Hello CG, you can buy some of these and try them on site. From the pictures you posted I get the feeling you have 2 colors with similar saturation both fighting for attention. It's a little too much. I would keep the green but go softer on the red (i.e rust). You can also let yourself be inspired by the grey/silver/bordeaux floral and stripe pillows to create a brand new color scheme using these colors instead. For example, a very soft gray on the walls, gray carpet, grey/bordeaux combo in the curtains and for the sofa accents, pillows similar to these 2. It's decision time. Go for what speaks to you, but do it with elegance :-)

For starters your T.V. is way too high lower it to sit virtually on the mantel and take all the stuff off the mantle. If you are getting storage built get 2 made so one on each side of the fireplace for balance. I don't see what you have for lighting now and find the finish on the walls very busy. When I look at your idea books I am not really getting that same feel in the space as it is so maybe some more pictures would help with that.

Paint that wall behind the fireplace! A deep gray to pull out the grey/slate color in the brick. This will give you a blank canvas and accentuate that fireplace. Paint the mantel a creamy white to match the cream in the brick. Use simple accessories on mantel, no pictures with the TV. I would suggest a taller vase and lower potted green on one side. Maybe a slimmer vase on the other. Paint all walls grey, but use lighter that fp wall. Get rid of all the dark pillows and use creamy colored pillows with slipcovers for easy cleaning. (looks like there are young kids who live here too) Then add a couple accent pillows for color. I would replace that coffee table with a creamy leather (or pleather) ottoman. It can be used as a coffee table when needed by adding a tray. The rest of the time, it is a soft landing for young kids and a comfy place for your feet. :)

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.