Your house is lovely, with great architectural features and a beautiful fireplace. If you're going for the English country house look, I would begin from the floor up with a beautiful Oriental carpet that has red in it plus other jewel tones that you can incorporate into accessories and art. I don't know that the white sofas are really appropriate for that look but you can warm them up with pillows in jewel tones. I personally would not keep the Darcy pillows since they don't seem to go with that ambiance. I know you love the buffalo check but again I'm not sure that it would fit in with the overall look you want. If you can show the inspiration photos that would help in envisioning the look you like. The carpet doesn't have to be wool if your budget is tight, there are great Orientals in less pricey materials that will do the job.

I'm not sure about this but glass on top of wood can actually damage the wood because it won't let it breathe, and I'm not certain that that it will actually not look a little odd. I like the tan chair for the fireplace, but then I really like tufted sofas and chairs. I would declutter the entertainment wall but am not sure about painting the inside if most of it will be covered.

For the English look if you don't have the accessory tables, lamps, etc. the cheapest way is to use art on your walls in warm colors with golden frames. They can be prints but just have to have the right vibes. Horses, dogs and scenes from 18th century life would warm up the rooms. The dining room and living room also seem rather bare of wall art, although the mirror is gorgeous and sets the right tone. For that abundant English look you just need more, in rich and darker colors to offset all the light of the walls and the lighter carpeting. Green would be a color to add, in a soft tone, perhaps instead of the buffalo checks. I'll stop now and I'm sure you'll have many more suggestions. Your home has a lot of potential and I'm sure it will be lovely. For a warm, more traditional look you just have to have the courage to incorporate rich colors in any way you can.

Can you post pictures of rooms that you like, so we can see what they have in common?What floors do you have under the carpet?

Thank you, Ingrid. I agree with everything you said. There is no wall art because we don't have a lot of money and time to figure all of that out... And in this family room, we still have Nerf gun battles, the dog romping around, and walking everywhere-several people at once, the pictures might get knocked to the ground. I suppose for starters I could hang something above the PB chairs, a lovely botanical print or grouping thereof. Maybe I should stick with the English look I've got going in the living room....

Here are a couple of pictures:

I love the play between the red and apple green, and the nine pictures above the mantle. So lovely, charming clutter.

There's that buffalo check!

You're probably right about the Ballard pillows, the floral seemed a tab bit Jacobean so I went with it.

Anyway, my poor dog is having a major issue that just developed so I've got to run. I'll post more pictures later.

Thanks again!

Soccermom:

It's a slab foundation. : (

Your place is beautiful! You love all of the colors that I love AND I adore buffalo check! I have a 2 white sofas, and love the white, red, black combo, with a few other colors thrown in with small decor items to add interest. Don't worry about mixing styles, that's what makes a room personal. I think you have a lot more imagination than you give yourself credit for. So many people follow trends because it takes less thought, but your selections look so much lovelier, IMO. I don't think the Ballard pillows look too girly. They could be a nice balance with the check. Keep doing what you are doing! A tall plant in a corner would look nice if you have room. I love my fiddle head fig. Baskets are also relatively cheap and can add character. A vase or two of fresh flowers of the day of the event and it will be beautiful! Great taste!

My family room is open to my kitchen and beyond FR is DR. Theres an archway between FR and DR to separate them and I painted the DR light apple green. The DR window has buffalo check curtains in green. Sofa is light beige with red and green pillows. My accessories are all greens and reds. I love the combo. I don't have a lot of confidence in decorating and that's what holds me back. If I did I probably should have done curtains in red buffalo check!!! There's a large picture above my sofa from Ballard of red poppies in a green field. It's what drives my decor, my focal piece. I love the color scheme you picked out and the table from PB. The black checked curtains will indeed tie your colors together. I happen to like that pillow you picked as well, but I think if you do the buffalo check get some fabric to make pillows. I did that with my curtains (ordered from Country Curtains. (They have a sale until Sunday 20% off). I am sure your room will look lovely when done.

I like the red buffalo check because of the warmth in brings into the room, although it's not exactly an English look. Never mind that, though, if it makes you happy. I don't see the black as doing much for warmth and color in your basically white and beige look. Botanical prints shouldn't cost too much (try amazon.com or e-bay), making sure again that they have attractive colors that will give life and warmth to the room. Adding something along those lines to either side of the beautiful mirror would also look great, especially in gold colored frames. Actually, with a large, active family pictures are one of the safest things you can have in your room/home rather than pieces of small furniture standing around that you can knock over. I'm sorry, but I still don't think the pillows will add anything. They don't convey warmth, just business. Google English country house interiors and then click "images" and you should see examples of what looks appropriate. Maybe you could even do red buffalo checks on pillows if there is no other way to work them in.

Sorry for the delayed reply, had to take my dog to the vet. He's better now.

