Thank you for your suggestions and ideas! I love some of the more daring/colourful ideas, but I don't think I'm, personally, bold enough to go with such a contemporary look. I'm going to stick to a traditional/modern style and use large (4" x 8") white subway tiles and dark grey grout. I'm thinking of using a dark grey paint around the kitchen walls and then a lighter shade around the rest of the room, with maybe the dark grey on the wall behind the TV too. Will be a few more weeks before that's all done, but I'll post a picture when I eventually get there. Thanks again!

Hi Travis and SoYoung - thanks for mentioning the fireplace.....I was thinking that I would keep it simple with a wood shelf over it and a large piece of Art but I now think it might be a bit lost. Would love some ideas as it needs to work with the built-ins which are slightly domineering. Also, Liam_Boyle - agree re the unbalance. The TV will be staying but I have a lovely coffee table and 2 identical sofas coming so I'm hoping to lay out symmetrically in the room. Will keep 1 of the chairs. Hope this will balance up. Thanks.

Hi, you have a lovely home! I read through your thread, and I like Dar Eckarts suggestion above the best. I think because of the symmetry of it as an H shaped house is symmetrical, and it would also keep the space looking decorated but still open and uncluttered which is what an entrance should be. Sorry, but I don't care for the bookcase idea in an entrance. I also noticed the masks you have, and think it would be great to decorate the space using them as inspiration. Here is a photo to show you the kind of rug I think would work here.

Hello niamh6426, A nicely proportioned set of rooms.. Lovely features, nicely done! Bring the sofa in the opening further into the room so it doesn't block the flow... Ideally move it away from the french doors? So a few things to suggest here.. Why not paint above the picture rail the white to tie in with the ceiling.. the lavender and sage work nicely and so it really is which you might want to pick out.. I'm thinking of the chimney breast to bring it out into the room with even more focus..... A deeper purple/grey, charcoal or deeper olive green ... With any of these colours you could have some light charcoal accessories... Silk cushions etc.. The colours would also work with the existing wall paint. Rather like the charcoal colour and it would work with a slightly darker greyish purple too, so throws and other cushions could be also very complimentary.. :))