another view

Ikes, I think I would love it once it's painted white. I even like the stone. Maybe once it's finished, and you have a painting or metal art above it, it will be better?

Thanks Carrie and jeffrey...I think i will look at painting it the "white" trim color that flows through to the kitchen -- with some furniture and window treatments it will blend better. Jeffrey -- so you are are thinking a woven fabric couch --- we will consider that.....
Love the faux animal hide rug....never thought of that !!

Animal hide rugs and the pillows I mentioned can be found online at shops like Wayfair or just Google them and you'll find other sources.

Where did you get the mantel I've been looking for one.

Yep, you'll have a great room! And the fireplace is not quite bad. If you are need a new furniture please welcome to us!
Sofas are available here http://www.furniturenyc.net/sofas.html
Coffee Tables: http://www.furniturenyc.net/coffee-tables.html

Are you using a strand bamboo floor and floating it? I ask because I am thinking of using that. How do you like it and do you hear much of an echo? How is the underpad you chose? I think your room looks good.

I love your fireplace!

Wow, thats a really white floor butted up next to a really dark floor.

Yes, it is Bamboo -- morning star brand. As I understand, we picked the highest grade of Bamboo. I wanted Bamboo because it is so hard and durable. We purchased it at Lumber Liquidators, if you have a branch in your area, you should check them out--- the price was fantastic and the service was great. The sound on the floor is similar to a hard wood floor -- not laminate. It is a click together product, but it has to be nailed down. We used a professional installer.

The fireplace is probably not anything very special, based on the quality of materials in the casings and baseboards....we purchased this house a month ago. It is 11 years old and probably not updated since it was built--- the last 3 years were rough on the house with a renter, so we basically had to tear out all the carpets, counters, baseboards and etc.

Happy Saturday! Just checking in to see how you're doing with the plan. I'm not sure of the dimensions of your Living Room so I'm winging it here, but, I looked at the photo again and have some thoughts. If the room is deep enough, you might consider using a love seat floating in the room, facing the Fireplace. Flank the FP with chairs and add bookcases on the wall opposite the FP. Use two small tables instead of a large coffee table. Metal and glass or lucite adds some reflection without being too "heavy" looking. Look at lighting that will add height. Let me know how it goes!!!!
Regards, Jeffrey Brooks

I've just spent the last hour looking for the msds sheets on the Morning Star Bamboo product line. I had to use another website...Morning Star does NOT offer the msds sheets on their own website! Makes you wonder. If it is that hard to find, then the man. doesn't want you know know!

Anyway, if you are looking for the chemical make up of Morning Star Bamboo, here is the link:
http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc/s-13045352/cmd/kbresource/kb-8635745505595336937/view_document!PAGETYPE?sf=101133&documentid=218636&action=view

They use Urea Formaldehyde in production and 7 coats of polyurethane with Aluminum Oxide. No mention of "water based" product. This means the polyurethane is probably solvent based. Aluminum Oxide, in dust form (ie. cutting the bamboo) is a health hazard.

The Morning Star Bamboo carries some mild health warnings due to the products used in production, off-gassing, and exposure to urea formaldehyde.

News on the street (I got this from a high-end bamboo dealer...he's a friend/colleague of mine) the industry has not fixed the "denting" or the scratching (yes, even the aluminum oxide scratches) issues with bamboo. Nor is there anything in the "pipeline" that would help the industry.

Fascinating that Morning Star Bamboo does not list it's own MSDS technical/chemical sheet...probably because of all the health warnings at the end!

Jeffrey --love the idea of the love seat instead of the sofa ....we took tape and marked outlines of a love seat and 4 chairs (2 on each side ) and then did the same for the 87 inch sofa I was planning to have made. I really liked the feeling of having the love seat there instead of the sofa. We have a casual family room with a "comfy" sofa....so a love seat might be perfect for us. We are also considering your suggestions for the tables... keep commenting as it comes to you....thanks

...shopping for that love seat...wondering if I could do a floor rug with texture, a modern leather loveseat, and then fabric for the chairs with a "woven" texture ???? (just love the way leather feels when you sit on it). ....