I would request free samples of the colors since Country Curtains is fast at shipping their samples and that should help you decide. I like the Ivory from the pictures if those cranberry roman shades will be removed.

Great idea! I didn't know you could request samples.

Anyone else? Any other drape ideas? Unfortunately I can't sew straight to save myself otherwise I'd try making them. There were some PB drapes I was drooling over but they are cost prohibitive.

Astrid

The curtains are pretty, but don't really seem to fit the feeling you are working on for the space - a casual, family-friendly room that houses the kids' toys, etc. They also look very lightweight to me, and kind of feminine.

Are you planning on changing the wall decor behind the wood stove? I know you have talked about new furniture, so what are you thinking about for that, and how soon? If it is happening in the near future, I would wait to do drapery until you get the furniture. It will be much easier to find drapery to work with the furniture than the other way around.

Have you looked at curtains from JC Penney? They have a great selection, and run sales and coupons and free shipping offers all the time.

I think I would hold off on the curtains until you get your new furniture--or at least until your trim is up and painted. With the nice trim in place, you might decide you'd prefer to show it off and put up roman shades instead of curtains. :)

The furniture will have to wait. I'm so bad about making decisions that I want to carefully pick the next pieces of furniture. I don't like how bulky the current leather chair is- unfortunately (or fortunately) it is comfortable! I'm torn looking for something with straighter lines or at wing back chairs.

I will do something behind the woodstove (tile it with slate tile similar to what is underneath the stove). I have to wait until springtime to tackle that project since the stove is always burning.

I have looked at JCP but perhaps I need to look again (that's where the roman shades came from).

I can wait until the trim is up but I can already say that the walls around the windows need something more. The walls are really blah. I am going to take down all existing artwork and find botanical prints, etc as artwork. The windows are rather small for the space. I had hoped that I could make them appear larger with the right curtains.

I'm not sure when the trim will actually get done. I don't feel like I can tackle that project by myself.

I had said that I like mission style but I honestly feel that I'm more transitional (like Pottery Barn).

I always feel like I'm spinning my wheels- there are always things that get in the way and I feel like I'd like to make that first step to get the room changed.
Thanks again!
Astrid

I'd go a medium olive green

I just rec'd the Country Curtains catalog and the draperies shown on the cover look beautiful but I think Les has the right idea, something like the Microsuede on page 66 would be a good weight and texture for your room.
Your new rug is very pretty. The weavers cloth in Linen may go with your rug too.

Astrid: Your windows will look much bigger once the trim is up.

Here is my advice aboutt getting things done:

1) Be patient! Save the accessorizing for last. For example, if you put stuff on the wall now, once the trim is up, you may find that you need to relocate your wall items because they are no longer positioned properly in proportion to the window. And if you buy new furniture, the new furniture arrangement could require a repositioning of the artwork, as well. Then you'll have new holes in your wall, then you'll have to repaint. . . ack!

2) Make a list of everything--everything--you want to do with this room. Then, re-order the items according to what needs to be done when. Then, tackle each one at a time. Trying to decide on everything at once will leave you feeling overwhelmed.

What I see so far in the room: a lovely piano, a nice rug, and a cozy wood stove. Are you going to stay with the wall color that is currently on the wall?

My list for this room would be:

1) tile wood stove area
2) finish trim
3) paint walls (if wall color will change)
4) select furniture
5) select window treatment
6) begin to collect artwork that you love for the walls

If you take the time to carefully and methodically "build" the room of your dreams, you will be so much happier with the end result than if you try to make it happen hodge-podge.

Just my unsolicited $.02, of course. :)

P.S. Just to be clear: I'm not suggesting the wall color should change. In fact, I like it. Just threw it in the mix, in case. . . . :)

Hmm... you make a good point. The wall color is staying. Dh would kill me right now if I even hinted at changing it (although I did most of the painting by myself).

Like I said I have to wait until April or later to tile behind the woodstove.

Have any of you put up trim by yourself? I know how to use a miter saw but I'm always nervous about measuring. I was also thinking of putting up trim around the ceiling.

Dh is currently working on revamping our kitchen island. I guess right now perhaps I should focus my effort on figuring out what kitchen countertop I should get...I guess that'll be my next post!

Thanks for the input. I guess I will just suck it up and wait until I pick out different furniture (I think that I want to change out the two chairs at the very least and perhaps add different bookcases, side tables and lamps). Maybe I'll start a post asking your opinion on furniture!

Astrid

Organic ~~

Great list! You're so well organized. I'd reverse #3 and #4 though.

Astrid ~~

Just a thought, since you're re-doing so much in your LR, have you snooped around our Gallery? There are tons of drop-dead-gorgeous pictures in the threads there. You can probably find some great style and color inspirations, ideas for accessorizing and so on to get that warm and cozy look you want. You can start a file on your own computer and save your favorite pictures in there so you can easily find them in the future. You're sure to see some things you like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Decorating Gallery