oh got it. that's interesting about dry spells and earthquake, never heard that before.. life has been good here.. but recently security and peace has become an issue.. it's not war like (not like war movies).. we carry on our daily works, (grand weddings also happen here ( http://thepalm.com.pk/includes/gallery.html ), people build houses), but uncertainty of a blast or so is there, (like boston yesterday, but more often.. just like earthquakes.. you don't know when it may happen..). i would blame corruption (sadly), political groups & people who use religion to gain power (religion has nothing to do with power honestly). what you are mentioning would fit the north better (geographical proximity to war ravaged countries).. but i wouldn't advise you to visit unless you have friends & family here.. even though Pakistan's north especially has places far more naturally beautiful than what the swiss landscape offers (that's what we say here ;) .. you can google it - gilgit, kashmir, kaghan valleys etc).. flickr photos: http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/gilgit/Interesting http://www.flickr.com/photos/35663537@N00/with/121869338/#photo_121869338 Karachi being a metropolitan, though not as well planned out as it should've been, due to negligence.. this is a hindrance in dealing with many issues i/c refugee/rural influx etc, & maintaining peace in KHI. Hence quite a dense n varied population within one city.. it has a few high rises (recent 'oceans tower' & 'dolmen city tower ( http://photos.hamariweb.com/photos/Pakistan-Dolmen-City-Mall-1765.jpg )' at clifton), many markets (swarming local sort & a few malls), scuba diving schools, marina boat club, few 3D cinemas, eateries (try http://www.karachisnob.com/ ), lil theatre, schools, college, universities, art schools etc.. there are all sorts of people here. the greater populations are in the plains & rural areas (which don't have adequate access to education & other utilities etc).. i personally know many females, within family & friends (& there are more), who are doctors/engineers/ arch. /MBA/lawyers /graphics designers/TV actresses/pilots etc... (i am an engineer). then there are factory workers, house helpers too.. women work in the fields in the plains (our hidden work force that hasn't been appreciated, cheap labour too).. last week only we had an interior's (interior design) expo fair in the city.. ( http://www.google.com.pk/imgres?um=1&sa=N&hl=en&biw=1440&bih=809&tbm=isch&tbnid=VEvM6CBZdB7N5M:&imgrefurl=http://www.iapex.com.pk/&docid=ZixP-z5wmFOO9M&imgurl=http://www.iapex.com.pk/picture/QYKKVVBNM6.jpg&w=900&h=225&ei=s2tuUcWuIYelrQfekYGoCg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:4,s:0,i:93&iact=rc&dur=704&page=1&tbnh=80&tbnw=320&start=0&ndsp=22&tx=187&ty=40 ) and attended the 62nd annual flower show in march in Karachi).. try http://www.danka.pk/ it was nice of you to ask, Olldroo, nice conversing! :) honestly there are many threads, nothing is a complete story.. P.S.- re 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan: there were approx. 75,000 casualties..

I like this image from that link I sent -- the wood walls are there but the blue/white and white furniture makes it really pop. http://s268.photobucket.com/user/LaylaPalmer/media/Blog/sailorint-11-l.jpg.html I kind of feel like your hanging placement of that shelf is off (tucked too much in the corner and high?) I would incorporate nature pieces too - like plants, flowers or things indigenous to the lake where you are? Just a thought

Thanks for your comments and input everyone. @ decoenthusiaste - the room is not finished yet, I just positioned the large pieces, the little pieces will go when I replace them with some comfortable chairs. And nothing is merched or styled yet, like the mantle, and the nut bucket on the table. I will put final photos when all is complete (in about a year ; ) - but yes, right now the clutter remains as we are still very much in medias res. I am just relieved we found places for the two sofa/settee pieces. Once we upgrade the lighting and chairs and place the art on the walls I think the experience will be much different. I just work better in stages. @sondramartina. Thank you - I love that loft studio. I've been debating what color palette, I love blues and greens, but wondering if I should do more monochromatic on the furniture. But my goal is to get to antique chairs in need of reupholstering and find some great fabric to incorporate those ideas. Finding the right chairs takes some time. Small footprint, comfortable, elegant, not too expensive.

@havingfun - In anything, what matters is what's real....not what we choose to display on our walls, or our bumpers, in what is yet another trend designed to shout "look at me". I find that when you have real emotions and thoughts you don't need to shout them at anyone. I love quotes, especially ones by Thoreau. But the last time I felt the need to share was in my senior yearbook post in 1984. Because it seems like a long time since people truly listened.