Lots of ideas....couldn't resist adding my two cents. i copied your photos and did a little cut and paste- it's messy, but hopefully gets the main idea across. i'd put your sofa in front of the large book case, chair by the fireplace, tv on the stand on the wall opposite the fireplace - so you can either look at the fire or the tv. Someone suggested using frames of one color for your photos - an inexpensive way to do that would be to spray paint them all a dark color-black goes with everything. Since your shelves are a medium tone wood, display things that are dark or light so that they contrast against the wood. Limiting your display items pallette to a few values usually helps to unify things. (I think that's why so many people want to paint the shelves or put inserts in the back to help your nice things read more clearly...some get lost). If you want to "splurge" -you may consider having a carpenter make a few solid tall cabinet doors to provide a visual break in the shelving. I'm showing 3 doors - 1 on the right side of the fireplace and 2 on the left to leave two open vertical shelves for display on each side - with things arranged to frame the fireplace as the focal point. To add some height to your big vases, consider stacking some books beneath them. Enjoy experimenting untill you get something you're happy with - good luck!

hello bonnielynn75 and THANK YOU! your comment put a smile on my face re the red on the interior side of the door. It IS red on the inside as well, he insisted on that when we purchased it. no one here has it red on the inside and I wanted it to be white on the inside. do you see my dilemma?;) I agree with everything you are saying, I suppose this is the reason why so far I was not 100% sure about the black for the door either, although I like black...Agree, there is too much wall and I find the house to be looking a bit 'bland' and would like to change that. I LOVE shutters, but read somewhere that you never put shutters on wide windows, so got unsure about that, too...but perhaps just the one as I stated earlier. Would the color on that shutter be the same as the door (if I ever settle on a door color)? Unfortunately window boxes are not an option as we have quite a few cats and they may be used as litter boxes;) please don't tell me to get rid of the cats;)... Regarding the stoop (entrance) : we need to add another step (made of cement) on top of the existing step: it was removed when the new door was fitted. We were thinking of putting slate tiles or something dark to match the roof, if that makes any sense.... It is porous cement so unsuitable for painting, I think. What place in Ireland did you visit, we are close to the Irish Sea in the country surrounded by sheep;)...

I can't tell if this is one residence, or several. I'm assuming this is attached to neighbors on both sides and that it is directly on a quiet lane. I would clean up the planter in front. It looks a little scruffy and lopsided. Some color (flowers or leaf color) would be very nice. Maybe even add color using some pots in the planter, but make sure they all go well together, not every color in the rainbow. Indoors, remember comfort. Sometimes people choose seating that looks really good, but is very uncomfortable. Will you also be having friends over and want to use the space for small, intimate gatherings? Do you think you might eat light meals out there? Furniture choices depend on so many things. A soft cream or seafoam color for the walls, not overwhelming. All that white seems a bit stark and cold from outside. It appears the street and neighbors are very close by, therefore I would stay soft and subtle with any colors so as to not overwhelm or offend the neighbors. What is that stuff on the walls or hanging from the ceiling, I can't tell? It looks haphazard. A sideboard with plants sitting on it is always nice in a sunroom. Ultimately you have to see yourself in the space and how YOU want to enjoy it! Here's how I see myself using the space: A nice comfy chair that I can curl up in. A small side table for my cup of tea. An ottoman so I can stretch my legs out, doubles as a coffee table when I set a tray on it. A sideboard table for plants to sit on, orchids maybe, violets too if the sun is right. A nice throw, because I will sit out there in all weather, read a book, fall asleep sometimes. For you, if you may eat some breakfast out there, a bistro table may be the way to go. We all have to be in touch with what makes us happy. Hopefully you will post your after pictures as well. That would be fun to see!

I've been thinking of you,Fragle - I remember those sleepless nights when the babies first came home and everyone was sleep deprived but life-as -always still had to go on, esp for Mommy. So happy for you that you have a 'good' baby, I love the name too:-)