Just got updated on your progress. WOW!!! You've been busy! How did you add the bookcases on either side of the fireplace? It appears you removed the brick hearth, but that seems way too labor intense. Do the bookcases have a facade bottom? You can tweak your nick nacks into the next century, but the end result is what you find appealing and are happy with when you look at it. Perhaps put one item in the middle of one shelf, and then items on the sides on the other shelf, just to balance the objects a bit, but again - it's your personal preference. If the brick is still an issue with you perhaps you can stack another bookcase on top of the others for a complete built in look - totally your personal preference. Other than that, I can't think of anything left for you to do. Good job!

The small dining area should be where the tv goes which can double as a reading area. Get rid of the shade on the window and buy some nice curtains (hang them high and let them hit the floor). Discard the dark pillows and get pillows that go with the color scheme you have on the brick bench. Add a large rug to give some warmth to the room. Put another chair where the tv currently is. Find a larger lamp to replace the one you have as it is too small for the space and add another table and lamp to other side of sofa against wall. (You want enough lighting so you don't need to use the ceiling light.) Bring sofas a little more in (the sofa doesn't have to be flat against the wall). Find some colorful art that you like and hang on the walls, And, yes,the fireplace is awesome.

Instead of navy blue, how about choosing a blue that is a little more energetic? Not sure what the color is on these walls, but I think if you painted the accent wall this blue color and left the other walls a paler more neutral color that would be enough to add excitement. Then you add your instruments and/or artwork on the wall space where the previous owners shelving is shown in the pic. I wouldn't use bright white as a trim color either. How about painting your trim and brick in gray and then using a light cushion (grayish-white maybe with blue piping), or a print with your blues, grays, etc on the cushion to tie it all into together. Another idea is painting the ceiling gray, with your blue accent wall and keeping the lighter neutral color on the rest of the walls. I would probably use bamboo or woven textured roman blinds or roll-up shades on the bay window in this room.

I like the brick and the mantle. They have character and you can't buy that kind of character at Lowe's or Home Depot. The way the colors of the brick and the mantle blend is very nice. I think that the wood is vintage southern yellow pine. The old growth pine that no longer exists because they cut it all down. I knew someone who had a business in which they bought beams of southern yellow pine out of old warehouses that were being torn down and milled it into flooring and counter tops. I know that they used some of it in the Hunt Phelan House when it was being restored. Anyway, the fireplace and the mantle remind me of New Orleans. I believe that it is called stripped pine instead of bare wood. :) Antique stripped pine furniture was very popular for a while and although it is not currently "the thing" it will be coming back. Like denim, plaid, turquoise, brass, Ninja Turtles and My Little Ponies All that stuff we loved until someone told us that it was no longer cool. The real stuff always comes back. And remember a thing can be beautiful without being perfect.