Do you have ledges under your windows running along the whole wall? I would paint all walls the same including moldings....... Fuller drapes. Either take fireplace bricks off above mantle or paint whole fireplace a white or lighter color of the new wall color.

The carpet is beige, but I am getting pricing on changing it
to hardwood floors. If we change the flooring I do not believe we will be able
to fix the fire place and the floors due to the budget. The mounding actually
makes the room look different and we like it. The picture I added shows the
idea (lighting) we have to add on to the mounding. I am looking to change the
chandelier, but do not have any idea of a style to change it to.

I like this color, but I'm undecided if I should paint one wall this color or all the walls this color with white.

or I don't know if I should go with this approach meaning the color of the walls and darker curtains.

If you like beige...There's a beautiful color from Behr called Sentimental Beige. I would paint with the beige to the mouldings that are just below the upper windows, leaving the trim white. Above the white moulding I would use, also from Behr, Dreamscape Gray. You could also then paint the blue wall with the Dreamscape Gray. Leaving all mouldings white. These two colors would also tie in the fireplace brick, as well as go with your brown sofa. Hardwoods would be the final touch!

http://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/T15-6

http://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/YL-W13

I think going to wood floors is a good idea. That helps with any living arrangement. Let us know if you need some help with that. Type, stain color, finishes, etc. I realize a budget makes for challenges. We ALL have that no matter how much is in a budget. Just try to get a bead on what you want in the long run. I reviewed your "idea books" and I see quite a bit of grey tones, so keep in mind grays are what we call "cool" colors, so people get kind of mixed up on how to combine cool and warm colors. We can help with that too if you need it. Some of the new engineered plank floorings are really nice and will stand the test of a 2 year old! Might start with those type products. Do your research. YouTube has some great videos about various flooring types, installation clues and tips that can be very helpful. A good designer can be of immense help too. Can save you big mistakes and help guide the "integration" of ideas into a cohesive plan.

About drapery. With the views I think you have outside these windows, you might consider NO drapes for now. Especially while your 2 year old is toddling around. No rules against that. If you do go for drapes, and you want the fireplace to be the focal point, I wouldn't do darker drapes. Keep the fireplace the main attraction. I would get some bids on redoing the fireplace. You might be surprised. The time to do this is BEFORE flooring.

Whitewash the brick on the fireplace

Paint the walls a neutral color and confine the greige color to the upper portion of the wall

Change out the chandelier to something a bit more casual and larger

Wall would be more like this with white below and greige above.

So finally if you decide to go with a Modern or Contemporary look, The lighting plays a big part in the final finish of the design. I would like to show you some photos of different projects done with our lighting.

White candles elegant white contemporary chandelier by Galilee lighting · More Info

Modern Crystal chandelier - by Galilee Lighting · More Info

Pliss`e - Fused glass panels chandelier - by GalileeLighting · More Info

@Flo Magan in my idea book I have comments on what I like in each of the set ups. Like chairs, furniture etc. the hardwood floors would have to be the same ones that are in the kitchen since it's an open concept. I also will be looking into prices and ideas for the fire place.

Smart. Yes, I noted the "shelving" concept you liked which is very popular. Something that utilized that along the left wall in this picture would be great. You could integrate with a TV console as well. You could put family photos, or interesting photos you shoot, whatever. Keeping in context with the theme of the space. Since that sofa was bright blue in the picture with the shelfs, I thought that might be attracting your eye too. That might be a good "pop" color if you like it, with your taupes. Since there is a lot of light in that room, I think you could do all the walls in the taupe if you like it. It would soak up some light but not all. Is there going to be a TV in this room? If so, where?

Yes a TV will be going into this room on the wall that is dark blue. I wish I had more pictures of this room. We close on the house tomorrow so I will post more pictures than.

Just an update on this room... The carpets have been removed and oak hardwood floors will be put in this week.

You don't have room for drapes. Install shades. There are more and more shade options,

Paint walls all one color, including fireplace brick. You can resurface later,

New sunbrella fabrics do not require limiting sofa color to brown.

Use your current couches till baby is older.

rope lighting above molding will work

Quorum Lighting 6172-6-70 Flora Chandelier, Persian White w/ White Linen · More Info

I like he davenport 2 tier chandelier the best. What color walls would you recommend? I am considering putting mounding in the living room area that would be white.

my color sense is probably very different from yours

paint is inexpensive and easily changed

For now I think I'm going to leave the brick fire place due to the budget and paint the mantel white. I also like the idea of adding a painting on top of the fireplace. I also have to look into the window treatments. The windows are large I can imagine the cost of the window treatments

Alexandria, you may to consider TVCoverUps. Original art or framed mirror adds to the room's decor, with the hidden TV beneath!

See how EASY it really is:

Hidden Behind Artwork · More Info

Hide TV with Mirror! · More Info

Hidden Behind Artwork · More Info

TVCoverup Installation - Beverly Hills · More Info

hardwood floors will be completed tomorrow yayyy...I need help should I paint that wall an accent color or the same color as the rest of the room? If I paint that wall an accent color should I go light or dark?

If you ever re-do your fireplace then you may want to get rid of the hearth. So make sure you keep a little extra hardwood flooring, so that you can fill in the area where the hearth is now.

Lovely room.

I wouldn't use an accent wall. You have lots going on in this room (fireplace, windows) and I think it would be unnecessarily busy.

New lighting options might be in order. Below are a few options that might look great:

Lighting as a Jewelry · More Info

Lighting as a Jewelry · More Info

The Duke · More Info

no accent wall. one reason is that your fireplace wall should stay the focal point. I forgot. Are you going to paint the whole room? If so, I would not do a separate color above the molding. Once again, the molding stands alone as an accent. The room does not need extra focal points/distractions. I think it is a beautiful room. Rope lighting along the top of the first row of molding would be cool.

This is what I was thinking about doing with the lights above the molding.

actually, a closeup of the molding would help. I really don't understand how/why it was installed. Maybe it should be moved, not removed.

The earlier owners/builders made design mistakes you are now having to correct. Once the room is livable, don't feel pressured to do everything. Moving in is a big expense. Living with things a while gives you a different perspective about what is needed.

yes, that is the lighting effect I was thinking about

Actually it looks better in person and defiantly not a mistake. Lots of the home have high ceilings in the area and they choose to go with mid ceilings so it does take any of their room from the second floor. I have considered adding another piece of molding on top of the window which would probably make it look better.

I wanted to update everyone on my progress in this room. Hardwood floors completed and the room is all cleaned up. Now time to paint, buy furniture, and decorate. What do you guys think??

Any more progress? I know it's almost a year later but I am keen to find out what you did!

I was surprised no one replied to your last pictures, it looks so lovely with that floor board.

Great point I also believe the TV should be lowered.

Would you go with white curtains? I need 108 inch and I have been having a hard time finding this size in stores.

I would do linen drapes because they would give a natural textured look against the look of the brick fireplace. You will have to have custom drapery for the correct length and that is very important. Have you looked on www.halfpricedrapes.com? Or other websites?

Here are 108" length, beige linen drapes and 50" wide. They are very reasonably priced as well. Is this something you think would work? Look around on their website.

drapery · More Info