I agree 100% with Ingrid that the look I'm striving for is not the English look I long for, but something else. Thank you Ingrid for clarifying that, it helps me focus and not be ridiculous, if you know what I mean. Maybe I can pull it off in the living room, someday. But at least that room is pleasant, the dining room is bare though pretty, but all of this makes me wonder what in the heck I've been doing for the past 25 years. If only I could decorate with Fisher Price, Playmobil, and Brio... my house would be a showcase.

But today I need to pull together this room. So goodbye for now to the beautiful curated English country look, and hello to the traditional/transitional look because I'm in a hurry. Tufts at least are elegant. I will look into botanical prints as well since they are never tiresome to my eyes. I have a pair over my bed and they'll look good over the PB chairs. I just hope those chairs go on sale soon!

Elizabeth, one thing I love about buffalo check is that it's always fresh and in moderate doses, charming. I love geometry but could never commit to cheverons or other shapes/outlines that seem less classic. I will go to Pier 1 and check out the baskets, you're right... sprinkled around a room they add a lot. I'll try the Ballard pillows with black check pillows. Lots of fun things to think about! Thanks for the reminder of fresh flowers, a dozen rose for $10 is probably the best money spent

Decormyhomepls, love your screen name. It's so fun that you have a print you love drive your decor. That's a blessing, in my book. The red and green are a gorgeous combination. Lucky you! Thank you for your kind words.

If there's s a HomeGoods near you, they typically have high quality, low cost basket options there. Just look around a lot because they're often in various spots throughout the decor section. I love several of nosoccermom's pics!

I don't know whether you'll be doing a rug or not, but the one in the last picture above, with the white slip covered furniture, is really beautiful. The two mainly red rugs below seem rather lifeless in comparison. The beauty of Oriental rugs is in their colors and patterns, and there are so many ways you can decorate around them, modern, transitional, traditional or eclectic. At any rate, you seem to have found your "groove", and it will be so interesting to see what the end result will be. Good luck!

Nosoccermom, it's the second time our posts have crossed : ) . I want to live in the rooms pictured on your post. Just gorgeous. The second and third room has a couple of different looks-who wouldn't love to switch out their accessories and colors like that? And I love black windsor chairs about as much as buffalo check.

Ingrid, I think Nosoccermom's sixth picture (the one with a Cathedral ceiling) would be a room that I would consider having an English country feel: the rolled-arm sofa and chairs, the elegant, worn looking rug, the things on the tables, etc. But maybe that's more of a cottage look actually. I really don't know. What do you think?

I feel better about the white/red/black/beige color scheme. There are so many gorgeous colors out there: the aquas, the corals, etc. And now with the blues making a strong comeback, I felt a little nervous. For example, I found this houndstooth fabric at the reupholstery/fabric store:

Elizabeth, I'll check Home Goods (I've never been there) for baskets and accessories like those pictured in so many of Nosoccermom's pictures. I will have to utilize my fireplace wall, mantle and the PB coffee table to convey the mood since we're limited with what can put where. Any accessories on the coffee table are in the wag-zone of Captain's powerful tail, so we must be careful of what is there. It's clear to me now that the PB coffee table I bought really doesn't have a country look in and of itself, but it is elegant and brings the black in. Straightening up the built-in, possibly taking out one shelf from each of the side sections to open up areas for accessories should be doable.

Nosoccermom, where are the rugs from? They are lovely. I have five children left to get through high school and college, and once at that point, we can buy the kind of rug Ingrid recommended, real wool.

From what I can tell, a lot of it is focusing on the details, from being tidier to adding a few things here and there as the budget allows. When you have a large family, there is less energy and fewer resources to throw at how the rooms look. It's amazing to finally be at the point where I can spend money on a room again. So much to look forward too! Thank you for helping me!

You sound like a great mom, GWCOK (I had to shorten that moniker some-LOL). Coming from a large family myself, I know how tough kids of all ages, not to mention dogs, can be on a home. But, trust me, what they'll remember when they're all grown and moved into their own places is that you were there for them. That you loved them and were kind and fun. And that you created a comfortable, cozy home for them. That you encouraged them to go to college.

But, in the meantime, I see that you're in a crunch for time and money. You've gotten many great ideas and photo inspiration pics already, so I won't go there. Instead, let's focus for a minute on your built-in bookcase/entertainment center. Some quick and easy ideas. It's a major focal point of your room. Keep the tv where it is. Take a look at this pic I'm posting below.

