DC_Mom's Profile

Perhaps your neighbors or landlord could install acoustic tiles on the downstairs ceiling? (My neighbor down the street has the same layout of house as I do, and she complains about the noise coming down between floors (he bedroom is on main floor, her kids live upstairs). I don't have the same problem -- and I think it's because the previous owners installed acoustic tile on the main floor bedroom ceilings.

The only one I can stand is the Rice/Allen bedroom -- and then only without the cow hide.

The swirly pattern on the chair alongside the whimsical shape of the window is simply inspired. This place is a gem.

@Parnassus - what colors are you into now?

I installed hooks low _inside_ my entryway closet. That way the kids can hang their own coats, but they are still out of sight once the closet door is closed. Works wonders.

I love that they achieved collected, not cluttered.

We just rearranged our long living room by moving sofa and arm chairs away from the walls. We put two arms chairs flanking either side of the fireplace and the sofa facing it, with a rug in front. What a difference it made! The living room when from random to cozy and like it was all meant to be. Try facing the sofa toward the fireplace, even if it creates an empty space behind. You can always put a slim console table along the back wall behind the sofa. (Caveat: we don't keep the tv in the living room, so this arrangement did not have to account for tv placement or sight lines.)

I have the candleholder shown in the first photo. It looks supercool. Only problem is it does not hold the candles very straight -- and it gets candle wax everywhere.

I agree with previous posters that the furniture is out of scale. Look for smaller scale Mission, Shaker and Craftsman styles. (Wood, clean lines, slats.) As for colors -- maybe find a (hand-made) rug that you like (one that works with the wall colors you already have) and pull color inspiration from the rug. (Just throw the rug over the carpet.) Perhaps a relative or friend has a spare rug, or you might find a used one for sale, or Ikea has some inexpensive options that are not handmade but have the kilim/navajo or turkish look.

Here are few pictures of what I mean, randomly found on google images by looking for "arts and crafts living room":

http://www.interiordesignpro.org/designingideas/living-room/photo-1491

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47683183@N00/431009093

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47683183@N00/2647428802

http://homeinteriordesignproperty.com/decoration-for-an-arts-and-crafts-kitchen

http://kirsten-haus.designshuffle.com/portfolio/living-spaces/chevy-chase-arts-crafts-living-room/

http://www.google.com/imgres?start=20&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1152&bih=749&tbm=isch&tbnid=Fuos2lND6YiB-M:&imgrefurl=http://berkeleyhomes.com/homes/homes_for_sale/featured_homes.html&docid=QH3OgqvoZB5ACM&imgurl=http://berkeleyhomes.com/photos/homes/marin-2239-berkeley-hills/photos/marin-2239-berkeley-hills-craftsman-home-living-room-dining-room-woodwork-1.jpg&w=720&h=480&ei=TJHVTtyeOcfv0gHy2N3ZAQ&zoom=1

Our son slept in a toddler bed until he turned 4. (Even though he was tall for his age.) We lived in a small condo and were conserving space. We moved him up to a regular bed once we moved to a house.