The color added to the feature wall is really pretty, works really nicely with the dark woods.

Congrats on your new home and I am dealing with removing popcorn ceilings at this moment too and the cost is unreal.....can only do half of my house at this time and I'm scared that the mess is going to discourage me from finishing it. I agree with the one suggestion to use those lovely pub stools with a pub table in lieu of the oak dining set by the window. I have a baby grande myself and they aren't that easy to move around and really don't want too much direct sunlight hitting it so it's fine where it is. I think sitting at the table looking at your view is a great location. The nook is a work in progress and I am sure that as you become settled, you will evolve that space. My best ideas come to me in the middle of the night! Have fun and enjoy!!!

Some people on this thread to need to learn that you can offer constructive feedback without being rude about it. Maybe she's not a big tv watcher (a good thing IMO) so she doesn't need a big, gauche flat screen.

I would move the two counter stools out of that area, only because it doesn't seem like they would get much purposeful use there and are just decorative. I also agree that the tree next to the piano may need another spot, right now it seems to take away from the grandness of having such a nice piano there.

Congrats on your home!

Removing popcorn ceilings definitely qualifies as a "before" :) I hadn't even noticed that until I kept reading these posts then I went back and looked at the pics...great job!

Looked the same

Getting rid of the popcorn ceiling and the heating... and adding the beautiful white baseboards... and now having a clean and pretty white ceiling makes it such a lovely space. 1000% better than before. You have such a lovely view. I might think of changing the arrangement of the furniture to focus on that pretty view to the outdoors. In summer, I bet it is all green. I change up my rooms at least once a year. Put a large area rug down under the furniture to pull the room together. You are lucky to have such a pretty home! (I know it was a lot of hard work.)

Very disappointed...could have been so much better!

kmkaneI agree about built in's in the recessed area....that would be awesome. Our homes are all a work in progress, but we don't all have the budget to replace everything in one stage. For me, repurposing is the best part.

Why bar stools next to a dresser?

I applaud you, buying an renovating a mid century ranch! Just take your time and remodel, add to (and/or delete from). In time, it will feel like you as you will have taken the necessary time make it fit your style! Ignore the naysayers and continue to use what you have until you can budget for the "I wants". Have fun with it!

Lot's of great comments here. Take the ones that work for you and enjoy. I do hope that you either covered the popcorn with a layer of drywall, or had it tested before you started the renovation. Many midcentury popcorn ceilings contain asbestos. Be careful!

well done!

How about moving the two bar stools to the bar? Swap the location of the chair and oak table (which could be painted or stained a darker color) so the table is nearer the kitchen area. If the small cabinet is needed for storage, look for a larger piece that will fit the inset better on Craigslist or somewhere and re-purpose it as a TV/music storage piece with a larger art grouping. An area rug, throws and pillows would be nice if the budget permits. I think it's a beautiful open space that just has many possibilities and a wonderful view! Congratulations on the progress you have made!

Looks great. We had to remove popcorn in our house, too...what a nightmare. I would suggest, when you can afford it, a larger TV in that space would offer better viewing. But good job so far!

It's a beautiful room.

I would make the view the centerpiece of the room ..that nitch is looking for built in., the room just looks like a mishmash to me.. sorry

I'm sorry, but you bought a Mid-Century Modern home, and furnished it like THAT? Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Building out that alcove with shelves/bookcases/cabinets would have been nice, too.

looks cluttered, not cozy, like a big mistake;

Wow people, it's so easy to be just plain rude, when it's via the internet, right? It feels anonymous. Well, I'm sure it's nothing short of quite personal for Kate. It's her home.

Kate, so sorry you've had to put up with this. It's basically the adult version of cyber bullying. All that matters is that you love your new space.

Hate it

Room is not big enough for a piano.And those bar chairs make no sense.

I'm struck by the people saying get a bigger tv. Maybe the owner doesn't watch a lot of tv? Let's face it - a huge TV isn't exactly a 'must have' for many people. Also struck by how many rude people post on houzz......

If you really want to beautify your interior living space, consider installing CIELO Stretch Ceilings or wall prints. Check out our profile and website for more details and pictures and let us know if you have any questions. Www.cieloceilings.com.

New people to Houzz are seriously concerned about the stupid, egotistic responses they are seeing. PUT A POST OF YOUR OWN HOMES WHERE YOUR MOUTHS ARE.

Congratulations on your new home Kate.. In all honesty, I think your home is very cute and charming.. If you are satisfied with the way your home looks and feels that's all that matters. I tell my client's if your home screams welcome home after a long day at work, then that's all that matters. I hope you enjoy your home and new space for many years to come...

People who don't appreciate what your bar stools are going to bring to the room don't have people who stop by to visit - big, low chairs make company feel like they're "down-for-the-count", while your stools are super comfy and inviting. I do like the idea of a sofa table - frees up space on your coffee table for drinks and snacks. Also, I would consider painting the blonde table and chairs a bright, accent color - might add a nice "punch" to the room. Congratulations!!!

i have to love how HOUZZ called this a "drastic makeover". it's basically re- arranged furniture. overstatement, anyone?

