some bright colors - red - bright blue - bright green - yellow even. Without color this will look like some beautifully selected pieces of furniture - not a completed room.

Daniel Dionne Designs llc kbapti, I LOVE your accent wall color. It is rich and striking and your upholstery is showing to great effect in this surrounding. I am a subscriber to "if it ain't broke, don;t fix it". This wall color is definitely NOT broke. I do like the idea of a WARM grey for the other walls. Even a green-grey, the color of wet cement. If I remember correctly, overstock.com had a Noguchi knock-off table listed last week. They also have an array of other iconic mid-century pieces: the Eileen Gray table, Eames chairs, Saarinen style lamp tables, etc. Cool space and you already have really interesting furnishings. You can hardly go wrong, you are so on track... Good Luck and please post pics as it evolves.

It's a Beautiful World! Sometimes, you can also connect areas with different paint colors by adding wall art with blocks of needed color at the color junction of your space, for example, on the beige kitchen wall. You could use these two pieces to transition from beige to darker cinnamon color. And any of the images I suggested before can also work well for this purpose.

If you decide to change paint colors, my approach would be to first decide which colors you enjoy looking at in art that you are going to have in your space. Once you have established your favorite color(s) and all your furnishings are in place, including furniture (which you already have, of course :), art, rug, etc, it will be a lot easier to decide on paint colors. A choice of paint colors is huge, so you can always find paint colors/shades to go well with your furnishings. Hope it makes sense... Raisa

Mona Ives Matching the backsplash to the floor sounds overly plain to me. Perhaps you could use travertine and run a border through it with an accent tile? Or shop around for a nice glass mosaic tile or some other natural stones in complementary style and color.

Mona Ives Copper is nice, albeit just another neutral tone. Are you afraid of committing to something non-neutral? :)

Mona Ives Here are thoughts for colors/styles that go with travertine as an accent tile.... you can run a border through the travertine backsplash. Also I would suggest you do a subway style format vs. the 4"x4".

The granite sounds somewhat simple, that's why I suggest an accent tile.

Ivory Travertine And Aspen Interlocking Glass

Pebble Beach Glass And Ivory Travertine

Ebb & Flow Sand and Surf Porcelain Tile

Notice how these allow you to introduce some other colors into the décor.

cmorante thanks for the pictures, they are helpful! did you see the picture of my granite ?

feeny I think both of those shades of travertine look beautiful. On my computer the lighter one looks like a better complement to your counters, but if the darker travertine actually matches one of the colors in your counter, it might create more visual interest and just a little contrast. But it will only work if the color actually connects to a color in your granite.

Mona Ives I like the idea of a script. You could also do the chairs in stripe - but that's quite classic, or a textured or geometric printed fabric if you are trying to modernize the look. Pillows - I would do them plain actually in different colors from the rug :) There are many online fabric vendors... just google home decorating fabric. Had you thought of maybe asking a designer to come by with some suggestions for you? They tend to have fabric books handy already - and some will give you an hour free to look through books if you are going to purchase fabrics, get something re-upholstered, or buy pillows from them. If there are not a lot of local store resources, I'd say this is a great idea - call a local designer and ask for their help.

Mona Ives I'm sorry Mary - I was typing too quickly :) I meant I would do various different plain pillows from colors within the rug. :) Calico Corners is a good place to go, although they do have limited fabric options.

mousemaker oh the rug!!! it's amazing..i hope you make everyone take off their shoes. seriously :) as for color, I would pick up on the salmon or burgundy color a bit more instead of letting the taupey/beigey colors drown out your room..i think the rug would be more beautiful if you had some darker wine colored fabrics around it. Since you were overseas you know that color is very important where this rug came from, it should have color around to accentuate it's beauty. :)

Mary Freelove It's definitely a salmon, and yes, I'd love to pick up that color - either in sofa pillows or chair upholstery...

Mona Ives Travertines or porcelains meant to look with them complement santa Cecelia granite. Hard to advise you without some pictures...

Mona Ives Need a picture or some point of reference to help you Catherine.

Mona Ives Gorgeous mirror and great table. I would suggest something Asian - maybe black chinoiserie? Or, maybe go with something painted - white or a color. You need to mix it up with so many matching items - get something that can be an accent piece - maybe even something mirrored. Search Houzz products for console table. Something is bound to strike your fancy!

chezbella I would try something with black iron legs and a granite or marble top. This might complement the ironwork on the other piece you have and give the table a regal, medieval look with the upholstered chairs you plan to purchase.

