These are the ones from Penneys. Not sure how well this will show up.

I like both of them. Does the beige match the sofa. I also found some with a pattern similiar to the silver one but deeper in color and pattern. I can't attach for some reason. I can email if you want.

Here are two of the better options from BB&B. I like the brown but don't think it works with the rug, and the blue is pretty but not much contrast, and of course they will look better on the proper rods.

The lighting must be terrible because I don't see that as brown, looks burgundy and the blue looks like silver. If I had to pick I would pick the blue. but on my screen, I don't see it as blue at all. Does it have a pattern of some sort or just plain? I wish I can attached those curtains. Which ones do you like best?

Is the blue like an "ice blue" ? Sometimes the contrast doesn't have to be so much especially if you are going to add pillows, artwork, lighting. Is the same kind of blue in the carpet and the specks in the fireplace? How do these compare in person to the silvers ones from the other day?

I thought Susan 609 had a beautiful pair of clean white sheers shown here, way upper right- only maybe in a softer light beige--your views look very nice, so go easy on the curtains as not to look heavy or depressing. repeat: Your rug is so beautiful. It anchors, warms and makes your whole room. Why would you change your traditional room into a beach theme? For one pretty picture? no. You have a traditional/deco fireplace, and a stunning wrought iron cocktail table. Your couch goes perfect (unless it's worn out). The rocker went (good) and if you take away too much it won't be so charming anymore. Re-arranging is always nice, and if it feels good to you go w/ it. I will mail you my 2 cents.

The lighting was off when I took the photos of the brown and blue curtains, a dreary day here yesterday, the brown is very brown and the blue a pretty blue. I'm getting a little frustrated with myself with the curtains. There are so many windows in the room I can't picture what it will look like. I hung a cream colored curtain this morning, the last of the choices that I brought home. We are going to start decorating for Christmas which will probably complicate things. I might have to finish up after the holidays.

I have that same curtain in green with brown lines. Ok I understand. Then just hang the white sheers that you had before on all the windows again until after the holidays. You are off to a great start with just rearranging and see if it works for you over the holidays.

I think I really like the lighter curtains. I am going to try to continue making progress in the living room as I can. What do I replace the sheers with or do I?

That curtain comes in a blue with brown or brown with blue I think that might be a better
Color choice the beige adds nothing.

I personally like how you started out. Sofa faceing squarely the fireplace, your focal point..the Mirror is a NO.. two comfy chairs flanking the mantle makes a conversation starter..your chairs are much to small.. all the LITTLE stuff and small green plants should go. It's apparent that you want a homey feel to your rooms.. Keep it simple but welcoming..two pictures on the mantle is a no.. find the right picture or more traditional mirror. Add some pretty (wood) tall candle sticks. with a middle decor.. one of 3/4 equal height. I think the Piano is lovely and I know about Outside walls etc.. but you want it to be a part of your room not a behind thought... But keep the decor cozy..not cluttered or to little.
Family photos on your piano would be lovely ..keep the dog and cat and the country throw... sit down and enjoy this vintage home and start the fireplace up...
lonnie

I liked the sofa facing the fireplace and the chairs flanking the fireplace too
She said it wAs too tight and the room is not as big as it looks. She can
Always move it back now that the table and tall piece is gone in the
Dining room too. Moving furniture costs nothing so i recommend that
First.

Riviolino, continue the search for drapes and show us what you come up with again. I know, it is a long process but part of the problem is that we can all recommend something especially paint/drapes and put up pictures but doing it thru a computer screen is not alway accurate for color. Your eye will tell you when it is right, just like when someone recommended you put the bookcase by the stairs, you saw for yourself that the bookcase wasn't right by the stairs. At least for now, you and your husband like the way the room feels more comfortable. I applaud your willingness to try. Some people ask for ideas and then never do it. Looking forward to the new drapes.

Have you thought of roman blinds perhaps in dark cream/taupe?

Would roman shades darken the room? One of the things I like best about the room is the light airy feel. As for the furniture placement trust me when I say that it doesn't work with the couch facing the fireplace. It elongates the room, cramps the sitting area and detracts from the fireplace. We've tried it and hated it to the point that I just wanted to throw out the couch. So far it feels like we're on the right track with this new arrangement and I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for all the input.

