Tracy Schwartz Here's a picture of the rest of the kitchen so you can see colors and style. But I'm not married to any of it. In fact, I'm starting to hate the rug... :)

JMittman Designs Why not go with some simple woven wood shades--get a pattern to coordinate with your cabinets. I would ditch the rug. With little ones, isn't it easier to clean up a hardwood floor than a mess on the rug? :)

Tracy Schwartz That might be nice. I'll look into that. The rug actually hides a multitude of sins... :) I'm not the most diligent cleaner.

bubblyjock Do you like drapes? Ikea (and others) have lovely plain simple heavyweight cotton or linen drapes which are machine-washable, and I think always look nice. They have them in a huge variety of neutral tones and colours.

I'd be moving the rug in front of the stove, unless it's very valuable - rich-coloured rugs look GREAT in a kitchen!

wallscape3 Two thoughts...
- turn the table at an angle so the chair doesn't back up to the clock wall
- put a large mirror on that wall with a frame that accents what ever you do at the window
[maybe even get a round or oval rug for under the table]

With that drama of the mirror on the clock wall and turned table, you'll have an instinctive sense as to how to dress the window.

...just saying :-)

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design I would use 2" wood or faux wood blinds. Then I'd put a fabric valance above them that starts about a foot above the window and just covers the top of the window.

As for your wall where the clock is located, it looks like a good place to hang your children's artwork, as seen in the photos below. I love the pictures hung from trouser hangers.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Drea Custom Designs I would add a nice valance for some color, and either install a woven shade or solar shade because it appears that quite a bit of sun comes through the windows there.

Miller's Paint & Wallpaper If you want to keep the color you need to bring in some art work that is just as vibrant. On the windows I put Hunter Douglas Woven Woods to soften the windows.

Miller's Paint & Wallpaper Oops, forgot to put quick idea photo! Not the best photo but gives you the idea...

The Creative Man Hi, I agree, wooden blinds would work well. Also, maybe try shutters that are half way up. Bamboo shades would be nice ae wll.

designandconquer to the wood blinds or bamboo shades I would add bold bright colorful fresh large printed fabric panels.... wall to wall, hiding finger prints, balancing woods, adding personality, originality, absorbing sound and wowee mommy! hmmm that carpet???

janishill You don't say that the windows need to be covered for privacy, so I would go with Roman shades.

The clock is a bit small for the wall...and it is hung too high. I like Carolyn Albert-Kincl's idea of making it an art wall for your childrens creations. If that doesn't appeal to you then a large mirror will work.

oldblackdog If you use the "clock wall for your children's art, I too would go with soft roman shades in simple, neutral ,textured fabric,like linen. If the wall isn't going to be the focal point, i might consider something like Marimekko [Or m- style ] bold print panels, t be simply folded back when opened ( check out Juhannustaika pattern). Exuberant and tough. Not a part of the question but a round table would feel better to me.

libradesigneye I think the windows and their architecture is the best thing in the room, so would hate to cover them just to be pc. You could go roman shades but hang them above the windows altogether most of the time - a simple fabric with accent tapes like they sell at smith and noble would be ideal. I like the saturated color with the wood tone - and the rug is fine - would be okay in kitchen too but I also love their camoflauge properties. This area feels pretty accessible to the entry, so the kind of art to go with the clock should be two items in my book - one medium sized painting that combines the goldenrod and mahogany and is very modern art / canvas print here. Then below, long and oblong, a chalkboard framed out in dark wood so you can 99% of the time let kids draw, but at holidays and guest events, take out mom's liquid chalk and draw a welcome message - double duty that adds charm.

bevballew Roman shades in a soft pattern that includes the mustard color with another color. Wood blinds to pull up so kids don't wreck them but used when too sunny. Better with no rug under table. More sanitary with kids. Easier to clean with no rug. I would use the clock wall for the kids artwork. It improves their self esteem and gives them the impetus and confidence to know how much their work is loved. You can have a picture to change off periodically, similar to the size you showed. I had three kids so I appreciate the need to keep things out of their way. Wood blinds will be out of their reach except for the up and down strings, which you have to be careful with with very young children due to the risk of strangulation. Find another place for the clock on a smaller wall.