Brenda I think you may have too many styles going on in your room ... I don't feel that your buffet and that mirror belong in the same room together.

Mona Ives What colors does she like? I would advise against pink at this point due to her age. Maybe blues, purples, greens, yellows, neutrals.

Mona Ives Wow! Fantastic items - sounds like a job for a local Florida designer. They get transplants from the North all the time - and no doubt have to resolve these issues! So I would suggest you move, put your stuff in, and then call a local designer for an inexpensive 1-hour consultation. As them to give you some ideas of DIY projects or what types of things should stay, go, or move and what type of furnishings (new) you should be looking for to incorporate.

judyg You can and you can also search houzz for some great ideas on what to do with your ecletic style. Paint ad fabric can meld anything.

sam0705 Try searching the ideabooks as well

Mona Ives Your fireplace footprint is quite wide and there doesn't leave a lot of room for cabinets on left and right - especially after you put up trim around windows and doors. Do you love the brick? I might just clad over it with a natural stone or something more interesting to look at. You could also just add a wooden mantle and maybe wood paneling above to hang your TV on. Is that what the electrical there is for? Or you could put a couple of light sconces either side and a beautiful piece of art work in the middle.

zohrehalaghemand The cabinetry is suppose to cover most of the brick. Shelves at the bottom and two cabinets one on each side with glass door above the mantel area.

zohrehalaghemand Do you have a sample picture of what fireplace style you recommend. The flooring on the entire house is wood. Was not able to find a matching wood so I am making the new area with ivory chiseled travertine.

Mona Ives Congratulations! It's so fantastic to reclaim space in our homes for useful purposes! I would suggest you search Houzz photos of offices and dens - that will provide you different examples - some modern, some traditional, that may help you identify your style.

Dytecture what is the size of this room ?

Mona Ives Without pics it's hard to give you specific advice. Maybe you should call a local designer to give you a one hour consultation and exchange some idea with you on site! It would be well worth the investment if you're starting from scratch and everything is up in the air. Otherwise, maybe browse some Houzz photos of bathrooms - that may help you generate some thoughts.

Mona Ives Very hard to do without a picture or floor plan. Can you post us some pictures?

Mona Ives Go cream on the wainscoting and light blue on the walls. Crema tile would look nice on the floor and in the shower. You may want to add an accent tile to the shower to add some color/interest. Maybe something with blues to tie in with the paint... hope that helps.

todolist2013 Yes! Thank you for your advice.

Mona Ives A rustic orange actually does sound nice! Something with some heft to it is needed to counterbalance all the heavy dark brown now. Very light airy colors are going to be too pale and weak.

Genevieve Actually grey ,orange and brown work very well together ,I have found this picture to give you an example , touches of orange will add to your room

hellolimetime I like gray walls with rustic orange accents - it'll look amazing!

Mona Ives Hi! I love the wood paneling. What you need to do is introduce some bolder colors - there is too much brown right now. Definitely put some art on the walls with some nice rich colors - think orange, turquoise, Kelly green - anything you like just something a bit bold. It's just a bit sleepy right now. For your side tables and coffee table, lighten it up with maybe metal, glass or mirrored surfaces so everything is not heavy on wood and brown. Your floor lamps should just be larger, more bulky so they make more of a statement. Or you could put colored ceramic lamps on end tables there instead which may actually look very nice. I do like your furniture arrangement. If you're willing to replace your area rug, you could do something more colorful. Best of luck to you.

libradesigneye Bright rug is a great idea! Bumping so my long form doesn't squash - skip it, give her more ideas to consider.

rcmommy I like the wood paneling. Doesn't look like the traditional stuff right out of a 70's basement. Definitely need some pops of colour.

Mona Ives Use the colors from his Chicago Bulls jersey... use red, grey, white and black as a color scheme. Paint the walls neutral - white or grey - then use the other colors as accents, for the rug, bedding, etc.

Dytecture lots of photo ideas in the search section.

Stanton Designs-online design services It's fun to do themed rooms. I wouldn't take it too literal though as to match everything to Michael Jordan. Is there a main item that can be an accent? Start there. Don't get too matchy with everything red, black and white, it will become to over done.