I got on the JCP web and looked at those drapes. Hard to see but it can work if the colors are blue and brown. We'll see when you get them. I saw blue and brown stripped one at homebrands that could work too. I can't seem to attached them. :(

Move your curtain rods all the way up to the ceiling; a grommet style panel creates really lovely folds if the fabric somewhat weighty. Bamboo roman shades give a nice privacy cover to the window without being a solid; lets light in when closed during the day. Create a mantel effect above your piano. It will look nice. Add a shelf above, create a display and a mirror above to reflect light and fill in between the windows. You can go slow and not have to change everything at once to live with the changes and see if it is working before you take another step. Switch out furniture with what you have in other rooms; sometimes it's surprising what you find and what works better. Good luck

For a small window, you might consider something in a shade with a valance or scarf over it. That way you can get the soft treatment feel and the optional window coverage. Shades can then hide behind the valance when not in use! The photo is for example only, the windows are large and the treatments are pretty froofy. :)

Riviolino----I just saw on another post the curtains I had in mind or similiar for you. They are from target and called Farrah Fretwork. How are you coming along. They might compete with the carpet but it is the pattern that I liked for your room. Please do not do a valance.

The local Target has them in stock so I'll take a look in person as its so hard to tell from the itty bitty online photos. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm stalled out at the moment trying to get caught up with other things. Thanks for the suggestion.

She bought them in blue but on the screen I thought they were gray. If you get on to the Target website and put the name in, you will see all the reviews and some people even post pictures. One is a good way to hang them and the other is not but you will know what to do. I might take a look myself.

Hello Riviolino. Have you done anything else with the rooms?

Hi tennis anyone. I was just thinking of you. I brought home the curtains you suggested from Target and the ones I ordered from Penneys came right before Christmas. I also bought rods but have not hung the rods or decided on the curtain yet as it was too hectic around here. I will take photos after new year's and hopefully get back on track. Thanks for thinking of my project. I will say that the space around the dining table seemed a bit tighter than I'd like when we ate dinner in there but I'm not sure there is any way to gain more space. I look forward to making more progress next year. :)

Now that the room is cleared out, you can always go back to the couch facing the fireplace and the two chairs next to it. That would open the dining space too. Just didn't think you liked the room that way. I look forward to seeing what you bought. Have a Happy New Year.

Finally. These are the curtains from Penneys that go best in the room. I'm having a hard time getting a good pic because of the sun shining through window. I only have one up so far but it's a start.

Another view

enjoyed reading this saga. I'm much better at hanging drywall than drapery. (you have to know your strengths)..But , if I may add a suggestion regarding your husbands paintings. When you have an opportunity take a visit to ( http://www.michaels.com/ ) and peruse their decorative frames and discount coupons. These paintings are wonderful and will become even more dramatic by adding additional mat border and more sofisticated framing. Michaels has stock frames under $20.00. that can work with 11x14 , 16x20,18x24 sizes.( Custom framing will start at 70.00 )
check out : http://www.pictureframes.com .a little more expensive, Here you can upload your art and design your frame and mats on line. ( You can also upload jpeg images of the art and produce reprints ( this requires some expertise in getting the art into digital format but ultimately well worth developing the knowledge when you can produce reprints on canvas for friends and siblings for next Christmas. Here's an example of art with a white mat. I know your husband will appreciate seeing his art enhanced as distinctive decorating element in a mat.

Thought you should see your husband's art with mat

Michael's has 50% off this service most all the time.

Funny, I was just thinking about you today. I wish I could see the color of the drapes. I assume you like them because you said it goes best with the room. Do you still like the arrangement after living with it for a few months? If the drapes can't go higher because they look like they just touch the floor, can they go wider a bit?

Thanks for the idea, Tarey, for the paintings. I didn't realize you could use a mat with a canvas. We'll definitely look into that. Hi tennisanyone. I will get a better photo of the fabric and post it in a bit. I have a second rod up so I'll post photos of that too. Slow but surely I'll get there. The layout is still an issue but so far it is better than anything else.

We hung the curtains on the four smaller windows. It's going to take a bit of getting used to. The curtains are brown and silvery blue which goes nicely with the wall color and the rug.
Tennis anyone:I liked the curtains from Target
but they didn't go with the existing rug and I was hoping not to have to change it. However, I'm not sure if these curtains give the room too formal of a look. I have hung the rods as high as I can for this length of curtain and the panels go up to the window frame. As it is, I have to let the hems out which I haven't done yet. Thoughts?

