Beverly you are so great at responding to everyone! Thank you. I need some serious help here. What is the best way to generate a lot of answers for my questions do you think? You've been responsive and so have some others, but this is a first for me and wanted to figure out how to get more advice. Thanks again

The OPs with the most input have lovely manners. As you did above, they respond often, put up lots of progress pics, and keep going on the dilemma. They thank people, and actually try things, even if they're their own ideas. That gets Houzzers interest, as we are all addicted to design!

I appreciate your response as well. Some people have been rude, but I will keep trying

I'm confused - where is the large cabinet going in the first picture?

Since the entry door is black, and black would work well with your beautiful new dining table and chairs, I would start introducing more black into the room. I do not care for the floor tile style or color under the dining table so I am recommending a black sisal rug there.

I would also consider pulling the teal color from your flower art and painting that angle wall the same teal to create an accent wall.

Also please send more more shots of the adjoining areas/rooms.

I think the big flower suits the style you are going for more, but maybe you should consider a mirror since it is an entry table. But, consider what the mirror will reflect, though.

Where is your tall cabinet going? It is very pretty. Post more room pics, please.

I think Maven is right about introducing some black. You have a lot of nuetral and everything is blending. I don't think you need a lot of it.

A rug would help. Also, can you slipcover the pillows on your tall chairs. That would bring in an accent and break up the beige.

I love neutrals, but you either need to coordinate the patterns and tones or use an accent.

So helpful. The flooring is NOT my choice believe me. I'm planning on getting a light wood but it's down the road due to financial constraints so I love the idea of a rug. Do you think a solid black? Also, the cabinet is staying where it's at as that is the only spot for it. I need to figure out what to do as an entry piece because the dark brown is so old and I'm trying to move away from dark colored furniture. I want to eventually get a dutch door, but that is in the future as well. So for now, I'm trying to make it a nicely decorated place with what I have. It's a small room and I hate that you can see my washer and dryer but because the house is a mid century, that was where they put it. So any ideas to block that off would be appreciated. Do you mean slipcover the smaller pillows on the large slip covered chairs? It's from Restoration Hardware, perhaps they have colored pillows. Do you think I need barstools too? If so, what kind? I can't thank everyone enough for the advice.

Oh, those pictures help so much. The furniture is really beautiful. Definitely keep the pic that not so glossy. A mirror would NOT work.

The floor is fine, but the colors are too similar, so I'd look for a darker rug. I don't think you need solid black, even a dark gray. Rugs are so hard!

When I mentioned the pillows earlier, I meant the little ones on your big chairs. If they aren't attached, I bet you could sew covers and introduce a pattern or another color. With a zippered cover, you could just take them off when you you get sick of them. You can figure that out last, though.

Solid black rug isn't practical as it shows every hair and dust.

I was just looking through rugs and I agree the solid black would be too dark, but I like the idea of a rug to detract from the floors. Thank you about the furniture. Those 2 pieces (cabinet and table) are setting the tone for the vibe I'm going for. Now to figure out an entry piece. Do you all like the chalkboard I made? The kids love it but I do think it needs to be lowered if we are keeping it. A rug with grays might be good because I will eventually do a gray couch and the wood floors will be brownish/gray when I can get them.

LOVE your furniture! Though it can be good to introduce a bit of black into a room, I'm not sure I would replace your chest with a black piece. I'd go for something lighter, maybe even a skirted rectangular table. I also like both pieces of art, but the square leaf I think is too large. My preference would be something a bit narrower than the piece of furniture it's placed above. An easy solution to keep your washer & dryer out of site. Hang some linen blend panels that are close to your wall color. The rod can be hung from the ceiling or on the wall in the laundry area or the kitchen. I'd probably go in the laundry room. Day to day you can leave them open, when company comes, just pull closed.

Not the best examples, but should give you an idea.

You have a good eye. About bar stools. Because of the relatively narrow space between table and chairs, I would find stools without backs. Or with fairly open and low backs. This would help keep things open. I noticed washer dryer too. Definitely have solution for that. Sliding panels would work well. If you have young ones, a solution should be made so they can't get hurt or pull things down. I have to think about that one for you. Love that tall cabinet. So perfect there too. Doin good!

Can u paint the body (not top) of the table you have a cream color?

My kids are almost 7 - I have twins :) So they know what to keep their hands off of - or they will find out the hard way. lol. I like the idea of panels or sliding panels. Is that something I can get at Ikea? I wish I could move those but can't. My pantry is back there too so something just to shut it off when people are over would work until I remodel.