Mona Ives Since you are in early phases of construction - you may want to let us know - what's your style? I assume these cabinets will be white? What color will the floor be? Table? Too many things open for interpretation to help you choose lights... is the kitchen formal or casual? With so many variables, it might be good to call a local designer for a quick 1-2 hour consultation to get their advice on your finishes and to help you select lighting.

las8 Houzz is a wonderful tool, gather some ideas, if you still have doubts, keep checking with your discursion log, someone will definitely will come to your rescue:) The idea of a designer sounds great, but also is good to have an idea of what is your style... best of luck!

las8 :0 I meant discussion log!

Mona Ives With the pendants being only 3" at the bottom of the cone, I might suggest you do 3 over a 5'5 island.

Mona Ives I think the best way to do such a large project is to get the advice of a professional designer in your area. Houzz has a professionals directory, did you know that?

Mona Ives You posted this in design dilemma by accident. You need to post it on the photo your referring to.

Mona Ives You could do black, or a dark wood tone.

Mona Ives Tough question. I can't think of any method other than to leash them and take them out...

colonialgp First off, that would be one large dog door, so you have to think of security. Got any photos of the area?

Mona Ives Might I suggest you take your measurements to a kitchen/cabinet showroom for some help? They are happy to design and plan your components for you free of charge. Or, you could hire a designer to do the planning for you. This is a complex task - I'm not sure you will get such a detailed problem solved online!

tonic16 You're correct and I do have an appointment scheduled at our home for tomorrow - to see if it's even feasible. I think the challenge is in the odd shape of what might be configured, and the limited space. Will indeed need to be creative. Thanks for your thoughts.

Mona Ives You might post a picture for the best advice. But sounds like you have enough space for a small scale sofa and/or a chair. Or you could do just a couple of chairs. Ask yourself what other furniture you might need in there. do you need a desk? Storage? Drawers? Files? Or just a comfy seat and TV?

Mona Ives Well we don't have dimensions so we couldn't tell you if a sectional would fit. These pictures also don't show the other walls. As for colors, you have a blank slate, so perhaps ask yourself what colors you like... search photos on Houzz for thoughts and ideas. You definitely should update your entertainment console as well as window treatments. Some designers will come for an hour or two just to give you some thoughts and ideas - with such a blank slate, I might suggest you try that!

studio10001 The nice thing abut Darzy's suggestion is that you'll be able to reconfigure you furniture placement, as well as your color scheme, as your needs change. Straight arms and lots of leg are also a good choice for a small space's upholstered items.

leelee I would say not to get a sectional. You think it going to be easy to work with but most of the design dilemmas are from people who don't know what to do with their sectional.

Looks like you might need a more comfortable sofa. The biggest opportunity I can see is to add a rug. Your tile floors are cold and hard looking.

If you want to add color a rug is a good way to do it. You can stay "safe" with a neutral sofa and add pillows and rug for color. The room below would look great with a turquoise rug to blend with the green walls

Mona Ives Sounds to me like you need to hire an architect, designer, and/or landscape designer...!

Nael Marie In Jordan...

Dytecture Lots of photo ideas in the search section.

Mona Ives Well if you can't replace ANY of the furniture this is going to be difficult. Your pieces are very traditional in scheme. Try modern themed draperies and/or area rug to change the feel and look a bit - also possibly add some modern art pieces.

Mona Ives Also maybe replace your chandelier with a pendant fixture or something more contemporary...

leelee How strange would it look to hang a curtain ceiling to floor and cover the whole wall including the china cabinet? Then your china and crystal stay where they are yet are accessible but out of sight? Huh? That would change the whole look of the room!

judyg You know…it is what it is. You have things that you hold dear…so okay. Just make them work.

In your dining room, paint the ceiling and purchase a new chandy. Look on overstock.com for a rug…sisal. Clear the perimeter of the room.

Mona Ives Nicole - don't know off the top of my head, but you may want to post this in the pros forum instead of design dilemma :)

Mona Ives 6' x 5'5 is useful space, but what are you planning to put in there? If you are just using it for storage of your winter apparel, I feel it is adequate. If you on the other hand, needed it for sports equipment and other things like that, it might be a bit small.

Perhaps ask your architect how he/she plans to utilize the wall space? Cabinetry? Shelves? Ask them to further the exercise by showing the storage components so you can understand if it is going to work for you. Or tell the person you're working with what you need the space for and he/she can explain how that area will be functional to you.

andiegrace We’d like the “mudroom” to hold all of our coats (spring, winter and fall), plus winter stuff, boots, and a few pairs of shoes. We’ve got lots of space in the garage for sports equipment, etc. My current thought is that we’ll put in rods to hang up coats on one of the 5.5’ walls and the 6’ non-door wall, with built-in cubbies along the other 5.5’ wall. The remaining 6’ wall with the door will get a few hooks, if anything?