Keitha What about this? A nice tailored upholstered valance for color and texture combined with wooden shades

Dean South Carolyn Albert's plan sounds the best to me. You need some fabric up there to soften the room a bit. I like the clock all by itself! I guess I have no sense of interior design! lol The victorian rug is a bit off for the furniture style you have. A solid or color blocked rug may help balance it a bit. It just "doesn't go", know what I mean? Not trying to be rude, it is a beautiful rug, but seems out of place in this setting.

Dean South You also have an extreme contrast between the white trim and the saturated color on the walls, have you considered painting the trim a shade or two down? More ivory, instead of pure white? Just a thought, and no, I am not available to paint all that trim!

Tracy Schwartz I so appreciate all of your comments. May I add some more to fine-tune our direction? I like the idea of a round table. It's on the wish list. I am trying to convince myself that I love the wall color, and some days I'm pretty good at it, but other days it's just too much mustard. It came out more saturated than I had envisioned. I do have an art collage in my kids playroom, so I don't know that I want to do that here as well.

If I could do it all right now money-wise, I'd replace the rug with the one in the picture. My husband actually surprised me the other day by saying that his tastes are changing to a little more contemporary. I'm great with that, but it's going to take one thing at a time to de-traditionalize our look. (I only think traditional is what we'd call it.) Anyway, we also really like farmhouse-y, rustic looks.

Again, thanks for your help. I'm not really good at this... yet.

Tracy Schwartz Here are some of the ideas photoshopped in. Still unsure which direction I want to go on the wall, but you'll notice that I lightened the wall color. That is an option I'm considering. I might think of some large food-themed art on that wall - something like the oversized utensils, but less trendy. I'll chew on that for a while (no pun intended...).

Tracy Schwartz Holy cow Susanna. What a lot of work you've done for little ol' me. Thank you so much. Some really great ideas. I'm starting to see some stuff come together in my mind. Love the chalkboard birds. There are 5 of us, so that would be so fun. I also have a little bird pic in my dining room.

Anyway, thanks again.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design Tracy, I see in your photoshopped room that the valance has a stairstepped bottom. If you and your husband want to go more contemporary, I'd start the valance high on the wall and give it a straight bottom.

I love round tables so hope you can get one. When you do, I would place the chairs on the diagonal across from one another, not straight with the walls. See example below.

catinpvb Based on what I 'think' I am seeing. . .why not take out the remainder of the 'awkward wall; which appears to have been significantly reduced and put in a boxed pillar. . .better; add a 'couple' in whichever manner you can tie them into meaningful 'scheme' to give better - more attractive; definition to dining/kitchen space. And yes; a large unframed canvas - or framed print - to replace clock - maybe some 'wine/cheese/ motif if looking for 'food themes' or a big (and beautiful ) rooster ala Pascal Cessou. (Good if some black - even just a little - coloring included in art MO.)

Oops; missed the 'black bird' suggestion. And yes; a good one (and with black!). Of course; and 'as well' the 'rooster' too; is a bird/lol. Food theme; still sounds good too.

Bargain Backer I recommend some nice large wall decor. We have some great selections w/great prices.
http://www.bargainbacker.com/Wall-Decor_c_13.html
http://www.bargainbacker.com/DCOR_c_4772.html

bevballew If I were you I would soften the mustard. Perhaps a whitewash over it or just paint the entire room. Do the suggestion window treatments that could flow either way. Wood blinds I believe can be either style. Remove the rug. That would help in making decisions. If you put a large sunburst clock or decor that would make it more contemporary. Just get something cheap and large on that wall until you decide on a new table.

bevballew Also a nice valance and then you can take your time until you decide the style you want.

soberg Wall color and clock are very nice, to my eyes. However, the bland rug is not doing anything for the room. Remove it and either just have bare boards (my strong preference for a dining room where toddlers eat) or replace with a bold, modern rug.

For the windows, fabric would clutter the area and just get dirty. I'd recommend wood blinds or shutters. Get them custom fitted and they really look sleek and are perfect for light control.

