kevnick80 I am trying to find the right intense blue. I've currently used Sanderson's Sea Blue but the one I wish I had used, and which I found after I'd painted the room, is Abigail Aherne's Bowery Blue. I've put a spread of it on a wall, next to a spread of the one I've used to compare them, and it's richer but brighter and very intense. I will paint over the Sanderson one as soon as I've got the energy. Here's the Bowery Blue - if you put your cursor on the paint colour you see it with good lighting which is, of course, important with dark colours; mirrors make a difference, too: https://abigailahern.com/search?q=bowery+blue

hi Carolina, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me and love your ideas. I should have added more detail but you managed to visualize the layout quite closely. Actually, no door in dining area , only access thru sitting room. Love the area rug and have Macys one which will work perfectly - might pull a greyish -blue color from rug for walls maybe similar to the example you provided. Also have two mid-century style floor lamps which I can use. I really like the idea of a mural as the Wow - only concern is that radiator is on that wall. Do you think I could work around that somehow? Shelving will work perfectly - I was thinking something from Ikea or JLewis. Agree that blind is better and like curtains on patio door side. I am really hooked on the mural suggestion . Thanks and I will post a updated photo to show you the final result when we get everything done -hopefully by Dec. -especially now that I have something to show 'the main man'. I am really excited about getting this going!!!Regards eithne

OK, so here's few thoughts to get you started off... It is a bit stark looking at the moment, but if you like light and bright you don't have to dive to colour to bring life into your room, you just need to come over all Kelly Hoppen and include lots of different textures in fabrics, glass, wood, plants and maybe add a subtle accent colour. This is a big room too, and it needs some large scale items to set it off. Do you have one ceiling light fitting or two? If two they're probably fine. If one, you might consider getting something larger and more showy. How are your DIY skills and does your budget stretch to opening up the fireplace and reinstating a hearth? That would be ideal, as the chimney breast is the central feature of the room and something needs to happen there to create visual interest. ie. you could buy a second hand fire basket and dress it with logs, even if you have no intention of using a fire, but to do this you'd need to stretch to a fire surround to keep things in proportion. We can think up some alternatives if a fire/fake fire isn't possible ( You need more height to your decoration too, to suit the proportions of the room and I would suggest doing something in the recesses either side of the chimney, for example fitting matching shelving on both sides if that was useful, or, as this is a light and bright scheme, perhaps foxed or plain mirror cut to fit the walls above the dado rail. If you are happy to stick to curtains I'd suggest a new curtain rail that is mounted to run around the inside of the bay and has enough length either side of the bay that the whole of the curtain can sit perfectly outside the bay when they are pulled back. This enables you to reclaim the bay as usable area at night when the curtains are closed. If feeling heat from the radiator is a problem you might want to opt for roman blinds instead, which come to sill length. I would also suggest you get a much larger rug and maybe add a coffee table on top to create more of a sense of intimacy. And of course the obligatory cushions! I've attached a few photos for inspiration and I'm sure some mood boards will follow! :)

Hi all - room is coming together but I am still unsure about this wall. The ceiling is so high. A huge statement piece of art is not really my thing. I am much more into 'bits n bobs'. There is a radiator between the lamp and the bureau. I was wondering about either / both: painting a band of contrasting paint horizontally a shelving unit mounted on the wall where I can place plants, pictures etc. Can anyone help me visualise? :-) :-) I will post below the styles I like.