Riviolino, I like them. To me, sheers are formal. Maybe that is why you are not l00%. I think the room looks more polished. Try pulling the sheers back when you don't need privacy. I still can't see them up close but if you say they go and I do like them too. Go back to the very first picture. Unbelievable and the only new thing you bought are the drapes and hardware. I looked back at where you started and I can't believe the difference. Try your husband painting over the piano now. Just lean them for now. I think the rest will be in accessorizes.

Thanks. Did you have a specific painting in mind or any of them? I'll try to get a close up of the fabric but it doesn't show true to color. In the room it reads more silvery blue than the brown that the camera picks out. I had to order additional panels for the front window and they should be in next week. Thanks again for your help.

I like the sofa facing the piano and the small table on the staircase wall. Please remove the lacy runner on the coffee table and small table. It is looking great.

P.s. love the kitty in the picture. Reminds me of my Thelma and Louise,

I can't see them clearly through the screen but it seems they don't compete with the rug and I think the ones from Target would have. Good choice. Try both of the pictures leaning for now.

I personally like the sofa facing the fireplace, but parallel, not at an angle. This creates a nice passageway to the stairs, and separates the seating from the hallway. To me, facing the sofa towards the piano creates 2 focal points in the room, the piano and the fireplace.

Having two picture above the fireplace doesn't have the same impact and focus as one large one. Try one large picture, or a large mirror, and few accessories on the mantle, to create a better focal point. Those two pictures could move and go above the piano, to complement it. A large ottoman could replace the coffee table and also add more seating. Add a large serving tray and a throw on top of it. The chairs on either side of the fireplace could be replaced, to have a larger scale and impact.

The JC Penney curtains are my favorite. If you would put the brackets above and outside the window frame, to give the windows more presence and impact, and seem larger. You could choose a different, but complimenting, curtain panel for the dining area (behind the table). This would help define this as a separate area. If you don't want to do that, you can use the same JC Penney's panels throughout the room, to unify it.

I think that changing the wall color to a light gray, would improve the room and still also look good with those curtains. Try a slightly brownish gray, to warm the room up. Blue grays are cooler, while brown grays are warmer. It looks like this color would blend well with your rug. Be sure not to "match" the rug color, go a bit lighter or darker, and more or less brown than the rug.

Your round mirror looks better above the cabinet, than the mantle. The scale and size match better. Hang in on the wall (about 12-18" above the cabinet),for more impact, giving it height and presence. Make sure that you can use that height for viewing yourself.

Good luck with making it your own!

Wow, all the changes have really polished up the room. Great job!

I like the couch where it is (by the dining room). I love your husband's art and think it should go over the piano and put the mirror and other accents on the fireplace. Set off the windows with light colored fabric, since the couch is dark and make sure the window treatment includes a valance and a scarf.

Scarf and valences are dated.

For the 2 smaller windows I would recommend Roman shades . For the larger window decorative panels on a decorative rod would look amazing!

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/blinds-toronto/shades-toronto/roman-blinds.html

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/drapery-toronto/panels.html

Would you mind swapping the couch and the chairs please? I'd love to see the room with the couch on the piano side, and the two chairs on the dining table side!
:) Elise

I would place the couch back to the table to give some separation and not put the rocker glider in at all but another club chair perhaps positioned by the other chair

To my mind, putting the sofa and the piano on the same side of the room and the smaller furniture on the other backing up to the dining table and chairs will really unbalance your arrangement. Good as is. You've really done some amazing work with your space. Love the brown/silvery blue window panels.

any updates on this room? are you finished with it? do you like it ?

No changes this week. I slipped on the ice and was nursing my bruises. The rest of the curtains arrived and hopefully I can get the last rod up soon and then do a final update. I love all the input, it's been a great experience

Rivolino, Wow, I hope you feel better. Hopefully you can put your feet up in your new comfortable space while you are healing.

Hi Rivolino, If you love plants they should be kept in your lovely living room. You have so much bright light to work with. How about grouping and using them to frame the front window. You wouldn't need curtains and they would filter the bright light. They add cozy appeal and oxygen and it looks like they're well cared for. Animals and plants are restorative when you're not feeling well.

Riviolino, how are you feeling? Did you get a chance to hang the curtains?