Also, I can't tell if it's just the pictures but it looks sorta cramped. You can do away with the table altogether and just hang the art. The single flower not glass

Paint my dining table? No I won't do that because it's from RH and it was the purchase that I wanted. It's hard to see from the picture but it's gray in color and I want to keep it like that.

Oh you meant the entry table - lol. I thought you meant my dining table. I never thought of not having an entry piece altogether. I'm curious about how that would look. I always felt I needed something there but maybe not?

Is that your main entry that you use or is it only guest entry? If the entry table isn't necessary, you could eliminate it and just hang the artwork. I feel like it's a bit cramped with the large dining table and hutch. An open entryway would make the room feel more spacious.

I love the style you have going on.

Yes, the entry table, not dining table, lol! You were probably thinking, um, what the hell, I just shelled out major dough for this RH lime washed look table and she wants me to paint it? Hahahahaha!

I was dying when you said that. Lol!
I'm liking the idea of no entry piece. It is my main entry. The ONLY problem is that we use it for some storage and to drop our purse and backpacks on etc. so it's become a real huge junk drawer. Lol
I would love something that we could hang our purses on or something for the kids etc but it might just be too crowded. OR if there was something to put on that huge wall going in to the family room that would be used for storage. I'm going to remove the entry and take a picture for you tomorrow.
Any ideas though on storage and where to put things as we come in to the house? We have such a tiny place there isn't any space.

So here is the living room attached to the kitchen that I'm trying to figure out as well. Perhaps I can do something with the brown piece and use it somewhere else but not sure where!
So this is the room just past the entry. The mirror is being refurbished and hung over the couch - I think. The rest is a mystery.
The couch needs to stay for now until I can buy a new one but flooring is coming first someday

So storage for Purses, backpacks? Any shoes? Coats? You can do a very narrow bench but it depends on what you need to store there.

What are your needs for the two spaces? you can fill a room with all sorts of things but first and foremost it has to be functional.

What age are the kids? Do they need storage for toys? A spot for homework?

IKEA make attractive shoe storage pieces you can hang keys above. They are quite shallow.

Ihave an antique hall stand, has room for bags, keys, coats, umbrellas etc. I learned not to hang heavy school bags on the cast iron hooks as apparently they can snap. Apparently wrought iron hooks are stronger.

The twins are almost 7. They have toys and games but most stay in their rooms or I make them clean it up when they are done. We always put shoes away. I guess it's really just becomes a place to store a bunch of junk - pens, cables, placemats, tools, etc. it's super random and I would die if anyone opened it. But I do keep my purse there every day when I come home and my briefcase but maybe it's better to keep it simple and find a cute hanging hook of some type and figure out another place for storage.
I always thought I needed to have an entry piece. I thought it was something almost requires believe it or not. Which is why I'm on here asking for advice. :).
That back wall - it sure would be nice to create a space for the kids to do homework, crafts, play games etc. right now I'm a slave to my dining room table because it's new I don't let them do work or write there. So I got the little table you see there from my parents house just for now but it's almost too small for them. I need like a sitting and functional area but haven't figured out how to make it happen. Like I said it's such an odd space. I think back in the day it was used as the dining room

I envision some sort of desk system against the wall with some bean bags or small ottomans, small bookshelf for books, games, etc. A built in seems like it's out of budget. Check IKEA for ideas!

For entryway, something as simple as this with a very narrow bench

These aren't exactly what I envisioned but gives you an idea of how to use that back wall space.

I would keep some kind of closed storage by the entry instead of hooks. The square art is the better piece, but it's too large for the cabinet below. You're on the right track with everything else except...the front door. It's all wrong with that oval glass. I'd put replacing it high on the priority list.

I'm not a fan of hooks either. But sometimes you gotta give when space is tight. You can probably get away with a narrow bench and basket.

I like the idea a lot! I've thought about doing something like this but can't do a built in. They can sit there and do their homework etc. this is a great idea. I will need to see how I can make it so it looks expensive but isn't a built in.

About the door I agree. It's from the original owner. It was an ugly brown so I painted it black just until I can afford a Dutch door. So flooring is my first priority and decorating is something I can do in the meantime.

IKEA also has these very narrow shoe cubbies. I think it'll work great in your space. If you are handy you can even jazz them up with some paint and/or change out knobs.

That's what I said.

