I tend to do anything other than food in a "food room" like a dining room just because it's so... expected. I will admit, however, to having a little funky oil painting of a coffee cup in my kitchen. But a still life with fruit? Not for me. Landscapes, yes. I like the idea of sitting down to eat and facing an interesting landscape. When our dining room was a dining room, I had 2 landscapes in there. Now it's a dining/library room and there's not much wall space, but I have a small painting of a house on one wall, and, uh, a silver deer head that's actually a Christmas decoration on another narrow slice of wall. Put it up for the holidays, and couldn't bring myself to put it away when it was post-holiday cleanup time. If I were you, I'd keep looking til you find something that you love, and don't worry too much about the subject matter. Maybe it's a painting of a cow. Or a sofa. Or a flower garden... whatever it is, you'll probably know it when you see it.

I have ordered a few framed items from them (wait for their 25% off coupon codes -- they have them almost constantly). In one case, the frame was damaged when I got it, and I emailed them. They asked me to email a pic, which I did, and even though the damage was minor, they sent me a new framed print, and didn't ask me to return the damaged one. And p.s., a friend of mine took the damaged one and fixed the frame and now it's hanging in her office!

Circuspeanut- thanks so much for responding. I really want to do soapstone, it was my very first initial desire even before I discovered this tile. But it didn't seem correct with the dark cabinets I had chosen. Then, when I found this tile, and realized the dark cabinets were not going to work after thinking hard about it. The kitchen really does not get good light and, even though I'm adding a sliding glass door into the room, I also have noticed that the rear of the house gets the least amount of direct sunlight during the daytime (I've been watching it because I'm also trying to plan a garden). So, I need to lighten up the cabinets which I intend to do, but have not chosen exactly what color yet. In which case, soapstone would be possible. I LOVE the idea of yellow tile near the soapstone. And, love the tiles you posted. It keeps the kitchen more in the Craftsman style, with just a hint of Art Deco - which would be more in character of the house. The house has elements of both, but overall is much more Craftsman and is more my style than Deco. My eye is very drawn to the first tile you posted, the one on the upper left, yellow and brown geometric. Like that a lot. I can see adding in some copper with the pulls/handles, perhaps the faucet, fixtures and if feasible, the sink. In fact just today, I noticed that some of the plates on the doors in the house have a copper tone to them. As for other things - my contractor was over today (finally) with his super to talk about gutting the kitchen. Some surprises were found, issues with the floor level, some piping from the bathroom above complicating the potential ceiling height (but he still thinks I can get in 42" cabinets), a structural beam and possible plumbing in an area which may shorten the run of my counter top (and has put me back to a 30" range), etc. Old homes - you have to just deal with the surprises, you know? But, he loved the old tile, and was all about keeping it. Said if worse came to worse, and it didn't work out no harm done and out it comes but he'll do his best to be gentle with it during demolition. I've known him for easily 15 years, or more and trust him and his team completely to do the right thing (I've been working for Architects for over 25 years, and know him from my last job). Anyway - will certainly keep you all posted as things go along. Demo was supposed to start tomorrow but it got pushed off until Monday, no big deal. I go back to the kitchen designer next Saturday - should have been tomorrow but I have to cancel since no point going until demo is done and I see exactly what that structural beam situation is all about for one thing, and some other minor issues. I want to be certain about the measurements before ordering cabinets!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I would like all the furniture pieces to stay in the room, plus no other spot in the home for them. I am going to move the dresser under the window and move the chest of drawers to the wall where the dresser currently is and see how that looks and feels. TV may have to go as it is rarely used anyway. Not having a mirror over the dresser will be a change for me, lol. neverbedone - thanks for the picture, it really takes care of the space below the window and looks nice and neat. Olychick - Could I used draperies that match the current color of my Roman shades? I do want to keep them as they let light into a drab north/east room. Mrs S. - You are right, moving the chest of drawers would definitely give us some extra space when walking into the room and in front of the bed. TV not used much and it may go out of the room. RITA - Not looking for actually suggestions for art, just sizes and a pleasing placement on the wall. If I move the furniture pieces as suggested above, I may be able to also hang a piece above the chest of drawers. Again, thanks for all your suggestions, they have opened my eyes to new possibilities with the room.