Please help the preggo and clueless

Okay, I'm so ready to finish my LR and DR, but all work is at a standstill because of color.

Somehow in my pregnancy I have lost all ability to put things together so that they will look nice.

Here is the deal:

My LR and DR are 2 rooms that flow freely into each other, creating one very large, open area. We recently put in hard wood floors, which after being stained, will be a natural wood color. There is a 9 foot window in the LR and a 6.5 foot sliding glass door in the DR, both looking out onto our patio, and beyond that, our pool.

My undelivered LR furniture is an eggshell microfiber (I can't find pictures of the pieces), and here is my DR furniture



We have decided on Hunter Douglas Luminette sheers for over the window and door.

NOW ~ What do I choose first?? The wall color or the window treatment color??

I keep wavering on what to do first. I think I'd like to go with something in the red family.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Please??

I LOVE that dining room furniture - where did you buy it/what brand is it.

BTW - I think you should choose a color for the walls, then set up the furniture, then choose a color for the window treatments

Thanks Annie.

It's Water's Edge by Stanley, and we got it at Siegerman's on rt 110.

I would choose your wall color, and then decide what color window treatments you want to go with.
Although if you have a certian color of curtains, then you can choose your wall color based on that.

Cant wait to see the final touches

Jenn I'd chose my wall color first.

edited to add-go to the benjamin moore website & you can look at different color paints with different rooms.

First off you know I LOVE those window treatments..but I think they should be a very neutral color because they are so expensive you will not be (most likely) replacing them anytime soon. You can always repaint a room, but without unlimited funds expensive window treatments, rugs, counter tops, bathtubs/sinks and flooring IMO should be in neutral colors.
I would not get a real 'color' for that stuff because then you are stuck with it for a very long time.

I say pick your paint color and then use that to make other decisions.

Michele, I am in 250% agreement with you, but I spoke to a decorator who told me that my window treatments should be the focal point of the room, and that has wedged itself into my head.

My new plan was to get the sheers in white or eggshell and put a scarf over them as an accent, and then choose paint and throw pillows around that, but I'm now I'm not sure, because it just seems so much easier to pick the paint and plan around that.

I usually make decisions with no problem, but this is haunting me.

Well the decorator would want the clients to pick trends so they have clients all the time who replace stuff. I would go eggshell or ivory or white on my windows, unless your windows are truly the focal point of your room. That would mean that the window is some special shape or has an amazing view. If the windows are your usually home windows then why make those your focal point?
I am sooo grateful that I chose a simple beige colored wood blind for our LR, because now I can paint the room whatever color I want without really worrying that my window treatments will clash. So for the decorate who has clients with $$$$ every year to buy new treatments fine for them, but for us regular folks go with your plan.

Do you have cats? If so, be very careful with those sheer blinds. That is the reason I couldn't get them. If they get a tear in the sheer you cannot fix them. Or better yet- no choclate in those rooms for the kids

Thanks for the insight. It helps.

No, no cats, and the kids will NEVER see the inside of these rooms... these are my 'grown ups only' rooms.

Do you have or plan on using area rugs? If you do thats a great starting point since your furniture is neutural. If not, I would go shopping for window treatments first then pick my paint color. Paint is so easy to match, they can mix up anything you want. If you start with paint you might have a little trouble finding rugs and window treatments that really work.

I love your DR set.

Thanks Fran. I had totally forgotten about the area rug. We DO plan to get one.

I think that just may be my place to start!

Hi JennRenee, we are looking at the same dining room set! I lOVE IT! We saw it at Seigermans too, but I think we are going to get it in NC for 1/2 price.

It looks like you have a plan now, Jenn, but I wanted to tell you again that set it gorgeous.

I remember when you were choosing, and you made a good choice.

Thanks Denise and Jenn!

On a very upsetting note, Siegerman's called today and they want to deliver my furniture SOON!!!

I need to get my heiney moving on this project!!!

Hi DeniseMang,
How are you going to get your furnature in NC for 1/2 price??? Pease tell me through what company or catalog??
Thanks
Nancy