Thank you. I agree. I guess I'm wondering about furniture placement. There is an open kitchen into family room through the doors on the right and the dining room used to be in front of the white couches - but seems odd to walk into a dining room. Also...although not showing here - it needs a repainting so I wondered about that too.

Another similar size sofa (making up a U shape of sofas) with a side table or low book case behind it would give a focal point. Then maybe a snuggler chair facing the entrance with a statement rug as previously suggested would again add warmth . As for colours ???! Taupes would be classy ?!? And would work with the existing furniture and flooring.

Wow, pretty room, but it is a dilemna. I would tone down the wall color for sure. There are quite a few things to be done in here. First of all, address the absence of a foyer. This room is also large enough and should have more than one conversation area. I do like the buffet placement, mirror and chairs, although I believe that the pictures above are making me feel symetrically dizzy. It would be easy to do a half wall to section out a foyer but part of the beauty of this room is the vertical view through the room to the outdoors. Could you let me know what colors you like? If you don't know, what colors do you wear the most. If this were my personal space, I would capture this in navy and white, touches of black, brass, etc. Then when you accessorize, greens or reds would really pop so nicely. If you could tell me what colors you like, I would be happy to give you more advice. You most definitely need a beautiful bench along the right wall there, ad perhaps surround the mirror with some transferware that compliments your new color scheme, i.e., for navy, use blue and white, neutral tans...brown and white transferware or blue and white, so many ways to go. How I would love to decorate this space!

Thank-you Kathy! When you say navy what are you referring to exactly. I like the idea of a nice taupe also but there are so many variations of the colour. I love the look of taupe with white and black accents. I do wear mostly neutrals which colour in accessories -so I guess that's where I'd go with home decor too.

Thanks for all the comments above also, definitely something to get me started!

You could actually use two rather large rugs--one with the sofas and one in the foreground. You could do something more interesting with the arrangement of the buffet and the mirror. I don't think the mirror looks good in that setting. Just one large painting over the buffet would work better. You could add a beautiful lamp/lamps to the buffet. Some larger upholstered chairs next to the buffet would anchor that wall. Try the chairs in a soft aqua or muted colors that are in the painting on the left. It's hard to see from the angle but the painting might look better reframed with a slightly larger matting. That is an amazing room! I'd like to see you keep the yellow and add just some soft aquas for accents. Live plants, several of good size, would do wonders.

oh and I'm not sure what transferware is...

I just looked it up! thanks.

Allison - I think once you create a bit of a foyer, then walking into the dining room does make the most sense here. You just need a screen wall worthy of this space - I think I know of the right product for you and you certainly have a big enough room to create one. I'm understanding you to say that the entry doors open right into this large room.

To make a great foyer for not too much, you need to borrow up to 12' deep from the front door to place a free standing 12'6" wide and 12' high screen wall between the front door and the rest of the space. You don't have to take 12' you can place it at 8 -10' - look at these modern wood cut panels from Crestview. http://www.crestviewdoors.com/order/redi-screens/redi-screens-oxford.html

Place the screen wall nearly centered on the entry door, but so you can walk into the room on either side of it - put a console table in front of it, hang a piece of art on the screen above it - put some flanking straight chairs on both sides of the console table - treat it in all respects like a wall. Even get some battery powered lighting for the art on the wall. For your room, I like the oxford style squares to echo the architecture and floor, but look at all of the choices. Saffron is more open, but also echos the square corners. Look at the galleries that shown them used in different ways as screens. http://www.crestviewdoors.com/order/redi-screens.html


See this screen and enclosure "wall" stained dark but with the warmth of wood. Then, layer in more warmth with wall and ceiling colors and fabulous rugs. I would bring nature in with a neutral taupe that leans toward khaki green. It is going to add some warmth in a room this size, and I would put in a taupe earth toned ceiling and play with that same color on the underside of the lighted soffit. Finding full spectrum bulbs for the soffit lighting might do a lot for you.

Here's a wall color to consider and test in your space http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7746-rushing-river/ - this is going to be great to bring the scale of the room more cozy / also add drama. To coordinate, go a little earthy with this neutral tone up on the ceiling and the wide bottom of the soffit in a tone that is a little warmer http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6148-wool-skein/ -
Then, use the lightest tone on that card, panda white, for all your trim and doors.

p.s. how to make a 12' screen wall from 3 ea 4 x 8 panels just requires a little "wall construction" to hold the panels together up high and trim them all out. The scale of your room means that you need to bump up the overall scale of the panels in a framed enclosure to stand up and look like they belong.

wow! Thank-you so much. I have to read this a few times over but wonderful ideas Libradesigneye!

I like the idea of a screen dividing the foyer from the rest of your space from libradesigneye. Consider putting 4 chairs with a table in the center in front of the screen. This area could be used for dining when needed, for an extra seating area or it could be accessorized to serve as a foyer area on a daily basis.

Before you close off the view purchase 3 or 5 or 7 palms of several varieties like lady palm, fishtail palm, kentia palm and bamboo palm. Place at least one at the corner of the buffet wall & window. Move the others around until you're happy with the placement. Your foyer is magnificent and the view of your windows is lovely.