May I suggest you NOT tile, and consider a hardwood, even one that is pre finished? That you invest in some recessed lighting in both kitchen and sitting areas, along with some lamps for sitting area, and remove/replace the valance at sink? Ditch the fan with light kit. Take the clutter off the top of the fridge, and fridge front, and cabinet tops as well. Then perhaps try a soft gray with a hint of beige in it such as Ben Moore "Revere Pewter" but reduce the strength to one half formula. Or Benjamin Moore "Wish" at full or one half strength.

You can't paint a room "into the light"...........for that you actually need LIGHT. Color and light are inseparable. : ) Good luck.

Oh, y'all. We have spent 5 years arguing over flooring to come to this tile decision. We have 2 small children and a large dog and feel the tile is going to be our best bet for endurance. The clutter on top of the fridge isn't always there (and maybe I should have removed before posting pics but it was midnight at the end of a crazy day) and while I love the idea of adding recessed lighting and changing out the fan, those are projects for another day. ;) We bought this house to update but haven't gotten to everything we'd like yet. It's been baby steps! The carpet has got to go so that's my first priority. We do have two lamps in the sitting area, do you think we need more? I think I have a Revere Pewter swatch still and that I did like it. I'll pull that back out! As of now, I'm leaving towards #2, as well. Thank you for the suggestions.

I'm sorry. Another reason for choosing what we did: There is another living area on the other side of the kitchen (although not open to it like this one) and it and the attached hall have a lighter wood-looking laminate flooring. Ideally, I'f pull that up and do the whole house in the same thing, but that's not an option for now. Since the laminate and tile will meet at the entryway to the kitchen, we really wanted to do something different so it doesn't look like we tried to match the laminte's shade and just missed.

Also, we are in the Deep South. Wild horses could not drag me away from my ceiling fan. It'a hot down here!

Lack of light is an issue. But you can fix that. I suggest:

use a light nuetral blue-grey

if budget allows, and you plan on keeping the red chairs, purchase a large floor rug that includes pops of marigold yellow on larger background of neutral earth tones

to help lighten up the room, and for a seasonal change you can also purchase chair covers for the red chairs along with the couch in a medium neutral grey & complimentary barstool slip-covers in white and grey pinstripes.

If budget allows purchase a T.V. armoire OR a T.V.cabinet/bookcase which is floor to ceiling instead, in light ash wood or white

Purchase a silver mirror that is almost as wide as your desk and nearly reaches the ceiling to replace the existing picture there.

Add desk lamp with gold/silver base in stad of current one

Place the couch along the same wall as curtains

place the art behind the T.V. behind the couch instead

place the two red lounge chairs against the wall on the french door side, slightly turned towards eachother

place the two big framed floral pictures over your mantel

place the collection of frames that are over the mantel in a nice arrangement on the wall behind the two red chairs.

Add a small round able between the two red chairs. Add the candlesticks on mantel to this table

stick with solid, nuetral light creams and white
pillows for couch and chairs

If you can let go of the fan then a medium silver or crystal chandelier would be the funal touch you would not regret! :)

happy decorating!