On my monitor, the blue pillow looks gray and gold and the curtain looks gold.

Would the current sofa table work in the window area at all?

Any friends/neighbors that could stop by and help move the tv? Pan of brownies in the oven???

Groveraxle, this arrangement is definitely growing on me!! I wish I had 2 strong guys to move that armoire out of my way so I could get a better feel about the room.
The recliners do feel a long way from the proposed tv location. I could scoot them away from the window further, I just hope it wont look stupid having so much empty space behind the chairs. I do have a sofa table I can place behind them. I will try it and see how it looks.

Grover, I do agree that I will need a wider console for under the tv. My hubby talked about possibly getting a 50" flatscreen. If that happens the current base that I have won't be wide enough and it would look stupid.
Any opinion as to what size TV set is too big for this space?

okay, sofa table is now in front of the window with recliners in front of it.
It does look nice, but my concern is being able to have a lamp beside our recliners for reading.
Also, now I will have cords running in that open area. The recliners are electric, push a button and it will recline. Not only do the cords look bad, but they will be a hazard. I have a 13 month old grand baby who will definitely want to be exploring around in that open area. Ugh.....who says redecorating is fun??

forgot to post pictures for the previous comment. Here they are.......

My husband and I are in the process of having a 2100 square foot modular home being built for us to use as a lake cabin. We do not expect it to be completed for about 2 or 3 months.
Perhaps I can persuade him to relocate the burgundy recliners to the lake home ;) If that were to happen I could start this room with a clean slate! Hmmmm......

Hi rothschiller. First, the TV wall. A 50" screen would be fine for that wall, I think. Just make sure your media console is longer by a couple of feet. Also, a larger screen will allow you to view from further back.

I like the demilune table at the back window. You actually could move the chairs forward a bit and create enough space to walk behind them.

How about, to minimize cords, you get a power strip to plug in both chairs and both lamps. Shove it under one of the chairs, or under the table. Then you only have a single cord running to the wall.

Hi Rothschiller and all -- I'm glad I picked up on the switch of threads; I've grown attached to this room. I'd prefer something more solid and lower than the demilune at the window, but I think I'll like it better when the chairs are pushed forward a bit, and the table itself is pulled forward ten inches or so. It needs space to breathe.

Groveraxle, that's a pretty painting you put above the fireplace. Something like that would bring a welcome sense of airiness to the room. Mind you, the lighter colour and shape of the green sofa helps in that respect too. I see the most gorgeous transformation on its way.

Yes - to the cabin - they'll be perfect there and you can have your more formal room here! I say take all this furniture to the cabin, except for tables. You'll want more rugged ones there. Your room already has a wide opening to the foyer and the one above the wall serves what purpose? I hate seeing the ceiling fixture next door. I'd close all the builder's special shelf/niche dust-catchers.Add the built-in unit I posted yesterday, or one with two wings if you like, since you have lots of wall space. You can continue with oak or do a painted one. I do think floating furniture in this room is a good idea, but still prefer a sofa on the window end of any arrangement. I might change my mind when we're working with all new furniture. Maybe I just don't like the recliners because of their high backs blocking the window. Also don't care for the sofa table there. It seems too high for the window and too low for the sofa back. When you start shopping, these tables might become Craigs List items.

groveraxle and rina, great comments, thank you!
Grover, if you are referring to the opening on the wall above where the tv would go, it is that way to help spread natural light from the south facing window into the north facing kitchen. The light fixture you see is a tube light in the kitchen area.
I feel like I have to put this room on "pause" until my hubby gets home on Sunday. I will need to share all of the wonderful suggestions with him then. He is in a remote area now with no internet or telephone service :(

Call me nuts, but I also "feel" like I need a change in my kitchen. I am tired of the burgundy paint on the cabinet walls. I do have the green light from hubby to paint!
Since my main area is very open, I am considering staying on the same color card as the rest of my house is.
The card is #16 from Sherwin Williams. Most of the area I have now is SW6106 (Kilim Beige) from Sherwin Williams.
I am pondering using SW6108 (Latte) or SW6109 (Hopsack) on the cabinet walls. Any comments??

We painted over our burgundy walls late last year and I'm so glad we did. I like the Latte for your walls.

when painting over the burgundy, did you prime the walls first?

