Here is a better shot of the windowseat area.

Thank you! Would it look strange to have two different types of window coverings in the same room? I feel they all should be the same but then again I'm no designer...

Like the previous owners, I would have thought the FP went in the living room. Fans cool the food and blow dust on it, especially FP grime which is always in the air to some extent if you use them. The mirror above it needs to reflect a chandelier, not a fan or ceiling. I would hang the art 5" above the sofa and put a starburst mirror between the windows, center point 5' above the floor. A console table would work between windows in either or both rooms if you'd want to add that later. Have you shopped for sconces here on Houzz? Lots to choose from but your price point is a bit of a limitation. Don't know how much space you have there, but I saw some that might look nice. Do you want contemporary or classic style?

Like your room and understand your husband's concern circulating the air. Have you tried or will it fit; to put the dinning table and chairs long ways and very close to the wall with the two windows. Leave your hutch where it is, then put two chairs between the hutch and the fireplace. Hang a light fixture over the table that is the same or a matching light fixture to the one in the couch area. You could use the two club chairs then add only one chair in the corner in front of the window seat.

I would keep the shades they show off the window trim. Put up your art work before adding curtains. You could also add color to the shades by pinning or tacking 2 pieces of wide ribbon the length of the shades about a third of the way from the ends. Use a printed ribbon or a solid.

You need an accent color something warmer and brighter than the blues and grays you are using. Consider using coral or a color close to the light fixture in the couch area, or find a large piece of art you love for over the couch and pick out a brighter color out of it. Use the brighter color from one end of the room to the other. Find one of two pillows with the color in it, find pottery pieces in the color to use over the fireplace, on the table, and in the hutch and add a throw on the couch and window seat in the color.

Thank you! In regards to living room being where fireplace is, we just found that we ended up wanting to utilize the beautiful light that comes in from the other side of the room and maximize the seating area by using the window seat, so we put the dining table by the fireplace! I agree that the lights need to be switched. Thank you for the advice on the Sunburst mirror, I hadn't thought about that and I agree it would look lovely! We are going for a sort of contemporary farm house look. I have shopped around a little bit on houzz but find myself getting easily overwhelmed lately!

Great start and generally good advice above. I'd say leave the window treatments -- with a new house and baby on the way, you have enough on your plate, and they are entirely inoffensive. Save them for a decade from now, when you catch your breath and can worry about such things again. :)

1) the Roman shades came with house, which was all beige before I painted. They are nice shades but I am debating replacing with curtains. Thoughts?

I would recommend floor-to-ceiling panels on the dining area windows and those in the living area, and then use the same fabric for a valance above the window seat.


2) we put the new light in the sitting area but I wonder if it would fit better over the dining table. Hubby likes fan there as it circulates the air from the fireplace, but... Eep.

Definitely would like to see a lower chandelier over the table. Also, most people don't like a fan over their food. Between the cooling factor and the potential to stir up ashes from the fireplace... I'd move it to the sitting area and let it pull the air flow that direction.

3) sconce suggestions for the windowseat area? Looking to spend around $150/each.

Without measurements it's hard to specify.


4) what to hang over the couch. I worry about putting two big pieces of art next to each other and them competing.

I'd consider the large mirror over the fireplace if size/scale is appropriate, or if your art is complementary it shouldn't be a problem.

5) rug or no rug under dining? If we did, I'd probably go with a sisal in light beige.

Rug. Soften and define the area. Be sure it's fireproofed if it gets too close to the fireplace.

Blessings,

Crystal

Measure your table top and a rug should be 4' longer and wider than it yet not run into the hearth or walls.

I think white curtains that do to the floor with the rods hung high would look great and soften the space. Target sells white panels fairly m inexpensively and ikea does as well (though I think target's are cheaper)! You've done a beautiful job!

Although I like that you switched the two rooms, there is not enough room for a rug in the dining room. Definitely need a new light for the dining room. Any way the hutch could go somewhere else?