Stop causing trouble trouble! Lol. You did say that. But pics or it didn't happen :)

Ok it's getting late. For the homework station Google IKEA hacks. I think there are people that have already figured out how to make every single piece of IKEA furniture look custom and built in. I've seen it with the billy bookcase. You will need a handyman to come and attach to wall and maybe install some molding around. But that's fairly inexpensive.

Did the tree fall in the forest to make that furniture, if no one saw it?

I think I will remove the entry piece and take a picture for you all to see what you think. Tomorrow.
It feels weird to me not having an entry table. What about a simple parsons table with 2 cubes under for storage? I don't know I think I'm getting tired. Until tomorrow.....very grateful for your help

S Mistry - thank you!!!!

Yes post a pic from all angles. And dimensions would help too. Maybe there is more space than the pictures show.

Hi Cara - The extra pictures do help us a lot - thank you!

I just have a few additional comments: I would love to see a hanging barn sliding door between your kitchen and laundry room but I understand you have a pantry across from the W/D, correct? Maybe someone get creative and figure out how to grab a sliver of space from that so you can hang a sliding barn door? Would look very cool and reinforce the look you have going on.

Speaking of cohesive design; I know the budget probably won't allow but maybe down the road, you could replace the upper cabinet kitchen doors with glass and/or coordinating wood (to connect your dining table to the kitchen). In the mean time, consider painting the white upper cabinets a taupey gray color to help them become part of your open floor plan design.

I love the chalk board you made - great job! I agree it is hung too high but IMO it is very large and almost seems to dwarf the kitchen ( the scale is off). To help mitigate this, consider hanging it vertically but do not center it on that wall - place it approx. 6 inches to the left of the light switch and about 2 feet up from the floor - you can rest it on the floor before mounting to get an idea if it something you and your twins will enjoy!

I would like to see the angled walls painted an accent color - does not have to be dramatic: check out Tapestry Beige OC-32 or Grant Beige HC 83 - for TV wall, etc. What do you think?

Lastly, I will look for a few area rugs for your consideration!

Best.

Thank you sooo much i love these opinions. The chalkboard has been bothering me but my kids love it. I also spent a lot - too much - money at a reclaimed wood store for the frame. Do you feel it should be removed completely or will the vertical look help? I am going to play with that idea as I have someone coming on Tuesday to lower it.
Also - i have considered the barn door idea but for some reason I'm hearing it can't be done. We had a door person here from Lowes when I wanted to change my front door (which I'm waiting on) and they said it can't be done. Something to do with the space needed on the side of the wall. I will see if there is a way to reconsider
About paining the walls - the angled wall is from the entry all the way through the living room to the slider. Are you saying to pain it all? I think that would make the most sense
And the TV wall - is it ok to just paint that or should I paint the entire house? I switched to all white for a clean slate when I moved in and I love white but if the accent walls work that might be a good start.
Everyone has given some great feedback. I'm still struggling with the entry. I like the idea of completely losing one all together but I just keep going back to feeling like I need something as people walk in to set the tone.
I'm going to post a couple pics of ideas to see what people think too.

I like your chalkboard and I don't think you need to lower it. I think you should wait on the entry. Try living with no table vs. a table and see.

I bought a bench for my entry but we ended always coming through the garage, so I'm switching things up. I didn't know that until we lived in house for a bit.

I think your kitchen looks great. Don't put so much pressure on yourself to make everything perfect right. The living room is coming along, too. You're doing great!

I love all white walls also! But right now when I look at your FP wall, I think a slightly darker accent wall there would help to anchor the bookcases and TV as now they are floating on the wall (in other words, a darker background will help tie the three together as well as make the white FP pop as it should for best design impact).

I do think painting the entire angled wall from front door all the way to the slider. Paint it the same color as the FP wall. These two accent walls only, will define spaces and connect all at the same time. It will also help to make a pleasing transition from one functional area to another in your open floor plan. The two colors I suggested are not dramatic accent colors and will work extremely well with white all the other white walls.

Yea, I think installing a barn door is tricky there but I would love to SEE it there! Maybe you can have an expert in that type of door come in for a consult?!?

check out Sanborne Area Rug from Homedecorators.com - it is a charcoal gray faux sisal. I'm sorry but I had trouble doing the link for some reason! Anyway, I think it will anchor your dining table and chairs well. Make sure you don't make the common mistake of getting one that is two small - the chairs need to still be on the rug when pulled out before sitting.