I've thought a lot about the negative comments some houzzers gave to Kate's post. What's next? Comments on someone's avatar? Like you're fat, you're stupid, you have bad teeth, you're ugly? I check out houzz once in awhile and generally enjoy it. But some of these comments put a real ugly tone to the forum. Someone commented on 'cyber bullying' - too true. This world doesn't need more mean people.

I agree. I've seen a rise in nastiness here at houzz and it is very disrespectful. I would no longer ask houzzers for their input at this point because I would want genuine advice, not unwarranted ridicule because you can say whatever you want on the internet.

Real folks have to work with what they have! (And I love smaller televisions and grand pianos stuffed into a midcentury home!!)

Kate and her family may be athletic, or maybe they actually have conversations, or maybe they read. Whatever they do for entertainment, judging the size of ones TV makes me believe someone needs to back away slowly from the computer and run for their life.

It's a DESIGN site, if you don't want criticism, don't send your pictures in. I'm a Mid-Century modern designer, and the criticism is warranted. Looks like everything was bought on sale at Wal-mart. The television is horribly out of scale, and that, and most everything that's been said here is TRUE. I'm a huge fan of good design, but this isn't one of them.

Kate--as someone who is proud of what I've accomplished with my home, I know where you are. Everyday people don't have limitless money to spend on their first homes. As we spend time there, we use what we have and see what works as time goes on. I hate that others are being rude instead of offering constructive suggestions. Your taste will develop as time goes on and money allows til you have a terrific place to your taste. You are the only one who needs to be satisfied. Congrats on your hard work and results so far! Boo on rude people!

@catsandlilly criticism is one thing, being mean about it is another.

It's sad how awful people are in the comments, how empty must your life be to have to go out of your way to be rude to a stranger. I'd also guess the majority of these rude comments come from women. Can only imagine how they treat and talk to their own family.

One things for sure, if I ever need a Mid-Century modern designer, I won't be using catsandilly! I found your comments incredibly personal and rude.

Kate, congrats on your new home--it's lovely and you must feel great about the work you have done.

@tippie64 I totally agree. Homes are a work in progress and sometimes things just have to wait until there is time to spare or money in the budget. People on here seem to forget that sometimes.

Lol! I'm 63 and my home will always be a work in progress. For me (and I'm sure many others) money is always an issue. We all strive to make our homes the kind of space we want to spend our quality life time in. I think this post has been interesting and is making us all rethink how we look at and sometimes judge folks based on their finances!!!

When I was a young married woman, we bought a small house in a starter neighborhood. I struggled, due to finances, to decorate my little castle. My brother-in-law gave us a 9 inch console TV that only received channel 5. My colors were, orange, turquoise and avocado green. My sofa was black faux leather and the walls were white, but I did have hardwood floors. I was quite happy with my little house. This was all 50 years ago. I am glad that the internet was not available then, or I would have posted pic's and asked for advice. My poor 25 year old psyche would have withered from the mean spirited and unnecessarily savage responses. Being mean is not being helpful.

Very chic MCM colors saltcitybabe! They would fit right in with today's retro color schemes!

Thanks Becky....It was literally midcentury, wasn't it. I saved for a long time to get wall to wall carpet. Times have certainly changed.

Times change and what was old is now new!

The room is a huge improvement over the way it was. Color on walls very nice. And always good to get rid of popcorn ceilings. When people post here. We who have been doing this for so Long, Just can't help but give advice. Which I did earlier. You can take or not. It's free, and comes from years of experience. No one is trying to be mean. Or rude. Just voicing their ideas. No one says you have to take them. So good luck in your new home. Enjoy. And the bottom line is. You have to happy. It's that simple.

Sorry Nancy, but whether or not anyone was TRYING to be mean, or rude, they were. You can offer (unsolicited) advice or criticism, and do it in a nice way. I didn't go back to read your prior comment, so perhaps yours was of the kinder nature, but there were far too many that were outright mean. I can ask my husband "How do I look in this dress?" and I may even want to hear the truth. But for him to say "Well, you look like a fat old cow" is a far cry from "Your hair looks the best I have ever seen it. As far as the dress, I don't think it flatters your figure, your blue dress is so much nicer on you." Tone, choice of words, desire to help or just to insult...it all matters. Even if hiding behind the veil of the internet.

Dorothy Slauson should be banned from comments.

What gives me some hope is that the negative comments have received way less 'likes' than the positive comments. Maybe the cyberbullies aren't going to win this one!

Ignore the cyberbullies as of they don't even exist. They love creating chaos.

I looked at the picture and thought what a lovely welcoming room and what a transformation. I love pianos. I don't think TVs are such a big deal in the UK. Have been stunned by the negative comments. Look at Kate's other comments and you will see an absolutely beautiful picture of her in her wedding dress. I wonder about the state of the marriages/partnerships of you people who made the bitter and twisted comments. And while your homes may be stunning, are they places people feel happy to visit if everything being just so is your obsession?

ADD SOME COLOR TO THE WALLS! :-)

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I like your finding table, can you tell where can get this? Thanks