Here’s a shot of the kitchen. Please don’t judge the dishes in the sink, haha!

Here’s a pic showing the new mantle arrangement with the addition of a frame by the tv... just to weigh the options. If I did add anything by the tv, it wouldn’t just be one frame, but I was just trying to get an idea.

Jessica, the chandelier is here:

https://www.shadesoflight.com/products/birdcage-crystal-chandelier

That one may actually be a little small, so search for birdcage chandeliers.

I think it looks better with nothing on the mantle and I want to recommend a collage above the mail table incorporating the mirror and a plant in a galvanized metal pail, and I do think baskets would be nice too!

Thanks, Grover! Anxious for your feedback on the living room as well :)

@Mon - interesting idea for the mail table. I’m not great at multi-piece wall collages but could give it a try. I never know how to choose complementary items! Especially in such a small space.

If I don’t end up hanging the wreath-covered window panes beside the TV, what do you guys think about hanging a wreath over the hallway mirror? Here’s a wreath I already own. Sorry it’s not the best pic!

I also really love these mirrors (Target maybe?) if anyone knows where to find them or something similar. Thinking they might work in the dining room or somewhere else

I see no point in hanging a wreath over top of a mirror. A mirror is for reflecting stuff. Why would you cover it up?

https://www.ballarddesigns.com/garden-district-mirrors/decor-more/mirrors/wall-mirrors/336689

Jessica, please forgive me, but I can't help thinking: Dang, this woman wants a wreath!

Come on, everyone. Let's find Jessica a good place for a wreath.

I love changing out my wreath throughout the year that coordinates with the season/holiday on my front door. Some ideas for a rustic wall collage over the mail table.

I'm partial to the first option! But here's a great resource to check out for some more rustic farmhouse decor ideas: Modern Farmhouse Decor

following

Rena is right!

"Jessica, please forgive me, but I can't help thinking: Dang, this woman wants a wreath!"

I think a wreath over the sink, hanging in front of the window would look great in your kitchen.

The current wreath the way it is I don't think would look nice put up right now but I do think if you spruced it up with some burlap and a little more rustic touches it could have potential.

Some ideas

Thanks, Mon- I love the rustic touches to the wreaths! Good idea. Apparently I really do want a wreath, ha ha!

The collage ideas are great too, I will see what I can find! (Question: do you guys feel like the wooden arrows are overdone or no? I like them but have seen them all over)

Anyone have feedback on the mantle with a couple frames on either side?

Grover - I just noticed on your rendering of the dining room that you also adjusted the curtains/rods! Looks great! Do you feel like the light colored moroccan curtains work well or should I introduce more color? The room is pretty neutral.

THANKS!!

Bumping

I like the setup now with the mantle items next to the art, I also think keeping the mantle clear of clutter now would look better.

Before Beverly comes along and hangs botanical prints in your dining room (which is kind of the default art for a traditional dining room), I wanted to hang something a little more original. How about a subtle hint of color with these peacocks?

And yes, I think the trellis curtains are fine.

Build a collage wall around your wreath.

HI Grover- I LOVE the peacock art, so pretty! Do you have suggestions for where to purchase frames and photo mats? Would you get rustic frames or traditional frames for that room?

Any other suggestions for the living room? I was considering purchasing blue/green sea glass-type lamps to replace the current ones.

And suggestions for items to put on or below the mail table? Just trying to incorporate “rustic chic” elements all over. Hall runner rug could be another option for freshening up the decor, I’m not tied to anything particularly. :)

What is the space with the mail table exactly? Is that the entry? Some baskets beneath would be nice, the wood is a little too dark, rich, and heavy looking for most of the rustic farmhouse styles I've seen more distressed and simple designs help.

Jessica, in the dining room, I'd do plain black frames next to the china cabinet. A black iron light fixture is as rustic as I'd go in there.

Here's an idea for the mail table:

Mon, the mail table is just inside of the kitchen, right past the front entry way. Here’s a pic. The kitchen is opposite of the table.

I guess the look I’m aiming for isn’t full on rustic farmhouse but more rustic chic or rustic contemporary. I was hoping I could mix more rustic pieces in with my existing clean-line more contemporary/traditional furniture so that I don’t have to buy everything new. What do you think?

Grover, I love that bowl! Do you like it filled with the wooden balls or should I find some greenery? I’ve also seen cotton balls (not the bathroom kind lol).

