Here or there? This or that?

Here or there?

I shared my first hand at abstract art a few weeks ago.  Overall I'm happy with how the piece turned out.  No disasters, so I consider it a success!  It has been laying on the GB bed leaning up against the pillows for a little over a week now intending to be hung over the bed.  I'm not 100% sold that it is the right place for it to go.  I don't want to introduce TOO many colors in there and right now with the deeper shades of magenta, orange, and blue that are mingling into the gray mix.... it might be TOO much.  (I can't believe I'm saying this... coming from the lover of all bright and colorful things)  I have also thought about the kitchen on the wall in the sitting area and the hallway.  I think I may let it linger a few more days...

This or that? 

For a little over a year T and I have been discussing what "we" want to do with the eat in kitchen area.  Our old glass top table and four chairs made the space feel SO much smaller than it really was and not to mention that I was ready to get rid of it!  I will be the first to tell you that I hate a glass top table... you can lay the mail on it and it needs to be cleaned again - seriously I was aggravated at how many times I wiped that baby down.  So it last about three weeks in the house and I talked T into letting me do a "sitting area" there - so the table was sold on craigslist and I found a great deal from overstock on two accent chairs.  A few months went by and we used it as a "girl talk" area for when people came over... but it didn't feel or seem right.  I think the space would feel fine if we could center the chairs with a small side table in between but with our food loving Beagle.... we have to keep the furniture away from the cabinets or else we will come home to an overstuffed Beagle!  (No lies - we left boxes next to the cabinet when we first moved in and when we came home he had gotten into food on the counter top and there were paw prints on the glass stove top!)

At move in

Improvement

Now to share my thoughts of what I would like to do.  Due to our dog situation I have thought of two options.  One being a built in corner banquet with a round table and two chairs.  The other option would be a high built in table top with bar stools.  Now - I LOVE the built in corner banquet because they look so cozy and inviting.... BUT I still have to think about the dog.  I don't mind the dog laying on the seat while we are gone, however, I don't want to encourage or give him any reason to get up on the table.  Ignore that chandelier, we replaced that with a white pendant shade fixture that is adjustable (shew - we do have one thing done)

Love the round table, built in seating, and simple chairs. Found here. 

Bar height option.  Found here. 

Another corner built-in inspiration.  Found here. 

Before we do anything in the kitchen... we HAVE to get the wallpaper down.  This is a daunting task that I do not look forward to at all.  I mean I think I would rather go run a 10k (I would say marathon - but that wouldn't happen either lol).  My fear is that the wall is really damaged and we may be forced to put up board and batten or bead board, while I am not totally opposed to that option.... it just adds cost.  I would want to have more natural wall than the photo above to give the wall a visual break and to add some color on a white washed wall.

All things to think about.  any suggestions?!  Ideas?  Learning experiences to share?