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First thought is what petalique posted.
Passed gas.
Trio of vases.
So much depends on the room’s style and table’s size, your taste and how you’d like the vignette to feel. Did you want it to complement something in particular (say on the wall). I find testing different combinations is the best method as balance and height are key and a grouping of 3 works well. Maybe look on line for inspiration.
With no information and In the spirit of the approaching holiday season ... I'll go with this!
LOL
Love this thread! I'm the same I go out to sit and end up pulling weeds for an hour 😄
One small thing that actually changed how I use my garden space: I added a compact solar panel setup near my seating area. It powers a small fan and some lights, so summer evenings became so much more comfortable no extension cords, no fuss.
Sharing a couple of photos my garden corner and the little solar setup I added. For anyone thinking about it, you don't need anything big or expensive. Small portable solar units work great even in shaded gardens if you position the panel right.
Make pizza at home
Laundry
Vacuum carpet / clean floors
Clean bathroom
Change bed linen
For sure - closed storage.
In 2025 - BeverlyFLADeziner advised you @mik974 to put the tv over the fireplace. This was excellent advice!
@mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY) your comments on "dinning" are exactly why I think this music room idea should get a trial run.
More pictures of the area in last years' post. https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6478118/family-and-dining-room-ceiling-thoughts
My favorite budget-friendly changes from this mockup are:
1. Crown molding painted to match the cabinets, extending the cabinetry visually toward the ceiling.
2. Brushed brass hardware for warmth and an elegant finish.
3. Light countertops in a warm white with subtle beige veining.
4. Lighter flooring in a natural oak or warm beige tone.
5. Under-cabinet lighting to brighten the backsplash and make the kitchen feel more expensive.
Start with the crown molding and hardware. Those two changes can make a surprisingly big difference before you invest in new countertops and flooring. And keep the cabinet color warm rather than stark white—it will work beautifully with your future natural stone-look surfaces.
Yes, a repair job is preferred. But the simple medallions that @shirlpp posted would be fine. Just paint them the color of the ceiling.
I like all of the styles you like! The second one, with the shades, is the best. It has presence but not too fancy.
Speeding!
Timing is everything!
Have you ever tried to put a PFD (personal floatation device) on a teen chicken?
Where the heck did that question come from? Chickens never make it to their teens.
Very nice cabs - hard to imagine spending $30k+ to change those out - look at photos online to find kitchens you like, then try to figure out what details you could change in yours to mimic those (details meaning not cabs, floor or counters)
Pics pls!
^^^^@John Carter - Do the damp towels cause any issues to the finish on the cabinet doors?
I've hung towels on my SS dishwasher handle for many years - they've never caused any issues for my wood floors. The towels never drip any water - if I've wiped up a big water spill, I replace with a new towel + put the wet one into the laundry room.
FYI - my island basically hides my dishwasher from view when entering kitchen - unless you use the sink, you don't really see the towel hanging from the dishwasher handle.
Hey dani_m08 — great question, and honestly yeah, it can be a problem over time. A damp towel hanging right against a finished wood door keeps moisture sitting on the finish, and that can turn it cloudy or whitish and eventually even start to lift the clearcoat.
Your stainless dishwasher handle is a whole different situation — metal doesn't soak up moisture, which is why it's held up fine all these years. Wood finishes just aren't built for prolonged damp contact.
If you want towels handy near the cabinets, a small hook or towel bar on the inside of a cabinet door or on a nearby wall works great — towel stays off the finished surface but still within reach. And wringing towels out well before hanging makes a big difference no matter where they go.
Pay rent, Condo, mortgage
Pay property taxes
Go to the doctor
Pay income tax
A panic-stricken man explained to his doctor, “You have to help me, I think I’m shrinking.” “Now settle down,” the doctor calmly told him. “You'll just have to learn to be a little patient.”
Inkberry
Spirea
That is very true, Floral. When we built the house, we selected the plants, the
builder installed them according to the developers landscape plan. Never liked the way they were laid out. It reminded me of a garden center with rows and rows of the same plants together.
Shrubs and plants can grow so quickly. First year they sleep second year they creep in the third year they leap. Looking forward to starting over and starting small and enjoying the garden and watching it grow. I’ve chosen mostly slow growing plants a variety of colors and textures. I’ll send pictures when we have it completed. Landscape should be completed end of the month. Note I’m working in The placement of the plants.
Distylium?
I'd go with the white/white so the sink looks nice with the countertop.
sink and toilet are white and the features in the space. The floor is secondary in your case, so work with it.
I'd paint the walls to compliment the floor and shower tile.
I haven't noticed what you are describing..
most comments here are not worth reading once led alone twice.
Your thought to close off the room might be the way to go since you want a larger tv. IMO it currently does not look right.
You would then purchase a longer tv stand and put the tv on a articulating mount and have them on part of that closed wall. Maybe you don't have to completely close the wall.
Because the room has a label, because it is wide open to kitchen locale and is THE ONLY FIREPLACE......it is probably fruitless so suggest a different locale for tv.
Answer is to close mostl or all of that right hand wall. Give the tv a new spot in the same room.
