[DesignDiva]

Thanks, Heather! I really do enjoy it. It's a creative outlet for me.

[Ikeafreak]

Eva,

If I could pick your brainone more time...

We're also adding sconces in the family room on either side of the gas fireplace. I'm not sure which direction to go with them. I thought about just plain frosted glass since they will be used for ambient light near the wall mounted tv. But I have no idea what shape. Any thoughts? Maybe something like this?

[DesignDiva]

Do you have a pic of the space in question? It would be best if the lighting related to the fireplace mantel area in some way. Are the sconces going on either side of the TV? Because you may want to put them on dimmers if that is the case. Or the painting?

[dafogle]

where'd you find the sconce that has the swirls on it ??? I really like it .... I would love to see one just like it in the stairwell going down to my garage ... would appreciate a link for that ....

Thanks!

Doreen

btw... love the look you are creating!!!! I'm sure your addition and remodel will turn out wonderful....

[Ikeafreak]

Here are a few pictures of the space.The fireplace will be a simple black box with a 74" brown-black Lack shelf floating above it. Just above that will be a plasma on a mount. The sconces would go next to the tv.





There is one step down between the kitchen and the family room, divided by the peninsula eating counter. The contractor built a knee wall to help support it (on the right). On the left wall up at the top, the windows are being relocated and the space drywalled. That will be the wall where the quadtych goes with 2 sets of magnesium rail lighting to highlight it. Our couch is adark brown leather L sectional that will go on the left underneath the art. We're also using the Ikea Kvadrant curtain panel system over the patio door. The panels are a darker olive-y green that perfectly match the inside of one of the rug's swirls.Above the patio door will be three separate stationary windows.

I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do because of the varying angles.

I'm not sure if you remember from my first postings a few months ago, but I was trying to decide how to break up the kitchen and family roomfor painting sake. In the first picture of this post, between the window on the right and the triangle of the sloped ceiling is where you suggested a Lack shelving unit or a benno cd tower. We decided to have our contractor build a simple shelving unit because the lack and benno are too tall, but either way, we'll have a place to display colorful pottery or the like.

[Ikeafreak]

Doreen,

Here's a link to the light at the lowest price I could find. It's from the Forecast Java collection.

http://lightingbygregory.com/store/f...YWORD=FC-F5400



Thanks for the nice words. I am hoping I can pull it all together!

Heather

[DesignDiva]

I think those lights are a little plain for that space. I'd rather see something with maybe a little wood to match the Lack shelf, and balance out the dark tone of the mantel and the frame of the plasma.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Heather -- (so much nicer than calling you, well...freak )

Despite what you think, it looks to me like you have a natural knack for decorating! You just have to trust yourself (of course, having Eva's input never hurt anyone!). You've made some wonderful choices, and I think it will come together beautifully.

Oh, and...you didn't like the Pepto Pink?

Susan

[Ikeafreak]

Susan,

Thanks for the encouragement. I really love the things I've found so far.I'm just so happy to have found such a great forum.

Thewoman who lived here before us was the original owner from the 50's and shehad some interestingtastes and styles. The kitchenhad dark walnut cabinets, blue, green and black flowered vinyl-like wallpaper and a tiffany hanging lamp in the corner. The screened porch had electric blue carpeting and the back wall of the house below the brick was painted aturquoise blue. Right after we moved in, we met some of the neighbors who told us theylooked at our house while they were house hunting andbasically walked in, took a few steps, then turned around and left. The house had been on the market for over a year when we bought it. Luckily, we were able to see beyond the decor.

Heather

[nyc_home]

Yes, it looks great!

I think eva is right (no surprise, there) about using something old. Eva, I don't know if you remember, but you said something to me once about too much light wood looking "like you live in an unfinished furniture store" LOL.

Using a lot of light wood and glass will definitely make a space seem light and airy (and bigger, but that's probably not your main issue) But the flip side is that sometimes it can look like you flipped open a catalogue and ordered everything from the same page, kwim? I love the paintings and the rug. Don't forget to look through stuff you already own--paintings, accessories--and see if any of it would work to personalize the rooms.