Now I am scared when Groveraxle see all those plants on the cabinets!!
:)

yea, I know, sondramartina.....someone may need to buy her a drink!! ;)

Have you considered adding a large skylight to your kitchen? I think that would give more light than what filters over the opening in the wall. My friend did this and the difference was amazing

decoenthusiate, I know that my husband will not do anything to cut into the roof line. Also, we have an attic space above the house so it would be tough to put in big sky lights. :(

I actually have no problem with the short wall in the living room. I don't mind seeing the kitchen beyond.

If you did want a skylight, you could have a Solatube. They get great reviews, attics are not a problem, and supposedly have a design that ensures they never leak.

I like the bit of color on your cabinet walls. I'm speaking of the paint, not the plants. Those need to go. And why do you have a lamp up there? I would photoshop the room, but clearing out that space is daunting.

I'd either try the darkest tone on your color card or a chocolate, or perhaps a sage green for a bit more color. And yes, you're going to have to prime or use a paint with the primer built in.

Maybe you could see if they have a Fake Plants Anonymous in your area, though I'm not sure a 12-step program will be enough. You may need a 30- or 40-step program. Then donate those things to Goodwill.

Grover that was hilarious !!!I cant stop laughing.

I would like to show you some pictures of how a beautiful our unique chandelier can change the whole atmosphere in the house. Your living room looks cozy and if you change the drapes and furniture to modern you can achieve an amazing look. These can be seen only at www.Galileelighting.com and a catalog can be emailed to you upon request to sales@galileelighting.com

Galilee lighting, do you have the pendant lights pictured below?
I think I would like something like those over my kitchen island.

Well, in that case I'd replace the florescent domes with LED cans and add as many as possible.

Groveraxle, funny, funny, funny......I didn't realize faux greenery was SO outdated. 9 years ago when I moved into this house I hired a decorator to help me out. All of the greenery and even the lamp above the cabinet are a result of her advice.
When I walk through craft stores and home decorating stores I still see a lot of faux greenery. How are people using that stuff in their homes now??
I am wondering about decorating trends, is burgundy a "has been" accent color?? What is the next big trend in terms of accent color, is it sage?
I'm not opposed to giving up the greenery or tschotskis. I am hoping that I can find a way to spend my decorating allowance on items that will be on trend yet hopefully still have a cozy, traditional feel. Am I wanting the impossible?

Deco, I think that the items you are referring to as fluorescent domes are actually my 2 Solatube lights in the kitchen :)

rothschiller, there is one way you'll never go out of date: choose the classics. Don't even try to be on trend. And a good rule is if you see it all over in the craft and decor stores, don't even think of buying it. Y'know those scrolly iron things to hang on your wall...if it's not an antique salvaged from a historic building, IMO it belongs in the trash.

My two basic rules when I purchase something whether art or furniture or a tchotchke: is it uncommon, and do I love it? I don't want stuff in my house that everyone else has. And what I do have I want to love looking at.

Enough with the rant.

grover, good advice!! Want to go shopping? :)

When I painted over the burgundy I did not use a primer. I painted it with two coats of Dulux Raw Cotton and it covered perfectly. I'm with groveraxle regarding the faux plants. With nature outside our door I don't see a need for it. I planted a garden outside my kitchen window with hanging baskets etc under a patio and the view from my kitchen is fabulous all year. I like to bring in fresh flowers regularly also.

sounds beautiful, cathieg! Lucky you! I live in North Dakota and do not get to see greenery throughout the year :(
But, that does not mean I have to have it looking like a jungle in my house.... anymore :)

We are neighbors! I am in South Dakota! Love it!

I'm sure North Dakota is quite beautiful rothschiller, but I'd be snap frozen if I moved there :-) I'm in Western Australia and we are in a temperate zone so the coldest it gets here leaves us with a little frost. My husband was born and raised in Ohio so he tolerates the cold better than me...brrrr. It's spring here now so I'll leave you with a little something to tide you over until next spring

BEAUTIFUL, Cathieg!!
We just got our first snow fall last night. Too early for my liking but it should melt by Saturday, it will be a whopping 50* F that day :)
Lucky you to live in Australia! It is one of the places my husband and I have on our bucket list to visit :)

abbyjean......."Hello" Neighbor!! I am in the SW corner of ND.
What part of SD are you in?

