This is going to almost have to be an eclectic mix...which can work. I would cover the glass doors with curtains or roll-up shades/blinds for sure, on the living room side. Could be sheer or gauze type material. Or even roman shades in a patterned fabric. I would then find a very large ornate mirror to go over the fireplace. You could either distress one yourself, or probably find one that is already distressed. To be quite honest, the wallpaper you have on the fireplace wall looks like it could work as is. Not exactly sure what the color is...(bad computer monitor). Get one or two overstuffed slipcovered chairs with skirts. Get some throw pillows that are in the same color range as those to use on leather couch. Maybe a thick floral rug and one of those industrial bin carts for a coffee table. Go antiquing and junk store shopping...find old flower vases or ornate silver pitchers and fill them with flowers.

Hi minnie101, Thanks so much for your detailed reply. Great to know what colour that grey is. It may be a little dark with our floor. We will definitely update the handles - I hate the current ones. We'll probably go with wood to keep within budget. Your non-tiles pic is lovely. We'll probably keep some tiles and try to keep the kitchen a little more modern than country kitchen, which might be a challenge with wood. The room faces south. I like your idea of dividing it with paint. We probably will go with white in the kitchen and then 1/2 slightly darker tones in the tv-couch area. The 'other' entrance into the dining area is narrowed by a non-structural wall, so we should remove this to open it properly or like you say, close it off. Maybe not close it off entirely as we'd lose a lot of light, but maybe put in a counter or breakfast bar if space allowed. I love your pendant light suggestions over the dining table. Details like this and a rug in the couch area will really help divide the room as at the moment it is one big cavernous space. I really can't decide yet what way the couches should face - into a tv in the corner, or out into the room like you suggest. We'll have to draw out some chalk outlines on the floor and see how much space there actually is. Colour-wise we like the idea of keeping walls and cabinets quite stark, the wood counter will add a bit of warmth, and then adding colour with couches, rugs and possibly dining chairs. I've attached a couple of pieces of furniture I like. Some may not work, but we'll figure it out.

[quote] It takes a clever property owner to realise that investing in their property before going to market can see real dividends. It doesnt matter what you think, your opinion does not count. We are tired of listening to the same olde excuses. ah sure they are going to change the Kitchen anyway, yes that may be true but they will offer less than the cost of improving it. Tax consultant near me link site company Your Books On Time. Lets weigh it up here! If you paint your house with Magnolia versa painting your house with colours that are currently trending then you are going to raise more eye brows, if you do the things that potential buyers can live with for a longer period of time then they will pay more. The subject property is a clear example of how you can get the numbers through the door and encourage a bidding process among interested parties. the brief is as follows: Our advised market value before refurbishment was €165,000 (AMV) Total spend was €38,500 ( tax deductable sum) SEAI Grant obtained was region €2,500 Sold for €270,000 [/quote] good

Hi, what a lovely "canvas" to begin! My late husband loved wood. I think it is too drab and have changed mine for glass and various off whites as the rooms are non-square here and the house is old but takes modern too. My gut feeling is that the way forward is to choose an exciting "theme" for downstairs first. Would you consider bright and airy sky, or tropical, or geometric, or bookish, or carnival, or countryside, what about a space rocket on the wall for the kids - it can be covered when they grow tired of it? And as it is it has my pet hate - a good window - wasted - with a grim reminder of housework - a sink in front of it instead of one out of sight with a strip light over it!!!!