thank you. it was all medium brown cheap oak and brass.

I agree. I plan to update the appliances down the road. was thinking slate color.

i like the idea of color rug. what color backsplash would liven it up?

I have not painted that area yet either. the taupe neutral was from previous owner so what color paint could liven it up? you can see where i painted some swatches on the wall of gray.

Replacing the builder's grade, dated lighting will add a big burst of wow! Looking at the other pix you have in ideabooks, I think the chair railing is not really working. You can remove it or just paint to match the wall color. Have you considered converting the railing above the kitchen into a pony wall with a nice retreat upstairs for reading or an office? The side not seen from below can be a bookcase. The weird trim and faux shutters on multi windows is not doing any wowing on the outside. The garage painted dark is just adding a gaping black hole. Post current pix of the exterior; hopefully you've changed that color combo.

i have not changed the exterior at all, other than landscaping. what suggestions for improvement?

I agree that the fireplace wall could be spectacular. I would remove all moulding from wall as well as wainscoting. Stone and a rustic mantle that echos floors would be great, or a shaker style mantle or surround would work too. I wouldn’t add anything to other(side) walls, instead keep focus on fo wall. A colourful area rug would help draw the eye towards fp
Photo below is best photo I could find showing coloured rug and stone fp.

I like it. thats what I had in mind also. Thanks for sharing some insight.

The black outlining your house is boxing it in. Shutters aren't appropriate for double/triple windows. The top and bottom trim on them is more of a colonial thing, which your house isn't. I'd replace all of that with some substantial trim around the windows and paint the corner trim to match the house color. The gray looks quite somber. Does it suit the neighborhood? You could paint all of it, including the body of the house, white; that would be my choice. Yellow would be nice too, as well as any lighter color you like that fits the style of the neighborhood. If you can't afford all of that, then paint the corner trims to match the current body color and change all the other black parts to white, removing the shutters from the triple window downstairs and the top and bottom trim from all the windows. The big bucks should go into outstanding landscaping to the street. Here's the trim idea for your windows. Again, they've boxed their house in by painting the verticals on the corners to contrast. I'd keep them the color of the house itself.

Traditional Exterior · More Info

,,, but this is contemporary -

Co-Housing · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/photos/co-housing-contemporary-living-room-portland-maine-phvw-vp~5179283

Leaving trim on tall wall - this type? with large square canvas piece...

Millcreek Estates · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/photos/millcreek-estates-traditional-living-room-phvw-vp~37395204

Have to post their look - and board-and-baton style wall treatment -

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/21st-century-bungalow-contemporary-living-room-phvw-vp~406093

Really nice home.

Like the exterior colors, including contrast trim. A red door would go well with the house exterior colors -- any shade you like. Might consider dark wine burgundy red if you're considering repainting it.

Like what you've done with the inside with one exception -- sometimes shades of white side by side can cause one shade to appear something other than white and/or even dingy in some light. (Right side of the door in the third pic.)

If you want more color in your kitchen, consider painting the short wall above the cabinets at the ceiling your favorite accent color. If you want more color, you could paint the recessed panels on the dining side of your peninsula the same accent color. You might consider one of the blues on your ?coffee table? cover.

Definitely need to remove some clutter, including in the kitchen and on the mantel, and choose art to hang on the wall above the mantel.

Would be careful about adding too much art on the walls of that narrow living room - it could "crowd" the room -- perhaps one piece or grouping over the sofa.

If you feel you "need" art over the fireplaces/windows, you might consider something like this:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/563639922/birds-metal-birds-brass-birds-flying?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=brass+wall+art&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&frs=1&col=1 

Your stainless steel appliances look fine. White would work, too. Any other color will likely be a fad that will pass and date you home.

By appliances, I didnt mean your stove etc, I meant, like a mixer or a coffee pot or even a colored toaster. Something to give some interest to your kitchen which is all pretty much the same tones.

Thanks for the comments. I find agreement in many of your opinions.