If ......you add all dimensions for all below - walls, windows openings, passages......
to this?
More concrete answers and help may be forthcoming
The mantle is to high and wide. A combination of Judy’s bottom pic and Emily’s would work.
For a more opened look consider removing some of the items from the top of the cabinets and changing the style of the pendants.
Those pendants are not aligned with the other lights and I find that busy and distracting.
Yep - wording is a turn off!
At the least, use waterproof laminate flooring. We have a rental house with laminate installed throughout by the previous owner. Pretty much destroyed in the kitchen. Wear layers scraped off under office chairs elsewhere.
How many posts on same topic?
You have no context to your ( four) posts same topic. What wood species, what stain on cabinets?
What is the flooring desire for the entire living floor?
You can begin with cabinetry.......You can begin with flooring, You can't just shout out questions and design in a vacuum.......as down below. It's a MOHAWK laminate.
Maybe go shipping in person? Locally? Before you commit to any, buy a full box and test onsite WITH your cabinet selection. Engagement here is not to toss out questions and then provide no feedback for two weeks.
Their legs/feet
Kitchen sink
Shower walls
Bathtub
their water bottle
toilet
Wall panels - mural.
Currently can sounds generated in the room be heard in other parts of the house? The exposed air ducts can be a conduit for sound.
^^^
In that case, consider a simple bulkhead packed tight with rock wool. You could always cover it with galvanized or aluminium to keep the look. Or not.
In a cold climate, if the top few feet are abovegrade, they should best be insulated.
I think women often chose salad on a first date.
Hamburger
Chicken dish
I would paint the shelving unit the same color as the walls.
That gold mirror looks lonely near the stairs. Have you tried it on the wall behind the chair?
Yep....Thumbs down to the ceramic flowers.
It's the Featured Answer at the top of the comments.
Hmmm. A tall plant. Let me see
I like it with the lamp that tucks in right behind the chair - a small round side table for a coffee cup would be nice - looks nice and welcoming without being overwrought
Consider maybe.............A rolling cart that can house your microwave.
You would keep it here - white circle or on the opposite side.
Many, Many to choose from. Just a suggestion but might not work for you.
@thinkdesignlive: That's a great idea, but I would recommend a beautiful wide sideboard rather than a continuation of cabinets--just to add more elegance to the dining end.
Lots to chew on. Thanks to everyone for their advice - much appreciated.
If you really want a statement piece ( but expensive) thick facets of gold, MOP, Capiz or bronze like this would also look amazing.
Take pics of the entire entry...Thanks.
Yes, to the fixtures mounted above the mirrors.
It’s a good and simple compromise. The lighting will not be ideal but definitely better than half face lighting.
That looks like vinyl in the kitchen. Maybe there's hardwood underneath the carpet.
I assume you have a logical reason to avoid the wide plank pale flat cut European Oak engineered flooring going into higher end new constriction. Monarck Plank, Hakwood, Hurst Hardwood and every other floor company has this product.
You can now look at the improved waterproof much thicker laminate options. They are very realistic. You'll avoid the problem of a less than very flat subfloor you can find under the carpet.
Will suggest slate flooring at least for the kitchen. That should provide a good foil for the cherry cabinetry.
can't find the phone.
They walk into a room and can't remember what they are there for.
You think you can have this with 4000k led? Nope........
It may be too cozy for you, but this is where I may never leave unless dragged out. AI or not, put me here, send in snow, rain......sleet.......
To me lighting is deeply personal, and trying to force one "sweet spot" number like 3500K or 4000K in every room of every home misses the mark.
Mother Nature doesn't give us one flat light all day. She gives us bright, crisp, white sunlight during our peak productive hours, and then rolls out that soft, warm, amber glow in the early morning and evening when our brains need to wake up or wind down. Why shouldn't our homes do the same? When you’re trying to figure out what works, it really comes down to a few big things:
- How you want your home/room to feel: Do you need to feel energized and focused, or do you want to instantly drop your shoulders and relax after a long stressful workday?
- Your decor and furniture style: The era of your home makes a huge difference. If you have a 100 year old home filled with rustic antiques, a harsh white light is going to make the space feel sterile and cold instead of rich and inviting. On the flip side, if you have an ultra-modern, minimalist look softer, more yellow lighting can feel heavy and drab.
- The colors you love: Light changes color completely! If you love shades of dusty purple or deep wine reds, a yellow bulb is going to turn those gorgeous tones completely muddy and dingy. But if you lean toward cozy fall colors, a super bright white light can make them look garish and way too vivid.
Another huge trap people fall into is confusing the amount of light with the color of the light (lumens vs. Kelvins). A lot of times, people buy a cold, bright-white bulb because they just want to be able to see better in a dark room. But then they end up with a space that feels like a sterile hospital wing! If you need a room to be brighter so you aren't squinting, you don't need a whiter bulb—you just need more lumens (the actual volume of light). You can absolutely have a space that is beautifully lit and easy to see in, while keeping the color temperature in that cozy, warm yellow range.
