My husband and I are moving into our first home in 2 weeks, and I can't stop going over interior design stuff in my head! Because money will be tight, we're keeping my husbands 'bachelor' black leather couch and loveseat - and we have black wrought iron dining table/chairs with the glass round top. Now, this house has most of its space upstairs in the bedrooms -leaving the living room, dining room, and kitchen a bit small - and they're all attached in a U shape (front door enters to living room, dining room would be the bottom of the U, and the kitchen being separated from living room by the wall.) This living room is more or less a glorified hallway, so I want to make it seem more open. With these things in mind, would a light green color work well? Black couches, wrought iron, light wood floors, light wood cabinets, light wood floor moulding*maybe paint these white if do-able?* And if you think green would work well, what would be a good accent color? I'm hoping a red of some sort... Any input or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

My husband and I are moving into our first home in 2 weeks, and I can't stop going over interior design stuff in my head! Because money will be tight, we're keeping my husbands 'bachelor' black leather couch and loveseat - and we have black wrought iron dining table/chairs with the glass round top. Now, this house has most of its space upstairs in the bedrooms -leaving the living room, dining room, and kitchen a bit small - and they're all attached in a U shape (front door enters to living room, dining room would be the bottom of the U, and the kitchen being separated from living room by the wall.) This living room is more or less a glorified hallway, so I want to make it seem more open. With these things in mind, would a light green color for the walls work well? Black couches, wrought iron, light wood floors, light wood cabinets, light wood floor moulding*maybe paint these white if do-able?* And if you think green would work well, what would be a good accent color? I'm hoping a red of some sort... Any input or ideas would be greatly appreciated!! By accent, yes I meant little things like pattern on a pillow or something - I dont think I'm ready for anything like an accent wall yet :)

My husband and I are moving into our first home in 2 weeks, and I can't stop going over interior design stuff in my head! Because money will be tight, we're keeping my husbands 'bachelor' black leather couch and loveseat - and we have black wrought iron dining table/chairs with the glass round top. Now, this house has most of its space upstairs in the bedrooms -leaving the living room, dining room, and kitchen a bit small - and they're all attached in a U shape (front door enters to living room, dining room would be the bottom of the U, and the kitchen being separated from living room by the wall.) This living room is more or less a glorified hallway, so I want to make it seem more open. With these things in mind, would a light green color work well? Black couches, wrought iron, light wood floors, light wood cabinets, light wood floor moulding*maybe paint these white if do-able?* And if you think green would work well, what would be a good accent color? I'm hoping a red of some sort... Any input or ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

My husband and I are moving into our first home in 2 weeks, and I can't stop going over interior design stuff in my head! Because money will be tight, we're keeping my husbands 'bachelor' black leather couch and loveseat - and we have black wrought iron dining table/chairs with the glass round top. Now, this house has most of its space upstairs in the bedrooms -leaving the living room, dining room, and kitchen a bit small - and they're all attached in a U shape (front door enters to living room, dining room would be the bottom of the U, and the kitchen being separated from living room by the wall.) This living room is more or less a glorified hallway, so I want to make it seem more open. With these things in mind, would a light green color for the walls work well? Black couches, wrought iron, light wood floors, light wood cabinets, light wood floor moulding*maybe paint these white if do-able?* And if you think green would work well, what would be a good accent color? I'm hoping a red of some sort... Any input or ideas would be greatly appreciated!! By accent, yes I meant little things like pattern on a pillow or something - I dont think I'm ready for anything like an accent wall yet :)

Which do you prefer? This would be for a dining set in cast aluminum that looks like wrought iron and would be used on a wooden deck (not a patio). I like the look of dining chairs (i.e., with legs) because I prefer a traditional style with my old house, but I'm wondering if swivel chairs would be more comfortable and practical on a deck (no legs to get caught in the cracks). Opinions? One more thing -- swivel chairs cost about twice as much as dining chairs.

I just purchased a house in Mexico that has an open floor plan. Kitchen and living space open with a partial rock wall defining the dining area off the living room. Builder used lots of brick, stone, (set in gray cement) and huge wooden beams over the counter separating the kitchen and living room.(I have hung my stem glasses on lattice,attatched to the beams, and an iron hanging pot rack from the beams) The ceilings are very high coming to a pitched point at the top as the house previously had a palapa (palm leaf) roof The color now is a dark taupe and all walls are a swirly, pitted,bumpy cement finish. As it is now..it appears dark and dirty even with the high ceiling and lots of windows covered with black wrought iron on the outside. The use of sooo many different elements, red brick,stone (yellows,grays,beiges,they are actually big flat rocks!), wooden beams, stones framing the doors and the partial wall ..all stone..make it a definate challenge! Any and all ideas..WELCOME Thank U

Which do you prefer? This would be for a dining set in cast aluminum that looks like wrought iron and would be used on a wooden deck (not a patio). I like the look of dining chairs (i.e., with legs) because I prefer a traditional style with my old house, but I'm wondering if swivel chairs would be more comfortable and practical on a deck (no legs to get caught in the cracks). Opinions? One more thing -- swivel chairs cost about twice as much as dining chairs.

I just purchased a house in Mexico that has an open floor plan. Kitchen and living space open with a partial rock wall defining the dining area off the living room. Builder used lots of brick, stone, (set in gray cement) and huge wooden beams over the counter separating the kitchen and living room.(I have hung my stem glasses on lattice,attatched to the beams, and an iron hanging pot rack from the beams) The ceilings are very high coming to a pitched point at the top as the house previously had a palapa (palm leaf) roof The color now is a dark taupe and all walls are a swirly, pitted,bumpy cement finish. As it is now..it appears dark and dirty even with the high ceiling and lots of windows covered with black wrought iron on the outside. The use of sooo many different elements, red brick,stone (yellows,grays,beiges,they are actually big flat rocks!), wooden beams, stones framing the doors and the partial wall ..all stone..make it a definate challenge! Any and all ideas..WELCOME Thank U

I have an adorable dining set (table and chairs) from Pier 1 that is all black wrought iron with a glass top. Problem is there isn't room for it in the new house I'm moving to...but there is a large covered back porch that is exposed on only one side. Do you think it will survive okay outside? What happens to wrought iron when it is outside? Does it rust? I'd like to use it again inside when I have a bigger house so I don't want to ruin it. Thanks

I have an adorable dining set (table and chairs) from Pier 1 that is all black wrought iron with a glass top. Problem is there isn't room for it in the new house I'm moving to...but there is a large covered back porch that is exposed on only one side. Do you think it will survive okay outside? What happens to wrought iron when it is outside? Does it rust? I'd like to use it again inside when I have a bigger house so I don't want to ruin it. Thanks