As for "framed art": you can do this very, very inexpensively. 5x7 or 8x10" frames can be found for very cheap at Walmart, KMart, Goodwill, consignment shops. Frame 5x7" cards, prints from books, or off the internet. Inexpensive art can be found already framed at these places, and Home Goods, too. Same with everything else I've mentioned for accessories. Another idea is to just shop your house. What do you have tucked away that might make a nice statement piece. But, one other thought, keep them simple. One nice-sized piece looks better than a few too small things. And, you can always paint a frame with craft paint. Heck, I've even painted lamps to get the look I wanted. And baskets. And pots.

DH will be home any minute and so I need to close now, but try it. And, when looking at baskets, think about what clutter they might hold (Legos?).

Lynn, how did you know that we have tens of thousands of legos? : ) And such an insighful suggestion about our built-in. The picture you posted is beyond fabulous and I really appreciate your ideas. I have read Marie Kondo's book about tidiness, and have been getting rid of things like books because they are no longer useful even though we love the idea of having them around. Trying to find a balance with the books that are no longer needed, and not particularly loved, but wanted. It's a DH thing, but I have the ones I love too. Not to mention the ones I've bought and haven't read yet. This picture illustrates why DH wants to paint the back of the bookcase, it makes the books stand out in a lovely way. We've got to make "The Phantom Tollbooth" look as awesome as it reads!

Your suggestion is my new motto: Make it interesting! My battle cry, really, I love it. Thanks so much for taking the time to post your thoughts. Call me Cupofkindness or Cup for short. It was my name before Houzz bought Gardenweb. Thanks again!

A project you might get the kids to help with would be covering foam core with wrapping paper in a print you like for the backs of those bookcases. Easy to change if you don't like the look and a lot less mess than paint .

I have picked up cheap lamps and spray painted to the color I wanted for the room. I redid one set of lamps a few times. The one I liked the best I used a scrub brush and a couple of colors of craft paint and did a "splatter" look with clear spray paint coat over the top. I wanted a granite wear look but if you wanted to do some reds or greens it might be fun and something to do with kids. And scrap booking paper can be added to cheap frame mats for some English Country. Have fun and enjoy the gang. Keep the Legos... My grown son has then and builds with my grandson

Your house is very pretty, and I really like everything you've chosen. I think you're a bit hard on yourself. I love that houndstooth fabric! It would look great with everything else-- maybe some more pillows along with your red patterned ones? Or it would look great on an ottoman.

Painting the back of the bookshelves, and thinning out and organizing the books will make a huge difference.

I buy calendars with pictures I like when they are 70% off like right now. Buy frames at Michaels made for framing record albums ($5.00) I once framed a few teddy bear pictures when my kids were young for their room. I've framed cards with pictures of teacups for DR years ago. Used frames from stores like HomeGoods. I have framed cards with beach scenes for bathrooms. Love these because I don't feel guilty changing it out when I get tired of them.

Two things strike me about the room: the size and all the molding on the walls. Not an easy job because of all the molding (I know. I've painted a room with a lot of molding, and it isn't easy!), but I'd definitely paint the walls a color to contrast with the molding.

And I don't mean to upset you, but I think you need large furniture for a room that size, and I think the coffee table you bought is much too small.

I love the English textiles, i.e.: herringbone. Buffalo check also always looks beautiful, IMO.

Great idea about the foamcore Kippy, that would be fabulous and so much easier than painting. I'll give that some thought. I need to get bold, there are so many amazing paints out there. Everytime I go to Home Depot, there is a new line of metalic spray paints.

jlc712, I think that the bookcase is where I can make the next biggest impact in the room. I hate to get rid of our beloved Little House on the Prairie set, but if I find a niece to send it too, that will make the parting a little sweeter. Maybe if I thin out some movies I can store books below in the cupboard. My audiophile husband loves his sound equipment, however. To think, I can't turn half of it on!

Great idea about the calendars. Clever and budget-savvy. So hard to throw away those beautiful calendar pictures. I've got to put 9 frames of something above the fireplace. That wreath comes down this weekend, its the Feast of the Presentation so the time has come. Maybe I'll find 9 pictures of the Blessed Mother to frame. There is an endless number of painting of her, and I could gaze at those forever. Of course, my husband would want pictures of National Parks, so I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do.

Tibbrix, you are right, this big room needs big furniture. The coffee table is 48" and the sofas are 72" so it gives a foot on each side to sit. Remember, we walk behind the sofas, in front of them, beside them AND we chase Captain around the room! It's really a dog run, I guess. I would have loved to buy large English-arm three cushion sofas and lovely accent chairs, but it's the fact that we move the loveseats (sometimes daily) to watch television or play video games. I know this seems crazy. We only have one functional TV. With seven kids on board (well one is gone but we still have her bedroom that she shares with a sister), all of our rooms are full of kids. I figure that when the time comes to change the furniture once again, I have seven people who would love free sofas. ; ) Need to work on paint, don't have a budget for that now.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies. It means so much to hear your opinions. -Cupofkindness

Swivel chairs? In buffalo plaid. Instead of moving furniture? I only skimmed this thread so sorry if swivel chairs are completely off.