Personally, I say throw out the rulebook and mix it up! In my own bedroom, I have bright white lighting in the areas where I'm getting dressed so I can actually tell my navy from my black. But by the bedside? It’s strictly soft, warm yellow lighting. When I'm unwinding with a book before sleep, the last thing I want is to feel like I'm sitting under a pharmacy fluorescent.
@shirlpp … & clean also. We have one, put in by builder , never has been used in 7 or 8 years. Just haven’t gotten around to have it removed , we still have extra flooring, want to place a nice upholstered bench in its place.
not a pro but I really think the two toned cabinets would be a lot for a really small kitchen
Do you have pics of the main sitting room to share.
Thanks for the link—that's the MORABO 5-seat corner sectional. IKEA lists GRANN leather on the contact surfaces, but BOMSTAD coated fabric on other panels, and the cover isn't removable. So I'd check those seams and surfaces in person rather than treating it as all-leather.
On comfort, your own test is more useful than the photo or reviews of a different IKEA sofa. If it felt firm, I'd go back and sit in both a straight seat and the corner for 20 minutes in the posture you'd use for TV. Check lower-back support and where your legs naturally land; I wouldn't order it assuming the foam will soften enough to change a fit you already dislike. The model's buyer feedback is mixed, so I can't honestly predict long-term comfort for you. Black can simplify some cleaning, but dust and scuffs may still show—I'd choose it only if the comfort test works first.
I like the tufted detail on the Morabo. I guess I'd replace the poly foam with medium weight latex foam from Sleep On Latex.
The surrounding clutter throws them all off in my opinion. None of it looks like where a kitchen fridge would be. The surround makes it look more like a closet.
Chose clothes to wear for the day
Answered a phone call or texted
Watch TV
So don’t run with toothbrush or scissors.
I read that Kelly (sp) Ripa damaged her gums because she vigorously brushed back and forth across her gingiva/gums. OUCH! Get an Oral B electric and follow directions — gentle touch! You’re not scrubbing a pot, Ms. Ripa.
Are you completely gutting the kitchen? All dimensions are listed except for the kitchen.
This is an example of what Jan is asking for. It's taken from the Featured Answer in the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread.
At this stage, it is purely conceptual (though you have to have a handle on proportions and sizes, and be able to picture the floor plan in 3D) so exact dimensions are unnecessary.
The proposed Dining Room does not work well being open to the Family Room in that manner. It creates a "one-sided" furniture layout because of the circulation required to pass through the skinny 14' wide Family Room. And is way oversized and not kitchen-adjacent.
The Game Room/Golf Simulator location would have an odd access being entered from the Kitchen or only outdoor. It probably also needs to have a higher ceiling. Since you don't have a basement, but have a sloping down back yard, I would suggest it be lowered with stairs down into it. I know of a couple examples where the golf simulator was an addition and the house overlooked into it.
The problem this popular builder's plan presents is the angled circulation toward the Family Room, with the stair creating a "skinny" width for a Kitchen (hard to fit the desired island) and a bearing wall/roof change along the Dining Room wall. One solution is to extend the Sun Room (originally a Breakfast Area) out as a full Dining Room.
Also note that you cannot just build a permanent room on top of a deck and be successful, it was not designed for the same purpose.
Had a glass of wine
What rox posted…100%! I just did it and found forgotten things.
Call an electrician asap and have them relocate the light switches, before putting anything on that wall.
Thank you everyone so much for the new ideas! A gallery wall seems to be the way to go to blend in with a light switches. I just didn't know what to do with above the toilet after that, would more hanging artwork be too much? To answer someone's question, my towel hangs on the shower glass with a pretty hook. I keep one hand towel on the sink that matches. That's all I need because it's just me. Great idea about turning the cabinet the other way! The original plan for the bathroom was to have a built-in right there with a bench under the window but cost Gott prohibitive. I will definitely look into that more. And I love the Roman shade someone put on the window with the edging. I was looking for away to bring in some color without clashing and that's perfect!
You've already received some excellent advice, and the images people have suggested look very nice.
Wallpaper is a good idea if you can find the right print.
I love print and color; do consider stencils instead of wallpaper. Stencils allow you to get just the shade you want, and humidity won't cause the edges to "roll up" in future years. Stenciling is extremely slow work, but it's not at all difficult. The secret is to use a flat stencil brush and wipe off practically all the paint before you begin -- your brush should be quite dry. Practice first on a piece of poster board.
If you're interested, check out Royal Designs or Cutting Edge. No, I'm not affiliated -- just like the products.
If they're not wearing shoes (and I'm expected to remove mine).
Paint colors
Floor choices
How tall the ceilings are
Something like this for watching tv, gaming and sleeping.
You could put one or two of these in the closets and roll out when needed.
I would start with a MAJOR decluterring. How much of that stuff do you need to keep? Either get rid of it or find a home for it.
First empty it then a to scale floor plan I will say family movie night and sleep overs usually do not work together for sure not with teens .Ask the teens what they want IMO since this will be their space and honestly no office either . Gaming is a big thing for some teens that requires some different seating , and do not forget sleep spaces .
I would start with window treatments. There are lots of beautiful fabrics. These are faux roamn shades on etsy