We are also looking to replace the four-seat high top table we have in our kitchen now. Wondering if anyone has suggestions. Looking for something that would be a good mix of the styles I’m trying to incorporate! We are looking for a rectangular table to fit in our open concept kitchen that opens into our living room. Thanks!

Grover - I’m so sad! I was going to get that dough bowl and measured the mail table to see how it would fit. Unfortunately it’s about the same width as the table and extends almost all the way to each end. I’ll have to search for one a bit smaller. The bowl I have on there now is about 13.5x7. The table is only about 42x12.

Jessica, just do an internet search for "dough bowl." Here are pages and pages of them on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=dough%20bowl

Search eBay, too. You'll find one that fits.

THANKS, GROVER! I ended up buying the peacock prints you suggested- they should arrive in about a week! So excited I’m now buying frames for them. I went with the 18x24 print, and it looks like it sort of has a built in white “mat” around the image. It’s just an illusion but do you think this should suffice or should I purchase a mat as well? Also trying to decide what frames to purchase. Narrowed down to these two since our furniture in there is a dark brown and these seem to match closely. The difference is the width of framing itself. What do you think would work best?

OPTION 1: Craig Frames 23247778 18 by 24-Inch Picture Frame, Smooth Wrap Finish, 1-Inch Wide, Brazilian Walnut Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BH5AYV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5uJsBbR6VBBSG

OR OPTION 2: Espresso Walnut Brown 18 By 24-inch Picture Frame Smooth Finish 1.25 Inch Wide Pictureframefactoryoutlet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BTKZU18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ewJsBbKH3YPNF

Thanks!!

@grover - hi there! Just wanted to check in to see you might be able to give me some advice on the frames for the dining room (last post)? Sorry to be so needy, you’ve been such an amazing help!! The art prints should be arriving this week- can’t wait to get them up!

I also ordered two barnwood frames for the living room and I’m super excited about those as well. :)

Now just trying to figure out this mail table... I bought this cute little embroidered lumbar pillow that im hoping to work in on the bottom somehow.

I’m thinking about buying a couple of baskets for the bottom shelf of the table - one to hold the pillow. And then figuring out some other things to add for interest. The pillow is 17” wide. Found this little basket that seems to be the right size to put the pillow in- thoughts?

and found this basket I was thinking about getting as well (smallest size shown):

Do you think these would work well together?Any other suggestions? Thanks!

Oh I almost forgot! We are thinking about upgrading our kitchen table. Currently we have a four person high top table but now our two year old is climbing up on the chairs and the heights scares me a little (plus it’s a cheaply made wobbly table to begin with!). Can you suggest any styles you think would fit in well with our “rustic contemporary” decor? We are looking for something rectangular and had been looking at darker wood since we have dark furniture in the dining room and living room. But we are open to advice!

Here are a couple I like so far:

What I do NOT like about the second is the cushions on the seat. Those things would never stay clean. But these are just things that caught my eye.

We would also love to find a rug to go underneath that coordinates and doesn’t break the bank.

We’ll need new light fixtures as well - for above the kitchen table and the kitchen island. I’ll try to take photos of the kitchen tomorrow in better lighting, if that would help!

Thanks for your help, as always! :)

Jessica, for the frames, I'd go with the wider one for an 18 x 24" print. Framed art always looks better with a proper mat. A frame shop can cut them to size for you.

I'll return in a bit with a mock up of your mail table.

You've got a few really great photos that are lost in that collage frame. I'd blow them up and do a collage like the one below.

World Market has more interesting baskets than the one you show. Find something with some personality and skip the pillow which really makes no sense there. Resist the urge to load the table with little stuff just because it looks empty. Learn to appreciate empty space.

I'll wait for photos of the kitchen to weigh in on the breakfast table.

It seems you are trying to replace several pieces in many different rooms of your house. I would recommend hitting the pause button and just be.

Next time you come home, imagine the home belongs to a friend. I would think you would walk in and think "wow, this is a beautiful and inviting space!" You wouldn't be as nit picky.

It's something I struggle with in my own home. We bought a fixer upper and I found myself always finding flaws and areas that need improvement. When people come to our home they always compliment our space, and I try to see our house through their eyes.

I'm a nutshell, your home is beautiful and warm. Take a well deserved break and enjoy it! Good for the wallet and soul :-)

Thank you all so much for your amazing input! I feel like things are starting to come together.
Sorry for the delay on the photos... I did say I was starting the search for a new kitchen table and light fixtures. We have a 4-seat high top table and want to get a standard height table that seats 6. I’d also like some chic light fixtures that give the space a more updated look. I would love recommendations on a pretty area rug for below the table that can stand up to my messy eaters (the blue one I have there now seems to tie in well with the rest of the house, but it will be too small for a larger table). Finally, I’m trying to figure out what to do about window treatments for above the sink and the bay window. Maybe a floral valance for above the sink? I just don’t want it to be too much with the tile backsplash.

