Melfairm, I understand your original question and your concern about the TONE of subsequent comments. I too have had situations with contractors where there were concerns and they try to make you think there’s either no issue or want to push a quick, but not best fix to save themselves time and money. So asking experts for advice prior to the conversation makes sense to me. It also seems folks on this forum routinely respond with a condescending and rude tone under the guise of honesty. Honesty does not require rudeness.

I agree with you robbie, the guy was just asking for a little help.

Thank you, Robbie and doods! I appreciate it. What’s the point of having an advice forum if people try make you feel bad or stupid for asking for advice.

Look at this!

My son took this photo yesterday in the park across the street! I have never seen one. I’ve been hearing rumblings about Bald Eagle sightings up in the Bronx and Central Park. He said it was enormous.

Raining…but weather should be good this weekend…for wedding of best friend of YS. He will be driving down for a couple of nights to Grand Pre, home of Evangeline and Acadians…two hours, not too bad. I hope is goes well for him, and he is able to celebrate with his friends…🙏🥰

These are good tips for the neophyte indoor cat mom…🤪🥰. In cat news, Ollie is venturing out from under the bed a bit more. I had put my exercise blanket down on the rug beside the bed and when I went upstairs to make the bed yesterday I noticed that he had been scuffing it and sleeping on it. Then this morning he came while Violet and I were having morning tea in our new location of the front studio room. I knew that he was there because she could look up from her chair and see the top of the steps. She sits here on her chair…and I know instantly if he’s in the neighborhood. Lol. I got up and went and talked to him and he stood there for a long time and then went back into the bedroom. Baby steps. 🐾👏🙏 yesterday she acted as hostess, greeting people who came to the house including my landscaper and my vintage store friend.🤣😽

I wouldn’t plant the tree in the middle of that patio area because you will constantly have to be watering it. Rain may not penetrate the soil enough because of the rocks all around it… especially as the tree gets larger and needs more water to sustain itself. A small shrub might be all right in that spot but I would think not a tree.

I wanted to tell you guys about the funny story with my Plumber this morning. You know I got the new washer installed on Tuesday I believe? When they brought it and installed it they started it up. I said oh that’s a good idea but then they left because of course they had other deliveries and they probably didn’t want to just sit here and wait for 20 minutes or so. Everything was fine in the house. I started to do laundry and was actually excited about that, and I was outside doing some yardwork and heard a lot of water flowing. I looked under the underpinning there where that washing machine was and it was like a river. So that’s when I called for the Plumber to come over and Stop doing laundry well this morning he showed up at 7 am and he got to look in under there and he said can you run it once for me so I can see where the leak is., Sure I said I’ll run a short wash. Well to make a long story longer, when the company did the install they put the drain hose in the wall but they failed to stick it in the hole. So the water was draining towards the outside wall and luckily not inside into my house across the floor. Of course we all laughed about it and didn’t speak too highly of the install guy. I asked the Plumber what I owed him, because he is someone we’ve had here before in 2020 and we’re very satisfied with him and he is a very good Contractor. He said whatever I think. So I said well you used the gas to come over here and you did make the call as you would any other job. So he said $75. That is actually the going rate for just a house call around here anyway. I held him the $75 and called Home Depot and told them what happened, or what didn’t happen the day of install. I had stated that I would get an invoice if they needed it but I was to be compensated. The associate spoke with her manager and they credited my purchase on the washer for the $75 with no argument whatsoever.

Happy it really was unfortunate that he was in such a hurry and didn’t get that hose in the drain pipe. Looking back there it looked like it was in there but it was not. I shouldn’t have any trouble with mould. It’s going to the outside of the house. I am so thankful to get past that issue today I must say. And Home Depot compensated me for the charge which is all taken care of now.

Hi Alice. Just very tired. I love my days with Baby Girl, and do just fine while I'm there. However, I crash when I get home. Thanks for thinking of me!

Oh no. Sorry. I should have explained. I have an ongoing medical issue. (I'm trying a new treatment that will hopefully help.) I did absolutely nothing but read most days this summer because I felt too tired to do anything physical. Taking care of my granddaughter actually motivates me to get up and do something! When I said I crash, that's what I always do when I get home from anything. I need to exercise! 😩

Kind of you all. Thank you.

Oh no I hope you improve in your treatment my daughter has long covid my Internet is slow or house h o u z z is slow something's going on and I hope your treatment helps my daughter crashes too she was diagnosed with long covid even though she don't currently have covid it's what happens from having covid repeatedly repeatedly you know number of times and sometimes I don't know what's going to happen next

Dsimber, thinking of you and hoping that your treatment works out favourably for you. I know just how fatiguing it can be to look after small children, however. I hope you are also taking care of yourself!

This is how I would arrange your space. If you use swivel chairs then you could have conversations with those in the kitchen too.

Install draperies that are off the window to create a larger looking window and help frame the sofa.

A round table in the center could be pulled away from the sofa enough to not interfere with the reclining sofa.

Add additional lighting to soften the look when you don’t need that much light from an overhead fixture.

I picked up the other 3 dining chairs yesterday! Looks good! The consult for window treatments is Monday. Still waiting for the Feizy Pearson rug to be delivered.

The answer is really dependent on if you are a Symmetrical person or not. You can balance a buffet style cabinet on one side with art on the other and use a mirror above the fireplace . If you keep the two book case style cabinets you are going to likely want a couple inches between the FP and cabinet. Because of this I would consider moving down to a 36-38” width. You can place a plant/tree on the left of the left cabinet if you feel the space looks unbalanced.

@ freedomeplace1: I changed complimentary to complementary even before you drew my attention to my typo.

With all due respect, creating a harmonious flow between two rooms adjacent and open to each other is pretty common practice and visually enlarges and connects both spaces. Read Pattern Language about how the brain creates a visual picture of everything in view. A color, a shape, a finish repeated from room to room is somthing many people respond to but your mileage may vary. In any case, the suggestions are quite modest and affordable for both spaces. OP seems fond of her front door, which really pops out so picking up that color in a couple usesful pieces in the dining area might work.

I have a 70" sofa and it's perfectly comfortable for 2 people. I had my eye on that second Poly & Bark sofa for quite a while. It's a good copycat of the Sven sofa from Article. I think it fits the vibe of the room better and seems like it would feel lighter in a small space. Even though they're the same length, the first sofa feels heavy for the space. The taller arms, to me, aren't very comfortable to put your arm up on unless you don't mind your arm being at shoulder height. How deep is each sofa? If I were to want to lay down to prop up my feet, I'd rather do it on the second sofa.

The tapestry came in and it is hung. I plan on painting my the door white. I was thinking a rust colored rug maybe? Like the one pictured. My mom disagrees. What our your thoughts?

Add moulding where? I wouldn’t add the ”picture moulding” , your room & furniture, leans too casual for something more formal like that.

I do not think a mantel would look odd. Your biggest detriment on the fireplace is the existing tile. I would do a simple mantel in the same wood as your cabinets and replace the tile and take it up to the bottom of the mantel. If you don’t want a mantel then tile the entire wall.

I think the examples of using a mantle and artwork look fabulous! It is important to choose the right shade of wood and place it where suggested.
The wall looks better with a mantle that extends the “line” of the two side pieces. Once I saw those, I agree the wall looks better.