Since English Country is look you want what about looking for vintage post cards of cathedrals, castles and country side for the nine frames?

The 6th room with the cathedral ceiling actually is supposed to be French Country :)

The rugs are from esalerugs.com. Aktillery has ordered from them. Right now, free shipping, free returns.

I suggested Bokharas because they go better with black-white houndstooth or buffalo check than regular orientals, IMO.

As far as art, I downloaded an old print map from a place that has personal meaning, took it to Staples for engineering print (6.00) and then got a plywood piece at HD, glued the map on with modgepodge.

Like this

http://www.fromgardners2bergers.com/2012/06/restoration-hardware-diy-decoupage-map.html

Cup, I would consider a rug from the sale nosoccermom mentioned. By Oriental I meant the pattern more than the quality; it doesn't have to be wool. In a room as large as yours it would really give a spot of color, although I'm not sure that you have a static seating area since you mentioned moving your love seats around. You've gotten some great advice about the bookcase and other things, but in your case I think your family can almost take the place of furniture in this room since they make such good and frequent use of it. You sound like such a lovely person that I think the happy vibrations in your home will be of more importance to your guests than anything else you could do.

You have such a great room for your family! I love the ceiling and fireplace. One thing I'd look into as far as the bookshelves go is to see if small holes could be drilled into the shelves so you could feed the speaker wires through and hide them. Maybe if you clear out enough books, the speakers can go on the shelves rather than above. Or, one of the lower door panels could be replaced with fabric and the sound equipment could be hidden there.

I hear you about moving furniture. I'd love ours to all be on lockable wheels! Or, lol, to put my a.v. equipment on a cart that could be rolled into a closet when not in use. No such closet to hold it here, though.

Remember that if you do send some of your books to a thrift store, chances are good they'll be loved by another family. That's where we got our Little House set. My older kids have read it multiple times, and now I'm reading it aloud to the youngest three. You'll be passing on good family times and memory making moments. : )

Have fun with your space!

Sorry it's taken a week to get back to all of you, went out of town then started a new job Monday. It's been busy.

The Darcy pillows from Ballard arrived and though the red flower pattern is lovely and the look is charming, the background color is an ivory or even a tea-stain look. I went back to balladdesigns.com and checked out the pictures and online, the pillows basically look white and red. Even when I put the pillows on my milk white kitchen table the Darcy pillow background shage is ivory. And with the ivory, the pillows look brick red or rust from just a few feet away. Ingrid was absolutely right, the style isn't what I'm looking for. These pillows would look fabulous on a wicker chair or settee. So back they will go today.

Pottery Barn called and the table is in town, just waiting to be delivered in about a week. I haven't checked in with the upholsterer yet.

About the rugs, the eRugs 50% sale is still going (is it permanent?) and I have six rugs in my cart. Four red and two black.

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I started this particular post about six hours ago, then the day got away from me and now it's time for dinner.... I guess I'll have to finish later. I have a lot of questions about rugs to ask, not just about color, but size, like: how big should a rug be if it's going to "contain" to small sofas and a coffee table? Is 8' by 10' large enough? Sorry to cut this off, I'll be back soon, I hope. Thank you for your help.

-Cupofkindness

As far as the size of the rug goes, no one has ever complained about a rug being too large, but many, many people have carpets that are too small. It's a really common mistake. Without having seen them, I would say the reds would liven up the room whereas the black can dampen the mood, but it all depends on all the other colors in it. With the black buffalo check, there is also that consideration.

I haven't read all the replies but I have looked at all the pictures, so please forgive me if these issues/ suggestions have already been made and dealt with.

I would try painting the back of your built ins a dark gray, not red. And the cocktail table you chose is good, but too small. If you can get another one exactly the same, buy it and push them together to form a larger square table, then put one glass piece (tempered glass with rounded edges) over the entire top. To avoid damaging the wood top make sure you add enough clear plastic spacers between the glass and the wood top. If you put a tiny circle of black felt under the bottom of the spacer where it sits on the table it won't leave a mark or take the finish off.

Love the buffalo check curtains someone posted and I think you can get reasonable, lined panels at Country Curtains. I would do those in black/white and get a red rug similar to those shown above under the white sofas.

That white upholstery fabric you chose is very durable; we have a similar type from Duralee on our sofas in the basement in a tan color and they are holding up very well. (They were treated with Microseal, a bulletproof textile treatment guaranteed for ten years, along with all the other new furniture down there after it was delivered.)

I've been browsing rugs on esrugsales or whatever it's called (it looks like their "sale" is on all the time, but it seems that sometimes some of their rugs are slightly lower.).

Anyways, what about this one. It's 9'10"x13' for 249.00.