Here’s what our kitchen looks like now... (we plan to eventually replace the black appliances with stainless steel, and I realize how cluttered our fridge looks! )

No valance. You could do curtain panels in the bay, or replace the blinds with roman shades.

Replace the boob light over the sink with a pendant that matches or complements those over the island.

I also wanted to share some photos of the rest of the recent updates I’ve made based on great feedback from everyone here!

In the living room, I replaced the small brown frames with larger reclaimed barnwood frames. I also moved the mantle decor to the white shelving units and added some small frames to the mantle to conceal the cords.

In the dining room, I took down the metal scrolls and put up new artwork in dark brown frames. I also plan to eventually widen the curtain rods to add fullness to the windows. And replace the light fixture!

Above the console table in the kitchen, I took down the laugh and love metal words. I also added some items to the bottom shelf and refreshed the top of the table. I think I will still bring the collage frame down a couple of inches.

Thank you all so much! It’s getting there...

To bring the rustic into this room, you could do a simple burlap drum...

...or something more barnlike like a barn light:

Thank, Grover! So do you think I should definitely stick with a brown/bronze tone for the lighting and not do a brushed nickel or similar? Just curious. I have lots of silver/Mercury glass throughout and was trying to decide if darker or lighter would work better. I do like the burlap drum shade!

also, totally never noticed but you’re right about the ”boob” light!!! that definitely needs to go! And nothing on the window over the sink then?

here are some photos I had bookmarked as inspiration...think any of these would work? I’m so visual, having a hard time picturing anything in the room without seeing it in person!

Here’s the photo where I got the idea for a floral shade over the kitchen sink:

It took me awhile to cart your table and chairs out of there so I was too pooped to replace them. I did hang curtains and a Roman shade (I am in love with burlap) and replace the light.

Oooh that’s super pretty! Youre awesome! Thanks for doing that. I’m liking the way the Roman shade looks over the sink- do you like it? I see you put a solid color in there and on the curtains on the bay windows (are those burlap?). Do you think solid works better than a print?

I do love the drum light style you’ve used. Since I’m that pretty sure I’ll be replacing the current kitchen table with a rectangular table that seats 6, do you think a round shape still works or what do you think about a light thats longer/larger to cover more of the table? I guess they could both work!

heres a couple tables I’ve been looking at... thoughts?

For the lighting over the island, what do you think about any of the ones I posted above? I love how clean and modern the glass pendants are, and I love the contrast of modern with rustic. Is that weird? Lol

Side note - Ive thought about eventually maybe converting the bay window into a nook with bench seating... that would be a while from now though.

Backing up a bit...and adding to the overload of ideas...but that China cabinet in the dining room is so big and dominates the room. Have you thought of moving it down the wall and perhaps hanging the two pics vertical, one atop the other? Or, side by side, slightly staggered?

Here’s a couple other inspirational photos...

And ive always loved this drum shade but I guess I thought it was meant to be paired with a round table, like the one pictured:

ALSO—suggestions on an area rug?

THANK YOU, Grover!!! Looks great. Where are the table, rug and curtains/shade from? Suggestions for a new runner to go in front of the sink that complements the room? The one we have is a light beige quatrefoil and SO dirty.

Could I see it with any of these by chance? What are the rules about mixing and matching the l lighting over the kitchen table and the lighting over a kitchen island/sink?

Mixing and matching the lighting is a great idea!

One thing I noticed about your pendants is that they're too close together and hung too high. Here are a few of the lights you posted above. Some of them I can't do because the images are too small. If you want to post links to the actual lights you like, I can go get better images and do them.

Oh, you asked about the table, rug, shade. The shade was just a google image, but the table is here: https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/hollingshead-dining-table-lfmf2811.html?source=hotdeals

The rug: https://www.jossandmain.com/rugs/pdp/guillermo-blue-geometric-area-rug-bnrs1980.html?PiID%5B%5D=20372884&source=hotdeals&piid=20372886

An interesting factoid I just discovered. This rug is available from Wayfair, All Modern, and Joss and Main, all of which are part of the same company. It is a different price on each site. I found it cheapest on Joss and Main. Just goes to show it pays to comparison shop. (Have to admit I didn't compare shipping costs, though.)