I

I love what you've done! I like the look of no curtains because you have so many nice textiles in your living room already and your windows are pretty so why not look at them? How about this. Could you remove the hutch? How about reorient the dining table and move it a little closer to the Windows so that it is not directly in front of the fireplace? That would allow you space to place a rug under the table and no risk of fire. That would add a softness to your dining room that I think is needed. about the art over your couch, I think it's nice to have nothing there. The rest of your walls have things to look at. It's a place for some rest for the eyes.

Oh also, I agree that you need a proper chandelier or pendant light over your dining table, the ceiling fan will not provide pleasant light to eat by.

I like the idea of floor to ceiling white curtains, I might try mocking that up to see how it looks!

Unfortunately the hutch is stuck where it is. We are lucky to have lots of windows but it also means we are limited in furniture placement! I might try a rug that just goes to the edge of the chairs (against the "push-back" chair rule with the dining rug, I know) and see how it looks. Getting lots of great ideas, please keep them coming! You all are the best!

I would just do billowy floor to ceiling drapes. This highlights your beautiful windows and gives you the softness that you need without a rug. If you get a rug it will just look out of place because it will be too small.

Just be sure that you have protective pads on the bottom of your chair legs to protect your hardwood from scratching.

I love your choices of pattern and color!

If you are interested in changing the window coverings, I would suggest either bamboo shades or roman shade with a solid neutral color. These choices will compliment your decor, and add more texture to the room. Here are some photos for inspiration.

http://www.selectblinds.com/bamboo-blinds.html

http://www.selectblinds.com/roman-shades.html

Good luck!

Also I'm just now noticing but I think your chairs are too large for your table. They don't slide under. Do you have a leaf you can put in?

Shoot! We have a leaf but it doesn't change how many chairs we can fit under. Is this better?

That is better But if you add the leaf will both of your chairs slide under?

No, it just extends the top and not the frame. =\

Oh ok gotcha. Yeah I think the 4 chairs will be much more comfortable for those sitting.

I would hold off on curtains till you are done with the kids if this is even a moderate use room. all kids like to hide in them, and sometimes use them as napkins and tissues.

I have white curtains with two year old twins and they could get dirty, but the ones I have are washable so it's not a big deal. Come to think of it, I don't think I've needed to wash them.

White is actually the easiest color to maintain when it comes to linens. Sheets, towels, linen curtains, just bleach them. Kids do hide in billowy drapes and it is the cutest thing in the world. I have never seen a child use a curtain as a napkin. People don't give kids enough credit. As long as you are diligent with teaching them how to be good people, children will understand that you don't use drapes as napkins.

The chairs do seem too large for the table, I agree. Also, don't hang a picture even with the window or door frames. Drop it down 5 or 6 inches.

Good point leelee. Yes drop the art down a few inches.

Your house looks great.

Good questions. Always best to treat the two spaces with a coordinated look.
Start with the most obvious....rugs for both areas can be matching or just coordinated. Make sure the d.r. rug is large enough that the chairs can be pulled out and back in (when sitting down) without having to be lifted up over the rug edge..I figure 24" on each side of the table will be enough.
The Roman shades look good, but if you want to coordinate them with the wall color, you can add narrow stationary panels in a printed fabric which includes both colors and the color of the trim in the room. Top of window to hang just clear of the floor is a good length. It's less expensive than new draperies and a younger look than drapes.
The fan should not be over the dining room....if it's on, it will cool the food off. It's better in a room where you will use it, if any room seems too warm for comfort.
Over the couch, hang a large painting or print including some of the major colors in the room (carpet, walls, upholstered furniture). It should be half the width of the couch, centered and at eye-level.
The sconces over the window seat should be useful.... For general illumination or for reading if the seat is wide enough and comfortable enough for a reading nook. Your lighting pieces (floor lamp, table lamp, ceiling fixture and sconces) don't need to match-match, but need to be compatible.
I hope I covered everything.