4 matching chairs, round ottoman in the center. I am not suggesting you purchase the Restoration Hardware chairs- your selection is fine- this is just furniture arrangement I am talking about.
More later :)
I see so many photo galleries that just aren't quite right. Sometimes I want to tell them to use all one frame. Sometimes I want to tell them to have variety. When it comes right down to it, when it doesn't feel quite right, when it doesn't scream- "Hey, that's cool!" it is usually because of scale and negative space.
Aren't they great? What did I say? I said butterflies are the new thing- and check out these NEW pieces from one of my favorite Aritists, Grace Feyock.
I know that I talk about scale a lot- I hope you are all getting the lesson :) See that black and white picture over by the white chair? It's too small- you could have six pictures that size on that wall. Not only is it too small for the wall- but I also want it to have a relationship with the chair. Meaning, I want whatever wall art you have over there to visually overlap the chair. I discussed this more at length in Tamlynn's Post. (another BYU grad:). See how the mirror in this Ballard Designs photo below has a relationship with the chair? This is just the look you need on that wall to give it that "this looks fantastic" feel.
I'm including a couple of photos from my eat-in kitchen, so that you can
see
what's there (the rooms are so open, they should complement each other?) and
any suggestion for the window treatment there would be great! One more
question for the kitchen (I promise only one more): I've attached a photo
of what's there. When I read on your blog about scale and things having
relationships with either the furniture they are over or the entire wall, I
felt
proud that I had figured this out already and that my pictures were
that way,
but the pictures seem to show that the picture is too small for
the area.
We bought a huge map from IKEA - also attached (Width: 78¾"
Height:
55 ") and I'm wondering if you think it could go there and look ok
(it really
looked nice hung in ikea - now that I look at it online, I'm not
sure...)?? Again, I will be putting crown molding everywhere in the
house. Thanks so much for this. Can I mail you some cupcakes to say
thank you??
Becca
This brings me to a new topic: variety. Should you change to the map- yes. Not only because the scale will be better- but because you need wall decor variety.
Look at the photo below- 
You have two pieces of unrelated art right there in eye shot of each other. Does this look boring to anyone but me? Switching to the map is a wonderful idea- because it will give you some variety. There are so many things you can hang on a wall- relief plaques, rugs, decorative screens, tapestries, shelves, plates, mirrors, clocks, mounted objects, shadow boxes, family pictures, vinyl stick on things, sconces, wrought iron, wooden plaques, rattan... Be creative- and don't fall into a rut of using the same type of items repeatedly and so close to each other. I would also like to see you more consistent with your contemporary look you had going- this wall art is leaning more traditional for me:) Consider a wall plaque like the one below from Palecek. Something like this would be perfect in size and style for your larger wall. 
Now- one more thought on variety. You could use variety in numbers also. You have one item on this wall- one item on that wall. If you have one item on a wall- put a collection of two or more on a close wall. For example, currently I have in my living room, Two large rattan baskets on one wall, a collection of seven shelves on another, a large piece of hand painted burlap on one and a clock on another, with a collection of four pieces of framed art nearby. (yes- I know- some of you want to see pictures- but I STILL don't have my windows framed, new door moulding and baseboards... I just can't post pictures yet- I am a bit of a perfectionist :) Consider using two of the rattan circles below- again from Palecek. This gives you numerical and textural variety and is more consistent with your contemporary feel.
Christine,Hello there. I was so excited when I checked your blog today (my newest daily habit!) to find my own question and pictures. Thank you thank you. I realize that I have written you a lot and unfortunately, I'm about to give you more. There are a couple of details that I wanted to add: I like your idea to take away one of the towers next to the tv and the board behind the tv would work great (no struggle to hide the cords from the tv anymore!!). I wanted you to know that I wouldn't be opposed to taking that unit completely out of the room, if you gave me some other idea for the tv that I really loved. I can find a new home for it (how about my front yard for the garage sale I'm going to have in 2 weeks?) or even somewhere else in my home (could I work it into the big wall on the kitchen? or it could go into the office). So, I guess what I'm saying is that I would love to hear what you would do there minus the restraint of keeping the unit in. Price willing, I would love to do something different. I don't believe I would be able to spend more than a few hundred dollars.
The window treatment: I prefer white blinds, but my husband, Michael won out on the wood tone blinds. I made the cornice box and put it up...maybe the window treatment should be more dramatic? Floor to ceiling drapes that extend past the actual window, making the window seem more prominent? A Roman shade? I would love to leave the blinds and layer something else on.