KSID Studio, LLC If you keep the mustard walls I would use a lot of white or off white in the room. The valance could be a mustard and white pattern (very fresh) and I would frame a more modern piece of art in white or off white frame. I like the idea of one large piece of art rather than several. If you keep the clock you could hang white plates in a circle around it. I would add cushions to the chairs and a bold geometric rug such as a chevron. Perhaps bring in another color such as green in the rug art and table linens.
Premier Prints Suzani Slub, Yellow/White
Brentwood Regency Estate
Perhaps the light fixture could be swaped for something more unique.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design Nice ideas from KSID!

bevballew Gorgeous! I would do it!

Susanna Love the suzani print from KSID. Here is a rooster print for Catinpvb. :-). What style of art are you wishing for, Tracy? I know you said food subject but what style? Do you like watercolors or abstract or something that looks like a Starbucks/Pottery Barn store, or realistic like a photograph....or....

bevballew He is very cute as I am not a big rooster person. He is just darling.

Susanna Tracy, I removed my earlier long post to open up space on your thread. I will keep the pin board I built for you on my pinterest page for a while at the bottom- called Tracy's Houzz.

Here is the link for the chalkboard birds you liked, 7.99 online:
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/chalkboard-birds-on-a-string.do?&from=fn

Tracy Schwartz Thank you all SO much. This is super cool to have so many eyes other than my own on this. Someone asked what style I'm going for. I don't really know how to categorize it, so let me give you some words and images that I like. I love looking through Pottery Barn catalogues. I like a touch of whimsy. I like un-fussy, but not stark. Comfy and homey. My heart flutters at farmhouse style pictures with antiques around, but I don't know if that works with my cabinets, and I'm not willing to go that far with this project... I do have some antique irons and scales behind my glass cabinet doors.

So maybe saying contemporary was off the mark a bit, but "more contemporary" than we currently have. Maybe a little eclectic mix?

judyjean2012 Why not try some wooden blinds with red/gold tapes or matchstick bamboo rollup shades, replace whte rug with old oriental with red, gold, brown color tones,--will hide a lot more sins than white!-- put clock above the window center and add colorful plates on either side, and find a large framed picture or poster to pick up same colors for your clock wall. Colors can tie into your adjoining rooms.

tamara682 Wood blinds with tapes, or maybe even roman shades, if you want to dress it up.

blindsdirectcanada I would go with PVC shutters . Its a great option for a kitchen especially with kids around its very durable and can be cleaned by wiping down with a damp cloth. If you still feel you need fabric a Mock Roman Valance would look great on top. I will attach pics .

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/drapery-toronto/top-treatments/mock-roman-shade.html

blhill56 Tracy your post caught my eye as I too have windows in my eating area I don't know what to do with. I agree with the ideas for roman woven shades or bamboo ones, maybe with a tailored valance at the top. As far as the rug, how about an indoor/outdoor rug? The Home Decorator catalog has some great choices which can be vacuumed or taken outside and hosed off! You mentioned utensils on the wall, as you can see I have that too, mine have chalkboards in them. That might be fun for you and the kids to write the days dinner menus or you could make your own menu wall with chalk paint and trim! I don't know if wainscoting appeals to your but we added it to our breakfast area last weekend (okay we're not quite done but we're getting there). It's completely washable and pre-finished, seems to be made of a pvc type material, not wood, we got it at Home Depot. That would be great for those sticky fingers! Good luck with whatever you decide, please post after pictures so we can see!

dlapollo the windows are not the problem
the paint color...is not modern
Paint walls a dark grey ie: Benjamin Moore Stone
and whie curtains, maybe sheers from ceiling to floor 92 inches.
less is more....

Camille Sita what about a picture wall of actual family pictures? all sizes and shapes, not necessarly framed but mounted without frame. I have seen this a few times and not only is it a nice conversation piece but keeps memories alive.

Kimberly Walker If you are staying with the paint color - enhance it with one or two more bold colors in some valances over some wood blinds. Bring some red, greens, or purples in with the mustard color. For artwork I took a picture of all the family sitting at the table saying their prayer for their food. It turned out great! I had it enlarged and framed. Then my daughter in law gave me artwork of the grandkids handprints. I framed them along with pictures of the grandkids in stock pots. If you are not happy with the color - try painting again - paint is one of the cheapest ways to change a look. Once you are happy with your color, the other seems to fall in place! Good luck. Will be interested to see your end results.