Our architect is going to mock up the space for us. But I am finding it much harder to picture than, say, the kitchen or a bedroom.

Mona Ives Black may be a nice option - but have you thought of a metal piece? You could do something with a stone top for interest as well.

carolins Something like this?

Mona Ives I think it would look fabulous, but it is rougher if a kid bumps into it...

Ann I don't have it but I've heard from someone who does that it ruins nice sweaters. Would that look be complimentary to similar looks in the house (like log walls)? If not, I'd avoid it.

Mona Ives Gorgeous rug!!!!! I LOVE IT. Those built ins look too big for knick knacks. You need large objects and something about them is just a bit akward. I have to agree with adding wood to give this a true built-in look.

Inner Visions Interiors Thanks for the picture and Yes you do need to paint! You have a great new rug, which should be the color anchor for all other color decisions. Choose a background color, like the creamy off white and get rid of the discordant yellow and peach. By the way, I think the cubbies are a nice architectual element if dressed right.

decoenthusiaste Investigate greige - comes in a variety of shades so you can pick one that works with the FP surround, floors and cabinetry..

Mona Ives I keep thinking for a good answer... but keep coming back to painted trim. Sorry.

Rockin' Fine Finish I don't understand how painted is more than staining especially when its being done on site ? What kind of wood are you using ? Painted Mdf shouldn't be 10,000 more . What market are you in ?

soberg Agree with Rockin' - paint grade should always be the less expensive option. What exactly are the options that you are comparing?

Nancy Not doing the border just the field tile going up to the chair rail

Mona Ives Lovely!

Mona Ives Ed's post with the black color makes me even more confident that black is way too dark... :)

melindarollins My husband sanded down and stained our kitchen table and it looks great---it was a light honey color with white legs--I love it---now to fix the chairs!

Ann Jen - I met with the refinisher about my same Ethan Allen table. Here is the stain color I chose. After the color was decided, he distressed the leaf we were experimenting with and applied the stain to the rest of the top of the leaf (second pic). I'll post a picture in a week and a half when I get the finished table back.

Mona Ives Fantastic - I do like it quite a bit.

sfigu16 thanks everyone! diyher, i am not sure. This is just a photo from west elm.com but i think any navy could go with the curtains. Our wall color is an off white so i am putting gray decor so it balance it out

sfigu16 This one is my couch, It looks a little dark but i know this and orange will really make it pop

Mona Ives It is beautiful - but very traditional. your comment about women is very insightful! I like the piece a lot but if you're worried about accommodating someone else's style, I wouldn't buy something so expensive :)

LB Interiors I have some classic and antique pieces that I bought a very long time ago. I still can't seem to part with them. I love them. It's a hard call.

jbray24 Love it!

Mona Ives Blue is a great shade for a bedroom - most people find it soothing and relaxing, men and women. Maybe hubby would be ok with a new mirror if you moved that one to another space and used it. :) Good luck to you.

Erica Davis Haha very true Mona, I just gotta find a new spot for it ;) Thank you all! I think the chandelier will add a nice touch :)

OnePlan Maybe leave the outer cabinets and just paint the walls the same colour as island cabinets ?!?! Would be easier and look great IMO !

Mona Ives I would paint the color of the backsplash.... a light tan.

Mona Ives Nice... did you have a question?

Ed Congrats.

Sia@South47th Are you happy with it, or did you want to transform it?

Mona Ives Light wood maple or white or offwhite cabinets. You could do antique brown counters, or a light color like Kashmir white. For a rental, you may want a darker counter like Absolute black or Caledonia.

Mona Ives Many different colors work - white, cream, granites that have many other colors - very popular is Santa Cecelia. Look at kitchens in Houzz photos I'm sure it will inspire you.

Mona Ives There are many lovely Moroccan inspired ceramic stools, end tables and furniture pieces you can use on your porch. You can also try Moroccan themed pillows - in warm Mediterranean colors, which look great with greens.

Sounds like you have a quite intricate task ahead. Might I suggest you consult a designer for ideas?

studio10001 Fretwork can be purchased on etsy. You'll find additional furnishings at moroccan-furniture-decor.com

Mona Ives Don't decorate your home just for seasonal decorations! Decorate for living and what you love. Your holiday decorations will only be up a few weeks at a time.

pcmom1 You sound like a woman after my own heart! But remember you can tweak the color of a holiday to go with your home's colors. For example, if true red, white and blue clash, then go for merlot, cream and periwinkle! The feeling of the holiday will still be there.