Rebbecca-
I am going to stop you there- and break it up some more. First of all- although the entertainment center from Bernhardt had only one tower- I was not suggesting that you get rid of one of yours- keep them both, just add the wood behind. I think this is your best bet on a budget- I looked around for some options for you, but did not see others that would work better for a few hundred dollars. If your husband is a woodworker and you wanted to build something... maybe. ;)
Right now your room feels disjointed to me. You have the dark furniture, and then you have the light rug and throw pillows. I feel like what we need is something to pull it together.
Oh- and on the blinds- never let husbands make decisions like blinds. :) Change it out for a dark ebony woven wood, and add panels on the sides.
Hang some long cream-colored nice quality drapes, and move your shag rug to the sitting area. The shag is not the right style for an entry way. It feels awkward to me there.
Choose a shade on the drapes most similar to the rug- lighter than the photo, or pick up a new color to incorporate, like the shade of green found in your new wallpaper. (Photo below from Smith and Noble.) I chose the grommet style drape to keep with your more contemporary styling.
Today is Wednesday, so you know what I really want to discuss: wallpaper. :) OK- so- what I meant by "disjointed"- was there was nothing that pulled together the dark shades with the light. Your furniture- very dark- your rug and pillows- only light. Check out the wallpaper below. (from Calypso by Ashford House.) A paper like this incorporates your light and dark together. This particular paper also introduces a green color. I would then use that in your throw pillows and as a paint color in you kitchen eating area.
Even though they are not as open as the original set of sinks, they will be a much more roomy feel than her current built-in. I think maybe my favorite is the Espresso sink...- so what do you think? The top three are from Lowes- the bottom sink is from Costco. Any words of advice for Nancy? Thanks for voting last week on the first set of sinks- do you like those better than these? Nancy- what is your favorite- where are you leaning? It looks like the expensive sink won the poll :) Any prices on shower options yet? I think we would all be curious to know the difference in cost of the different shower options. (if you don't mind sharing with everyone- this is interesting info :) Nancy says, BTW, that she is kicking her son out of the house so she can have clear glass :) That a girl! (JK- I guess he already is planning on going :) Even with clear glass- you would still want a can light over the shower area. What do you like the best? Share.
Jennifer added one that is VERY nice- a similar look to #1- but more high end- from Restoration Hardware:
Ask yourself- do your bathrooms have any greenery in them? I have a few rules- and that would have to be one of them- that EVERY room- including the bathrooms- have some greenery of some kind. The Feng Shui people would agree with me as well. Use a real plant that can live in your level of natural light. Orchids- like the one above are sometimes perfect for a bathroom.
Use some cool "sticks" that can fill the need for greenery in a bathroom (or with an owner) that can't sustain real plants.
Even just a small vase by the sink can fill the need.
Can you cut some from your yard and bring them inside? I grew up with a great lilac tree- I wish I had one now...
Silk flowers work- keep them fresh by replacing them regularly (2 or 3 x/ year) with new silks.- Don't forget about them and let them be ugly little dust traps. :) Silk flowers are not meant to last for years and years!!!!
They can be small arrangements...
Or not so small plants. Look at each of the photos above and imagine them without the greenery. It really does add a lot. Check out the simple flower in the post below- adds a LOT! OK- go look at your own bathrooms now- do you have any plants? Any flowers? Any sticks? If you do- Good job- if not- go get some :) Did it make a big difference? OK- now send me some before and after pictures. :)
I have shown this leaf pattern before- it must really be a favorite to make it on Wallpaper Wednesday twice. :)
This cork look is also in a new Candice Olson book that I just got. A wall with this kind of texture just doesn't compare to a painted wall.
Now this is where the computer just can't do a paper justice. This paper has sand applied to create the design. So much texture and depth that can't be duplicated with ink.
A similar look to the sand is the papers with glassbeads. So often people are searching for something more and think they need more color- when what they are actually missing is texture. Consider what the paper above would do to a completely monochromatic room. It would be beautiful.
Almost every decorating style can use some grasscloth. :) I LOVE the richness that it brings into a room. So there you go- bring in the outdoors- not with a mural of a mountain scene- but with natural elements that add texture, depth, richness and interest to your home. 
but they come in the same shapes and designs as a cast stone fireplace. The two names are oftentimes interchangeable- as they are essentially the same product- with the exception that a cast stone fireplace theoretically would have actual stone in the concrete mixture.
I really like the herringbone brick like the photo below for the firebox. I also love that style- it reminds me of a traditional Brownstone in New York City. (like the photo below)
Nancy's shower is one of those that you REALLY do not see. It is a secondary bath, with a small 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 shower, with a glass door. When I say that you don't see it, I really mean it. You would see the door- that's it. With a shower as small as that- I would definitely go with a white.
White will coordinate with her sink and commode, it will be bright and light. I first thought that a lovely handmade tile would be a good surface- until I learned that she has two sons that use the shower. In my mind I started seeing not so white grout, and changed my mind. A solid surface is that way to go.
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