Ok, I am looking at all this again, the flo usually stays in an armoire in the guest room, it comes out for Memorial Day, Flag Day, & 4th of July! LOL! However, I do like a piece of it here and there in the bookcase, but I really don't have any other blue in my dining room or my living room. The decanters on the other hand....are a different story. I love the play of crystal against a mirror and they set the stage for using this piece in collaboration with the dining room, so....I am back to bluenan's idea with the decanters in the center as a collection and the 2 smaller blue vases on either side. So, the original #3 option in the original dilemma discussion. Very Very Simple and Very Symmetrical......but oh-so-easy, and lets me skip the fake vs real flower issue, LOL! Also, a break from cleaning the silver service, which is really what SHOULD go on the sideboard, according to my mother!. And thank you also, Cole Lumber Co., for your ideas and comments. My DH is groaning right now just thinking about raising that mirror 4", but I see your point. I assure you, if I start filling up the walls with all the flo blue plates, platters, and trays I have, my DH & Kids will RUN from the house, never to be seen again. The foyer is restrained from too much craziness and I am trying to simplify not Re-Clutter, LOL! I especially love a needlepoint pillow cover on a down pillow and that is a great accessory to have, so thanks! This buffet has the high/low inset in it and it absolutely demands something in the center as well as both sides, but simple it can be. Tiffany66, I love the ZGallerie clam shell, better than Ballards, thanks tiffany66! So glad you didn't say the fake orchid died, LOL! I agree, a high quality fake is a good investment. But this begs my question of all you wise decorators....how to effectively mix antiques with modern or an occasional artsy piece and still pay homage to the authenticity of a well loved or prized possession? I yearn for the finesse to make that happen. I always end up thinking the modern piece is just junk in favor of my own "junke"! LOL! In reviewing ways to display a collection, I thought you were supposed to group them together in a way they make sense like these pics. I would love to see antique collections successfully mixed with modern accessories, if you have accomplished this for your client, weigh in, please. [houzz=] [houzz=]

I would go with the gray, paint the porch floor a high gloss medium gray. Brown and yellow (or cream) is dated and these colours seem to tie in with the house colours better. Your roof appears to be black, not brown. Just use long pavers to replace the interlocking brick. The railing should NOT be the same colour as the house. Create interest with the dark gray panel and lose the rails. Pop your front door colour (not red as yellow and red would look pretty gaudy together) and just get rid of the dated oval glass one. The house numbers need to be larger, as well as your porch light (lantern style would suit). If you are going to have a flower bed, make it a substantial one, soft curves and no edging. Add lots of soil, cover in landscape cloth, then cut criss-cross holes and plant your plants. Finish it all off with black mulch and you will have very little weeding all summer. Shutters seem to add, since the frame around the window is too narrow for such a large window. I agree with the comment that the front of the garage begs for tall planters. This design invites you to the front door and I feel is cleaner, brighter and more up-to-date.

sandyC I've been afraid the lowes and Home Depot ones would look cheap, but there's nothing to lose by ordering them and seeing for myself right? Besides the current fixture you like is literally builder grade - the builder put them in all the houses on this street so most of my neighbors have them too. Lol! No worries Susan2494, I'm not at all offended by honest opinions, especially when they are so well meant. You are all incredibly helpful people and I really appreciate y'all. :) You are all right, in the end I just need to know myself and my style better. As someone put it right now my whole style is a bit mishmash. But even though our old apartment was never perfectly put together, it was comfortable, colorful and happy. So far I've just bought anything that I 'loved', without worrying about a cohesive style. Lol. I naively thought if you filled your house with beautiful things that you genuinely like then your style will take care of itself. But you all have taught me to appreciate the work that goes into tying it all together. Anyway it's fun and I think I'm just going to take it slow and enjoy the process. Thank you all so much!

Given your zone 10 location: plants that can thrive in warm to hot dry temperatures / soil conditions are the types of plants you want to be looking at. We love the span and exterior textures of the home and further agree, the red brick is a wonderful backdrop to accentuate colorful upright planting material. We believe you will also want to create some element of mirroring effect…. Mirroring is the process of replicating mirror image shapes or silhouettes of the home, on grade or at the ground elevation. The lines of this home are sharp angles, and serve as a built in decorative accent or even focal point for this property. We would expand on that for my plant space design… Given the design or architecture of this property is somewhat transitional, we would suggest a modern clean approach to accenting this planting space… By “clean” we are not suggesting that you implement a “mundanely uniform” space or planting plan. We believe this space is ideal for a blending or co-mingling of different types of planting material of differing heights and vastly different textures consisting of various colors. Plant options: Rubber plants Red Bougainvillea Palms Cacti In addition to planting selection, creating a framing of the outer perimeter or edge of the flower beds will serve as a smart somewhat modern accent. This can be achieved very inexpensively with simple garden edging, our suggestion;Pro Edge Aluminum garden edge. Add additional design flair by matching landscape lighting material to that of your Pro Edge Aluminum.