Mona Ives Have you tried searching Houzz photos for country kitchen? That will help you generate a lot of ideas.

Mona Ives I would say 3) 12" or 3) 8" is best for that width.

Whispar Design Agree with above - three is the right number. Depending on the design of the kitchen - a single 3-light fixture might be something to also consider - especially for installation/wiring cost if the electrical is not already done.

Mona Ives Keep it light - that is a strong dark color. Look for fabrics that share a little green but are mostly white or offwhite in color for your drapes and area rug and pillows. Don't overdo the brown as it is already dark. Keep your walls light.

Mona Ives Post a pic so we can advise you better.

Mona Ives I would suggest a buffet on the empty wall perhaps with a very stylish mirror above - or fabulous art work. I like the brick wall idea.

Mona Ives Typically install them 30-36" above your table, centered to the table. Sorry - I am too far to help you with an electrician - and they usually don't have portfolios, but you can ask for references.

sarabernhardt Thank you.

Mona Ives Post pic. Have you thought of asking a designer to help you find that perfect sconce? He/she could come to your house and see what makes sense for scale, size, style, and your home environment. I'm sure just an hour or two of time would be worth your while - rather than hours of aggravation and countless suggestions that you will have to sift through.

Mona Ives Good question - leather will hold up better to your dog for sure. But fabric is less cold in the winter less sweaty in the summer... :) How about a slip-covered sofa, is that your style? That way you can wash/clean it regularly.

OnePlan Would a throw for the dog help cut down on wear and tear on which ever you choose ?!

Mona Ives Good question! Also I used to be able to edit my comments after posting them, but now I can't :)

Aja Mazin Keitha

OUCH!

studio10001 :))

Mona Ives a 9.5" light sounds sufficient for that size.

srod36 Thanks very much.

Mona Ives With other expensive items and high quality kitchen you describe I think you should go 36". The stove is often a focal point of the kitchen, not to mention it's easier to cook on a larger stove! I typically think of a 30" range in a small condo or apartment due to the scale of it, as you've mentioned your dimensions, I think a 3' stove is the better option.

princessdb2 Thank you, it is a 36" gas range, looking at DCS or Thermador. My budget is tight, biggest splurge is our custom cabinets (the difference between custom and semi-custom was only a 10% price delta). I beleive I will be going with DCS instead of Thermador, its over a $1500 price difference, so price is definately an issue.

Getting excited about my remodel, now time to box up everything in my living areas! Its like I am moving.

Mona Ives How about white carrara marble? That would complement dark floors and greyish walls and is much brighter.

Mona Ives I actually love the wood! I would try a color like BM blonde wood or a very light creamy beige. The furniture is colorful and I would want to not compete with the wood. You could also paint them a light grey (although personally I'm sick of grey), and I'm sure some others will give you some good shades to try. I would just get a larger coffee table - yours is underscaled and consider an area rug over that lovely stone floor to warm the place up. Great room!

Daniel Dionne Designs llc Hi pauperches. I too love the wood and the cantilevered hearth. I also love your sectional! The chairs, not so much. Add a patterned area rug and find a larger lounge chair (and ottoman?) to place next to the fireplace and a smaller chair to set next to the sectional. I think a LARGE metal and glass cocktail table would be a nice touch, or given the length of the sectional, two smaller cocktail tables... I like the art over the sectional, but feel that you need a series of three related pieces to more fully address that expanse of wall over the sectional. Perhaps the one over the sectional would work better over the fireplace. Your windows need help. Consider very sheer functioning sheer panels, ceiling mounted on "Architrac" traversing hardware. Nice space! I can't wait to see how it progresses. Please keep us posted with progress pics... Good Luck.

Mona Ives Yes, you are decorating. Your kids will grow up and move out some day - I am mom to an 18 year old and it was just yesterday he was whining about wanting this color or that on his walls. So stick to what you like. Not clear on the room layout, but can you paint a dramatic accent color - maybe bright blue from the rug - and the other walls a light neutral? Or else, go for bold. It's what you want :)

OnePlan Oh dear ! What a dilemma ! Well as he hasn't offered to paint and pay for it himself ..... If he did - would this alter your view ?!?!

Mona Ives Thanks for sharing - great work!