oh well, I browsed lots of Houzz pictures, and I hold my standard to those pics as well :)

If you like it, that's what counts. Don't let others sway you. Your taste is your taste.

I agree that it is a beautiful room.

I have a couple of comments or suggestions.

You may wish to add a pillow or two with some green in it to complement the green plants.

Also, it looks like the two chairs on the left are sitting on a hallway rug runner. I've never seen that before but maybe you are doing that to protect the wood floor from the chair legs.

Yes, the chairs on the left weren't there at first place, to fill up the space I added them later on and realized the rug i put in at first place wasn't bigger enough. So the runner was a backup option :)

I also love your room & agree with not using the hall runner under the two chairs. All your room needs are a few more accessories with two colors you are fond of. You can get felt chair leg pieces to attach to the feet.

Additional photos will help us with this dilemma. The hanging above the sofa should be 3/4 the width of the sofa & hung 6-7 inches above the back of the sofa. Two colors I really find nice together are aqua & kiwi green.

My laptop does not portray colors true so am unable to see color in the room very well.

thanks for the advice! the wall paint is called gorgeous white, but it had a pink accent in it. the aqua and blue color you recommended will go well with it.

If you have model homes in your area chec them out one afternoon. They have great ideas on what sells a house and it will give you an idea of what you want your room to look like after it is done! They have great wall and curtain ideas that are produced with a very professional look that might inspire you on where to begin and where to finish the room. And the rooms generally looks finished and in intriguing ways!

I personally love monochromatic rooms such as yours. When you install your mantel place a nice piece of art above it; remove the runner and enjoy your room. Your relative probably meant well but just has a different style. Your's is lovely.

I think it's a lovely room. Some fabulous art, hung at an appropriate height, is all it needs.

larger art over sofa and don't hang it high and a larger carpet so accent chairs sit on carpet.
you can get patterned pillows with off whites and greys in the fabric but in a muted look to coordinate with the lovely restful tones you have now.

and maybe a few table lamps.

I agree, a lovely room. Take your time finding art you love, please don't just throw stuff on the walls. Also agree about some throw pillows with color. Otherwise leave it alone. I had a relative go into my bathroom and comment on how much they hated it. I just had put up a historic wallpaper I purchased in Paris, France. I cannot account for others taste or lack thereof, but I still love my wallpaper. And I can appreciate good design even if it isn't something I'd do I my my house and your room is very nice.

I love it and love the simplicity I wouldn't change anything.

How rude for someone to make that comment. I think your room is sophisticated and serene. The wall art looks a little to high above the sofa. I wonder how it would look above the fireplace?

I think your room looks lovely. I am in agreement with a few of the comments made above and clearly and only posting in response to your request. I also disagree with a few of the comments above. I don't feel that you need to add in pops of colour with this style as I think that what makes your room and style so serene is the nod to simplicity (think Restoration Hardware!). What I think may be throwing it off a bit is the mix of styles. For example, as mentioned, the runner under the chairs, the style of the side chairs, the lighting (both the overhead and the floor lamp) and perhaps the throw pillows and art could use some changes. The overall vibe of the room exudes peace and is filled with natural texture from the fireplace surround, the wood in the ladder and the coffee table and the fabric (linen) in the sofa(s). The squared arms of the upholstered furniture is not blending well with the side chairs and while I am one to support an eclectic look normally, I feel that these are competing rather than complementing. Replacing the overhead light with a large-scale simplistic pendant and a side lamp with, perhaps, a pop of color but with neutral elements would help unify the space. Bring in more natural woven and linens in pillows and introduce large scale art on the back wall. Texture, texture, texture would help!

I'm a little confused by the runner under the two chairs. They make little rubber cups to place on the bottoms of the legs to keep from scratching the hardwoods and to keep the chairs from wandering.

Lovely room, I would find a different relative. Oops

Either you love color or you don't. Both are great. What I found distracting in your photo was the ceiling light fixture? Not sure I get that.