Andrea Zehnder Here's my two cents:

1. paint the room another color. Go bolder! Red, bright orange, or lime green. Just go bold. Trust me. The mustard color is conservative and dated.
2. Get rid of that rug! It's pulling the whole room down! Another crazy idea would work well here. Go bright. The new rug you picked out is too traditional. You are taking baby steps. Try something more amazing! Break out of your mold.
3. Another idea for the wall with the clock: chalk board paint. How fun. The house is very stayed...everything in it's place. Make this area break out of the mold. When you walk into this area, you will begin to love it if it becomes a place to contain "things you'd never normally do."
4. Get rid of the light fixture! :) Please, go with something big and fun, yet not too crazy. A giant lamp shade (IKEA has some great over-sized shades that hang from the ceiling) This will keep help tie the room into the more contemporary and conservative parts of your tastes.
5. Is that your only seated dining area? If not, why have three places to eat that are traditional? If you have a more traditional dining room, then this might be a place, like you see in one of the photos above, where you could put two conversation chairs and a table with magazines. How fun it might be to eat a snack or light lunch in a cozy comfy chair! Or have a friend hang out and read a magazine while you make lunch? This area doesn't have to be what the architect intended it to be! Break out of the mold. Have fun. You'll be glad you did!
6. What about a book shelf or a small computer desk in that area?
7. The windows ... I think you have already been given a lot of great advice.

Good luck!

Tracy Schwartz I've put together some favorites and would love to get some more feedback. I'm not sure of spacing or grouping on the wall as it's hard to photoshop around the light. But we're getting somewhere. I thought I'd paint the clock antique white, and I have stuff to create a mason jar organizer, which I'd also paint antique white. I think I'll paint the spoons various bright colors. What a fun idea. Big big thanks to Susanna for most of this. But to everyone else as well for getting my creative juices flowing. I'm attaching pictures of two different thought for the window covering.

PS Oh, and ignore the drapes in the adjoining room. They're not sewn yet. But that does give you an idea of color/style I'm coordinating with. Thoughts on that are welcome as well.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design I love the windows with the matchstick blinds, but I do not think that the rug looks good with the fabric cornice. A solid fabric would work fine and also would not compete with the draperies around the corner

Tracy Schwartz I am crazy about the suzani fabric, but I also am not sure if it won't compete with the fabric around the corner (the sunroom - I'll ask questions about that one shortly...). I may have to just get it for another room. But I'll take the green fabric with me to the fabric store to make sure. Thoughts?

The drum fixture is just something I threw up there to see how it looked. I liked bringing in the green from the sunroom curtains. I think I have a lamp shard that I might be able to DIY it with, but I am not sure.

crypticartist Check around--I think Home Depot may have a 'WOOD LOOK" Venetian blind that actually does look like wood--the bonus is that the slats are wide for a very contemporary look and they are also individually removable for very easy cleaning. I would be careful of the intensity of any poster you put on the wall as it could dominate the small space. The idea is good though (large rectanguler dimension) --because we are very affected by colour, I'd look for a nature theme with perspective to draw your eye in (ex. a winding road through a tunnel of trees with filtered light). Home Depot and floor covering stores should carry woven grass rugs. They are a tight weave-natural colours, with simple black Patterns--almost indestructible (I know we have one in our den where my 2 huge dogs like to sleep--very reasonable$ -3 years old and it looks new. Bonus#2 --in the summer, I take it outside on the lawn and just hose it off-Dries quickly - ready to use again

Wendy Hummingbird Designs Tracy that is the same colour of my walls and cabinets in my kitchen I will post some of my wall accessories . Lower white shutters would look nice. My picture did not turn out very well but they are the same wall colours. Just a thought . My clock is very big bought it at pier one

bevballew Liked the picture of your kitchen above that was photoshopped but do not like the rug at all. Too busy. Fixture was ok except for color. Looked cute!

Tracy Schwartz Oh no! :) I am really digging the look we've come up with. I just bought that green fabric, so I'm in love with it too, but it was on clearance... So of we don't come up with something else that makes me swoon, I may be convinced to let the green go. This is why I need help! :) Too many great options to navigate through.