Well, you're experiencing early snow and were experiencing early heat...today was 37.2C and that is .1C below the October record of 37.3C! Cool change for tomorrow with max of 26C which is much better for my roses :-)

We are right on the interstate, 100 miles from the border. We have the Redlin Art Center here and beautiful Lake Kampeska.

Hi, love your house and the turns this conversation is taking! For kitchen color, do you have any other paint strips picked out?
I don't think any of those shades do your granite justice. Groveraxle had the best choice with the dark brown but there are a lot of other colors out there.

Hello.....I am still attempting to give my living room a makeover! The tv armoire is deconstructed down to one piece. It still needs to be moved to the opposite wall so the love seat can sit parallel to the couch. Too heavy to move by myself.
The upper portion of the armoire is "temporarily" parked in front of one of the side windows until I can get 2 strong guys here to move it to the garage.
I have found some sage curtain panels that I like. The dilemma I have is how high to hang them and what to do about the arched window? Do I put a rod across the front of it? Should I remove the wood "sunburst" accent from the arched window? Should I get thicker rods?? I look forward to your suggestions :)

For maximum drama, we like to hang drapes high. See how they are hung in the (old) Photoshop below. Obviously the ones by the arched window are stationary panels.

If you plan to use them, hang them all at the height you have them now. If you will never close the ones in the center, you can hang them high.

Yes, grover... drapes are just they way I described - hung right at the side ceiling level and carried through the large window. This really makes for a more formal look, though, so the black loungers are longing for the lake cottage...

I really do like the look of hanging the curtains high, as pictured in the photoshop slide.
To achieve the look, do I shop for 2 small rods to mount the panels on that will surround the main, middle window?

I do not intend to use the panels for privacy on any of the windows. I'm thinking I should get small rods like the ones my bedroom curtains are on (see attached picture). I would then hang those small rods at the same height at the side windows. Comments?

Hi Rothschiller, good to see you back. Small rods only for the centre window, I think. It will look too bitty otherwise. You might have a problem with angled rods as in Groveraxle's pic. The bottom of the drape will be angled too, and have to be hemmed straight. Not sure how tricky that might be.

I'd leave the sunburst on the window. It's charming.

I see the top of the armoire sneaked a bit of jungle in overnight ... :).

Actually, Rina, those rods were not meant to be angled. I thought the wall was angled when I photoshopped it. But yes, rothschiller, the short rods should be level.

And less ornate than the ones in your bedroom.

Groveraxle, I know what you mean. I spent time carefully painting an optical illusion the other day. Gosh, did I feel like a clot.

Silly me, I read the whole thing. So what did you and the crew end up with?

Hi Victorianbungalowranch! Whew, what a cute but long name ;)
I became frustrated with the whole redecorating process and basically put everything on hold :(
I did remove the trees and curtains. I also downsized the large tv armoire to just a base unit.
At this point I am just waiting to be inspired.
Thanks for inquiring :)

Thanks for the update! So the recliners did not move to the cabin after all? Did you keep groveraxle's furniture arrangement?

Yeah, I understand your frustration. I'm better with exteriors than interiors, and it can be hard to pull the trigger to actually spend the money.

My name BTW is because I own a Victorian-era house that went through extreme makeovers in the 1920s and 1962. So it has the framing of a Victorian era house, the basic shape and just enough details to be a bungalow, and the kitchen, bathrooms, picture windows of a ranch house. In other words, a total mutt!

If I had the budget and this was our forever home, I would keep the picture windows and the kitchen and baths, but take the rest back more to bungalow. But it has been interesting to channel a bit of the mid-century (traditional, not modern!) into the interior, and I think I got it to work for now. The colors are very mid-century, the furniture a real mix, and lots of books everywhere. Drainage, structural support and maybe a bit of a kitchen update will be projects this summer, I think. Oh and some insulation upgrades too. Man, that is a long list, so maybe I better prioritize! Thinking of painting the totally boring brown and white exterior as well, and have been slowly repairing the old windows and repainting and caulking as I go.

You must have a lot of energy - good for you to have a to do list in my in terms of your home! I bet it is very pretty!!
Our cabin is just being built now, so we have not moved any furniture there yet.

I wish, but my son says he wants to learn home repair from me so I guess we are going to learn together. Now that the snow has finally melted, time to get to those long-delayed projects while we can!