You have to go to photobucket and change from private to public viewing for us to see your picture.

Sorry, first time posting pictures. I wish I new how to post pics without using photobucket. Should be all fixed.

Cute dog and baby! I like your idea to continue the use of black, white/cream and natural. As for the windows, I would ignore the arched windows and hang window treatments below them or use inside mount treatments similar to the shade you already have in place.

Buy a slipcover sofa. That way you don't have to commit to a color right now. You can get cream, and if red suits your future residence, get red at that time - or stripes, or whatever. I once had a PB Basic sofa that went from stone twill to flax linen to paprika to green velvet all in the span of about 4 years. No way I would have wanted to replace it all of those times!

You can also make panels fairly utilitarian. Buy the longest length you're ever likely to need. Pin them for now, and hem them later when you're more established. Or go on the cheaps and use something like drop cloths or bed sheets to make panels. Then just use them for drop cloths or dust rags later on. :)

Agree with previous poster - do not worry about covering the arches unless they're a privacy concern. Hang your rod below the arch trim and just cover the windows. Since you don't have a lot of space between the right side of your window and the corner, stick with a lighterweight fabric. Heavier fabrics & insulted panels take up a lot of space when opened.

Tension rods are also an option.

You can geat cheapo fabric remnant rugs at places like Lowe's (I think for a 9x11 I bought for our office, I paid something like $85). They have a "private party" label rug that looks similar to a jute rug with a border. I think they had a black border, but I'm not sure. The rug isn't on their website, but I've seen it them (multiple sizes/colors) at every store I've been in.

Thank you Fun2BHere and avesmor! My only concern with hanging curtains below the arch is it is only 84inches. Do you think that would look odd with the tall ceilings? I love the idea of the slipcover sofa, every house I live in I seem to change color schemes. How many panels do you think I would need? Just panels on the sides or middle too? The same window treatments in the dining and living room? I really like the Concorde Medallion Panels from Ballard.

84" is the standard curtain length. I think you'd look ok. I think it would look weird to try and include the arch into the panel length.

You want about 2x - 2.5x (or even 3x depending on the look you want - 3 will be rather "lush") times the width of your window. E.g. my great room window is a little over 70" wide. I have four x 40" wide panels, 160" wide total. When closed, you don't want your panels to be hanging straight like laundry set out to dry, you want them to have some gather. And when opened, you don't want it to be obvious that your panels aren't wide enough to cover the window. Measure the width of your window, and go from there. :) (I don't see a width given for those panels, just a length -- make sure you find out the width)

These aren't the same as the Ballard ones, but they're nice. Linden Street Arbor Leaf panel

Avesmor, thanks again for your feedback. I do like the Arbor Leaf Panals but I was thinking cream and black. Do you think a neutral tan would look better like the ones you suggested. Not sure what accent colors to use or how to pull it all together. I have a vision but not sure that it will work. It is just overwhelming to me to have to decorate both the dining and living rooms.

Lovely views out those large windows! Even so, they do limit your furniture placement, and accentuate those two long parallel walls. The accent wall IMO further narrows the room. (First pic below shows all off-white walls, which while dull, does look larger IMO). OTOH, the accent wall color contrasts nicely with some of your furniture and is more interesting than the off-white walls. (See second pic below -- but you probably would want to experiment using different colors.)

For furniture arrangement, I think the biggest improvement would be a much larger area rug in the seating area. Right now, that area looks tiny, even though the room is not that small. All of your case goods are lined against the walls, further narrowing those two long parallel walls. The windows limit your options, but I would at least move the white piece down towards the seating area. If there were another room for the piano, it would allow considerably more flexibility in furniture arrangement - but is that a possibility?

Oh - here's the OP's original photo:

Actually, it's this one -- need to have the same camera angle! I need coffee!

Hi, ok I know these colors are maybe not right but I was wondering if you thought of a small band of molding going around the room. You could keep the upper half of the wall the same color as the ceiling or a lighter tint to the bottom color. I think it gives the room more balance.

Avesmor, thanks again for your feedback. I do like the Arbor Leaf Panals but I was thinking cream and black. Do you think a neutral tan would look better like the ones you suggested. Not sure what accent colors to use or how to pull it all together. I have a vision but not sure that it will work. It is just overwhelming to me to have to decorate both the dining and living rooms.

MJLB, Thank you for all your wonderful suggestions. I may be able to move the piano to the office but I need to check if it would fit. If so how would you lay out the furniture. I plan to get new rugs in the dining room and living room sides and new sofa,chairs, coffee table and end tables, just not sure what to get. The furniture there is old stuff from our previous family room. What other accent colors do you think might work. There is a living room I am drawn to but not sure how to link it to this but it is in Ballard under the Concorde medallion panels more views. Is that a program that allows you to edit the pictures?

jterrilynn, Thank you for your suggestion. What kind of molding would you use? Not sure it would work on the living room side because the front wall goes into the foyer. I do like the drapes above the arch but not sure if I can hang a curtain rod that high with the slopping ceilings. I really dislike the short stationary drapery rods but thought they may work in this room. Gosh this room is so difficult. Moving every few years is a pain especially when your selection of houses not great.

I really appreciate everyones feedback and knowledge!

Honestly, I would not repaint. I would look at Ikea drapes, perhaps cream and add a black ribbon, for example,
or maybe just cream with an accent color pulled from a colorful rug. I also saw cream drapes with a Greek ribbon border. Something like this: http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html#axzz1nVN1tfw8
Or maybe something like this:

Here is a link that might be useful: drapes

I would like to see the white hutch painted black like your chairs....Since it is the only white piece in the room, it looks lonely. I would put chairs at your table instead of a bench and as for the curtains....you have a beautiful view so I would say sheers or nothing. A rug under the table would be nice, but with a baby, not so easy to keep clean...wait on that.