Tracy Schwartz So here's a better look at my sunroom. We're not ready to completely tackle it, but it will be painted in the near future. (Wouldn't mind thoughts on that...) But this should give you something to work with on the kitchen colors. I guess I should also include the family room that it also opens up to. Mind you, I'm definitely not loving my curtains there, so that's all negotiable. :) This might also be a game changer for wall color. I'm not sure how I feel about the coolness of the tan against the warmth of the mustard. It's grown on me, but I recognize that it might not be the best match. Anyway, that's a lot of questions in one short paragraph. Thanks!!!!!!!

bevballew I don't mean to sound mean but everything is so dark. Dark wood and dark sofas. A soft green in the family room would go nice to complement the mustard. The sunroom is awesome. Even keeping it white and adding bright colors of yellow and greens to pick up the other rooms. It looks like you have very nice furniture in The family room but it needs color. Whatever color you add there you blend I think in the sunroom. A nice rug in the sunroom and if you want nice little valances on the windows or roman shades.

larson2020 Back to your breakfast nook.

1) Buy a seisal rug edged in a durable fabric color such as the green.
2) Use that green drum lamp. Love it!
3) Get narrow fabric covered chairs to go on either side of your square table. Maybe a green and cream large print fabric kinda like the yellow and cream shown previously.
4) Large art piece on wall with some green in it.
5) Like the cornice...use a fabric that coordinates with the side chairs.
6) Linen roman shades in a singe color to coordinate with the cornice. (Feel the room needs softening.)
7) Add whimsical table decor.

Genevieve Dark wood Plantation shutters and a new light fixture if you can

http://www.google.com/search?q=plantation+shutters&rlz=1C1CHMD_enCA371CA371&aq=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=ADIkUYnpFeTWyQHv6IDgAg&biw=991&bih=702&sei=AjIkUbuqMaW8yAGw5oHICQ#um=1&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHMD_enCA371CA371&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=kitchen+with+dark+brown+plantation+shutters&oq=kitchen+with+dark+brown+plantation+shutters&gs_l=img.12...25255.29753.2.32202.13.13.0.0.0.0.249.1752.0j12j1.13.0...0.0...1c.1.4.img.5AxFguEHp_s&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42661473,d.aWc&fp=4bc4535b5d6efd97&biw=991&bih=702&imgrc=h2L9xnhC1PbXEM%3A%3B_UdR_qbbxJ3P_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eod4u.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2010%252F12%252Fkitchen_shutters_II1-e1358478605857.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.eod4u.com%252Fresidential%252Fshowcase%252F%3B450%3B338

JAMEITE Hand-painted Silk Wallpaper Co., LTD Decorate some wallpaper, will be more harmonious, you can customize the wallpaper

Susanna Ciao, Tracy!
Killing time at the airport waiting for my flight, I found these and a few other things added to the pin board Tracy Two. This one is green and gold, called montaigne on Home Decorators for 279.00.

Also, I looked again at the rug you added in your picture and it does have some green and teal in it. :-) Don't give up....it is coming together!

Susanna Close up of other rug in your photo. All of your colors in this. 89.00

Tracy Schwartz 89.00 is definitely more my style for now. :) And I do like the camouflaging qualities this one seems to have. We just got rid of a sisal rug that had many bits of food ground into its fibers... Not a good look.

So I found a picture my middle daughter painted, and replaced an older picture with muted colors. This new one is dark blue and orange on a vibrant teal background. It totally goes with the POW color on the walls, and makes me love that rug even more. And also has got me thinking about that kids' art wall mentioned earlier. I've had a change of heart. I think it will add the funky whimsical note I've been missing, without being way out there, and still being very personal. So I'm on the hunt, and maybe I'll just move the gallery wall from the play room down here. That means the clock probably has to find a new home for sure. I might fit a clock in among the pictures, but might not.

I'm digging the drum pendant idea. Not digging the price I was just quoted for shutters, so I may go home depot bamboo for the time being, or a nice roman shade. I guess I'm going to need to go fairly plain with the cornice valance since there's going to be a lot of other drama from the wall and the rug.