Perhaps a new floor lamp too;)

I love the calmness of your room and agree with most of the comments that you don't need to change a lot. The artwork over the sofa is too small and hung too high. Look for something you love to go there. It can have some color, but it is fine if it is also in the soft colors you are already using. If you can afford it, I would suggest looking for a new larger patterned rug that would extend to under the chairs. While I don't have a problem with your rather monochromatic room, I do think it would look better if there was some pattern to add interest. A new rug is a great way to bring in some pattern.

Thanks for all the above advice, and I will definitely work on that along with putting up our mental to the fireplace. I attached a few more pictures from different angle of our living room, more advice is welcomed. Our house isn't completely done yet, that's why I'd love some more suggestions as I can change a few things later. Thanks again.

I definitely agreed with the art work above the couch. I spent a lot of time choosing the right art work, but couldn't find anything I like, and I just hate to throw anything"art related"on that wall. I found this wood pattern mirror that I am really fond of and I am definitely gonna keep them. They were hung way above the couch. Do you think I should put them lower or just simply purchase two more of those to put on there?

If you intend to keep the mirrors hung over your sofa, then I would lower the mirrors to 6-7 inches above sofa and purchase two more.
I would , also, address floor lamp (great suggestion in previous post), other lighting issues and rug. I would move plant off of coffee table by other plant in room and find something lower for coffee table. If YOU want to add a dash of color in room, this would be a great place to add some color.

another suggestion -watch the undertones of the greys and beige. some clash such as pink and yellow. Google Maria Killam re undertones and you will get some good advice.

Since you came to the Houzz site you must want opinions so....

Get a large painting for over the sofa. Hang it no more than 8 inches over the sofa.

Remove the runner.

Try centering the rug with the fireplace and adjust your furniture. The sofa would come forward then there might be room for a skinny console table behind. You could add a lamp or two to that. Leave the two chairs where they are but shift the right side of the room toward the left so that you have a balance with the fireplace.

One other arrangement you might try is loveseat facing sofa with two chairs facing fireplace. Loveseat would then need an end table to give it width that would mimic the width of the sofa. Again, it's important to have your furniture aligned with the fireplace.

If you like what's over the sofa now just add one more of the squares and lower them so the bottom of the art is 5 inches over the sofa back.

My priorites would be:

1. New rug with some pattern. It can still be neutral if thats what you like. Large enough to fit under side chairs. Avoid brown and marroon

2. New overhead light fixture. Something gorgeous, maybe brass. Current one seems out of place

3. Hang drapes higher. Should be 2/3 between windowsill and ceiling. Consider adding a contrast banding detail for some interest

4. Art over mantle. Preferably a painting

Room is lovely and restful and I would make only a few tweaks. Being very partial to graceful green plants, my preference is to add a banana tree in the corner where the ladder is and a Grape or Swedish ivy on the coffee table. Move the ladder to the opposite corner if possible...it's a great piece. With appropriate sized art over sofa you are through until the mantle is up and we can see it and think about that space. Also remove the runner. To me, the plants add the necessary color and life to finish the room and other color accents are unnecessary.

Perhaps it would be of use to you to see some designs of ours?

Geez, I have a couple of rude relatives, too, so I know how it feels. The solution is not to invite them over. What do they know anyway, right? I think your room is very nice.

Beautiful, relaxing room... I would remove the runner under the chairs to highlight the wood floors. The ceiling lamp doesn't do anything for me (looking up and seeing a light bulb plus it's too dark).... Crate & Barrel sells a off white ceiling drum lamp for around 150.....would be perfect for your room. One serene painting above the sofa......

I would also ditch the runner and I think the artwork over the sofa is hung too high and is maybe too small in scale. You can fix this by stacking the two items above one another on one side and adding another piece of art next to them. Or as you say, adding two more of these to make a grid/square would be a great idea. :) They're nice pieces, but the scale is off.

I'd suggest adding something colorful to the mantel as suggested and maybe a few coffee table books or personal items if you think the critic is right, but I think the room is well-designed and some people just don't like monochrome rooms or neutrals -- if you like them, it's your house. One person's boring is another person's serene and relaxing, after all.

Hi Hazel, have you tried any of the suggestions for your room?