You wont find Ann B here- this is where you post a design dilemma

Its your rug, not gonna lie that's exactly what's wrong. Everything else can be worked with except that rug. I would rather look at floorboards than that rug. Go to a fabric shop and glue a pretty piece of fabric over the top of the rug if money is tight. Make sure fabric has that curtain plastic backing so glue doesn't show through. Also nothing in there has the same colour scheme, character, it comes from different era's, theme's, not sure how to explain it but... Cane chairs look like part of an outdoor setting, Wood chairs look like they are from a dining table, there is different wooden furniture with different stains all piled at one end of the room looking odd together. Then the chairs are too far apart to have a decent sit down and chat. The art is really random as well and not good Centre the small table in the window and put a big fern on it to give it width. It looks like a plant table. Split the room into two sections, use the skinnier end as like a card game area to play bridge or rummy. Use the larger section as your living\ talking area. Hang the TV on the wall. Use the tv unit as makeshift coffee table until you get something better. Put the two cane chairs closer together on the other end of the couch facing the window. Paint over your art pieces, even in white only, just texture the paint to make it look like something. All this is using pieces you already have. Now sit down and decide what look your going for in that room. Modern, Industrial, Farm house because your on a farm and just buy accordingly. Reuse your couch for now and just buy a white cover or cream and colour everything else. Buy some actual arm chairs that look inviting and cozy, throw rugs for everyone but pack them in a basket and don't do what magazines do by haphazardly throwing it on the couch. Like these baskets Extra or out of season cushions in one and blankets in the other. To intertwine modern and old they have to have a common ground? I don't know if that's the word but either the wood stain from modern and old should be similar/same or they have to have something in common besides function for them to mesh well together.

OKlouise, Wow! Inc so many little design features I like.. in bathroom WC but with door for privacy, looks like built-in desks to each bedroom, media room could be as owner wished - parent retreat, home office, The Good Room. Master Suite area could even be an elderly parent accom. Great family home. Dreamer, I'm liking a lot of this one - going to tinker with it for west & east at front door blocks. That theatre room opp alfresco screams PARTY room to me! Macyjean, my problem is I haven't really decided what I need to prioritise! I wasn't that keen on the YourHome 'Banksia' layout with BRs at front of home obscuring any street view (as used to a small home where I can look out both front & back). When I think about it more, having more light for kid's bedrooms is ideal for play & study. I'm past that stage. Just need a room to sleep in.

Natural stone is a great feature that helps connect your home to the site and I like your selection. However too many times I have seen stone used incorrectly and it looks cheap and nasty. If you are going to the added expense of applying a stone finish then don't shortchange yourself and regret not doing it properly every time you walk past it or are there enjoying your fireplace. A couple of rules to go by with stone. 1. If you are going to make a feature of something the clad the entire feature not half of it, otherwise it will look like you ran out of money - how embarrassing! 2. Always think in 3D. Natural stone is a 3D material and should be applied to all exposed surface not just one. I have seen columns clad only on the street face and it looks so cheap. Trust me - don't go there. Paint it a feature colour and save up to do the job properly if need be, after all you deserve the best. 3. When applying the stone wrap it around the corner. DO NOT finish one face with a raw edge and start the next face - again it looks so fake. There are three basic ways that you can treat an external corner so it looks real. (i) Mitre the corners so with half or 1/3 rd 2/3rds tiles or stone. You the start the second face with the balance of the sheet that when mitred to the first sheet looks as one solid piece of stone. (ii) Finish the stone hard up against another element that will conceal the raw edge. (iii) Select a stone that comes with a specially cut corner tile. These are usually natural stone that have been had the back specially cut out to form an "L" for the corner. ECO OUTDOORS offer a selection of stone walling with the corner stone. It may not be cheap but it sure looks good and saves you sitting in front of your fire saying "I wish we had spent the extra and done it properly. Trust me it will eat away at you for years to come.