Cute pig! And I love the fabric you selected for the valance. I agree with everything Lynn said, but wanted to add most of the current objects are hard. Go shopping in your home to find some things to soften - woven, wicker, leather, plants/flowers. The fabric napkins/towels and visually light weight fern are a good start. Replace everything on the lower shelf with a large wicker/woven container (with lid) or large basket (with sides) that fills the area. Are those wicker or fabric balls?

Thanks, Allison, who I consider the Queen of Accessorizing.

Thank you, LynnNM – exactly what I was hoping for – I
plan to mix your and Daisy’s recommendations. We love Mr. Piggy and
he looks great no matter which side he faces (if only that were true for
me)!! It’s refreshing to get someone else’s eye!

My DD is very artistic and I know she can take your
recommendations for the mason jars and run with it. I so appreciate
your taking the time to help me with this!!

Allison (aka Queen of Accessorizing),
Thank you again. The balls are wicker and spray-painted gold. Mostly
a filler. There is a little primitive embroidered pillow that says,
“she loves me, she loves me not. It doesn’t matter, I’m all she’s
got.” My mom got it for me and I’m not really sure what she meant by
that!! We’ve been married 30 years. I keep it in case she
asks about it and I wasn’t sure where to put it!!

Gracefully, Mr Pig is a delight! May I ask you where you found him? He is adorable.

Here is my little piggy:

I vote for #3.

I like #3 best, too, although Mr.Pig needs to be centered on the tray, and the plant is too much, IMHO. Nice shopping your own house! You've come up with some great pieces.

BTW, I love those painted mason jars so much, I'm going to make a set for myself. Am not sure just where they will end up, but I've just got to have a set.

While all are lovely, my vote is for #3. I like the plant. Makes it softer/homey.

Another vote for #3

#3...Home run!!!

That basket you've used on the bottom shelf is wonderful! It picks up the natural golden brown color of two of your hutch's shelves, and the bar stools' woven rush seats. Plus the black elsewhere in the room. Not too busy, and very eye catching. Great choice!

You've done a great job! I just have a couple ideas you could try and see what others think as well. I also like the plant. Try the books behind the plant and if you have more to add that might help. Taking the clock down, temporarily, just to see the scenario without it. The tray on the top seems to overwhelm the basket on the bottom shelf. Greenery in the basket could help make it more substantial.

Another vote for #3. While I like the plant, it is hiding those beautiful wooden boxes too much. As an experiment, try switching the wreath and the vase on the 'bird' shelf, and put the plant on the other side where the jars are now. Put the linens in the basket and put the mason jars in their place (or the little heart picture). Right now all the ceramic type items are lined up on the right side.

3 is perfect. What a great way to use this forum.

I like #3 the best also. Your hutch looks wonderful!

i purchased piggy at Christmas Tree Hill, a local gift shop. It's Treenware, which I never heard of before I found him. I knew he would look adorable filled with pine cones or fake gourds.

I like #3 as well. Exciting about the wall color change. I was going to suggest it, but didn't want to give unsolicited advice. :) I love your valances. Very sharp.

Great job! Another vote for #3.I like the things you've "shopped."

I agree with those that said to shift things around a bit so they are not lined up. Off center something else, like you did the jars/art. The wreath and Calla Lilly plate (beautiful!) are both round, so wouldn't place on same shelf. Try the wreath, vase and bird in a group together, so that they overlap/connect to tell a story. What about placing the tray on the bottom shelf behind basket) so that it covers the electrical outlet.

Part of the fun is doing, living with a bit, then playing with it again.

... then feel good about it. Perfection in decor is less interesting than the unexpected.

This
has been so fun and a great learning experience for me. Thank you, everyone!! The very first picture looks truly embarrassing
now.

Here
are a couple more arrangements based on your suggestions – if I didn’t meet your
intent, please let me know.

The
plant I put there last night is “important” in the living room, but I could easily
get a smaller orchid to put on the hutch.
I bought an ivy today, but won’t be able to keep it since I read they
are toxic to cats. However, fairly real-looking
ivy is easy to find, so I left it in the photos anyway. So far, orchids are the only plants my cats
ignore.

I can
have the motion sensor removed when the room is painted cream.

You
will also note that last night’s orchid was hiding the vase’s broken
handle/chippiness. The vase belonged to
DMIL. Keep it or chuck it (we have no
emotional attachment – remember, I was shopping closets last night)??

I do
plan to buy the mason jars, iron “bookend,” and a painting from the Etsy sources
LynnNM provided. The paintings on canvas
come in 5x7 or 8x10. To my eye, the 8x10
looked better, so I’ve placed a picture there for perspective only.

As an
aside, these three pieces have special meaning.
If there is a place for them on the hutch, please let me know. If not, I am A-OK with closeting or putting
them elsewhere.

Here we
go and THANK YOU again (I apologize that it seems I can’t hold the camera
straight!):

4:

5:

Tray too big for bottom. :-/ At least you tried it out!

Agree about the tray, but I do like what you've done with the rest of the items in the hutch. I like the stacked baskets & the red pot of ivy.

Taking the clock away keeps your eye focused on the hutch. Thanks for playing with the suggestions. I think I like #5 with the tray back up top.

Very nice, Grace! I like this last hutch a lot! The tray can go back up on top or not (centered behind Mr. Piggy), your choice. I don't know what that fuzzy white ball is next to the round plate (a mini cauliflower?), but it's distracting and not in a good place, IMO. If you want to keep it there, try moving it to the far side of the framed print. Oh, BTW, I bought the Ball jars today and am planning on making myself a set like I showed you above. I just love them! Are you still planning on having your daughter make you a set, too?

I like this the best of all, so far, all except the apples on the top shelf. It seems a very odd placement, even if not real, I think they should look as if you could actually access them to eat one. I just would never put fruit up that high. I think Mr. Piggy could hold his own on the top all by himself, maybe a little closer to center.

If there is no design to show off on the tray, could you use it under the baskets on the bottom shelf?