Getting there (?). :)

Susanna Closer..Lamps Plus on the left that you liked for 686.91. The one on the right is from Wayfair, 148.00. Maybe you could spray paint it to get even closer? Maybe a smaller shade inside?

Tracy Schwartz Loving it! I will put that on my list. :) Glad to see you made it to italy safely. Italy is on my bucket list...

Tracy Schwartz Found this on craigslist. What do you all think about this painted black?

bevballew Can't see well but I believe a very dated fixture.

Tracy Schwartz Baby steps... Going to find frames for the art (you all were SO right on this). And going to probably paint the shade - this is duct tape... :) My husband thought I had gone crazy this morning. I felt so handy though - I had to use heavy duty wire cutters to make the opening big enough to fit over the fixture. Figured out how to remove the old shade. All WELL past bedtime. Bad mommy...

Susanna Hi Tracy,
I'm traveling on to an area with lousy, if any, internet service so suggesting you repin whatever you like off the boards I built. Planning to do a little reshuffling and don' t want you to have to search for something. Pin as many as you like. Looking forward to "after" pictures!

Tracy Schwartz Can you suggest a type of valance? I found the material (well, a remnant piece - once I decide what type of valance to do, I'll go buy more). It's the "table runner" in this picture here. I definitely find myself drawn to more tailored looking valance as opposed to rod pocket gathered ones. And I do like scalloped bottoms and pleats. I want to have a definite look to shoot for before I decide whether to make it myself or have someone do it for me. I'm pretty handy, but not able to do super complex. Here's a picture of one I just made for my master bath, and I'm pretty pleased with it, but it doesn't look professional either.

Tracy Schwartz Oh, here's the master bath one.

Tracy Schwartz Getting somewhere with this room, but still need some more guidance/opinions. I have officially decided to change the wall color. I am going to do it a little lighter, more buttery. Not so orange-juice-y/mustard-y. I just decided I've been trying to talk myself into loving it. (The way the pictures of the whole kitchen came out is more of the color I'm shooting for. For some reason, it photographed lighter. So I like it in the picture. But it looks more like picture of just the breakfast nook in real life.)

Next dilemma: I bought a rug that I LOVED at first blush. Then I put it under the table and moved the old one into the kitchen. I think I'm liking that move, but it's a very different look. It makes the kitchen look a little more formal, which is not bad, but it does make me worry about doing more whimsical in the breakfast nook (kids art on wall, funky clock, spray painted spoons in a frame...). Is that too much of a departure in essentially the same space?

The other thing is that the rug is darker, and has a little too much blue - no other blues in the any of the adjoining rooms. AND it shows every crumb dropped. Don't judge... but I don't vacuum every day. So that rug will be taken back to the store I think, and I'm not sure where to go from here. I want lighter. And something fun that won't be too dissimilar from the rug in the kitchen. Tall order I guess. Or do you think I can get away with the mix and do a more transitional rug with the traditional look of the oriental rug?

Loren Appleman This might look nice as a valance.

Kelly Loved Keitha's suggestion above. So nice.

Tracy Schwartz Me too. I've gone all around that idea, but keep coming back. Problem is, I don't know how to make one... I guess I've got more searching to do. :)

Tracy Schwartz I also really like this. Something sleek and tailored, but with personality.

bevballew Both treatments above are just darling!

Tracy Schwartz Ooh, I think we're finally getting somewhere! I hope to get this rug soon and see if it's a match. Too bad I can't find it in stock anywhere local. I hate waiting! :) And then I have to find someone who can sew this valance for me. It's above my skill level. But I like the picture a lot.

Cheery Curtains What about Roman Shades with these fabrics? Mouse over the image for a better view.

Please feel free to contact me if any questions.:)

Nophie
Cheery Curtains
Website: www.cheerycurtains.com
Email: nophie@cheerycurtains.com

saraselvaggio Roman shades in a cool geometric print would look great. Maybe with a pop of red or orange and a new rug in that color with cool artwork or larger metal artwork. Have fun. I love the wall color.

Tracy Schwartz Could anyone help me find a pattern for a valance like this? I showed the picture to a seamstress today, and she can do it for $60 as long as she has a pattern (pinch me!).