There are tons of papers available that would go with your midcentury home. Many people tire of a paper quicker than they are ready to redecorate and they can also look dated in a couple of years. Metallic papers were big im midcentury...perhaps a metallic silver paper? Are you also considering paint? You can get it in so many textures and a blue wall to match the blue in your loveseat would be lovely with some midcentury art and sculpture, or photographs on it. A mirrored wall with or without art or sculpture would also work with midcentury. These treatments are easier to adapt should you wish to change the look slightly from time to time. I would suggest replacing your stairrail with chrome or acrylic if that is in the budget...see how well the loveseat frame looks with the fabric? I hope you will post the "after" photos for us to see. Above all, enjoy the process!

You might paint the walls a bold color you really love, but I would recommend staying away from wallpaper as it is costly and too difficult to change. I agree with another poster that wider trim around the doors would help, and I would suggest that you paint all the trim white and add crown molding and a mop-board along the floor-wall junctures. I love the wood-tone door and would keep it as an accent piece and for contrast. You might add large, framed mirrors to the walls to reflect light and perhaps add a console table with a fairly large lamp. An interesting print area rug also can add pizzazz to this space. If you can use the bold wall color as an accent throughout the house, it will help to tie the entire color scheme together and give your home a unified look. In the offset hallway shown in Photos Two, Three, and Four, I would suggest you place a desk and chair and/or perhaps some bookcases and curio cabinets to make an interesting entrance way that can double as a study or home office. As an alternative, you could place a narrow dining table with leaves that fold down to allow easy traffic through the hallway. Above the table you could display some framed mirrors and, in matching frames, family photos that can serve as conversation starters. When you entertain, the fold-down dining table could be pulled out and/or moved to another room to accommodate your guests.

Hi Jennifer K, thanks for your comments. The photos you have posted are really lovely but not really suited to our environment and house, which I know is impossible to tell from one photo. We have built a modern farmhouse on 10 acres. That room looks out to beautiful green countryside and the river below. The dining room is a bit of a feature and is completely different to the rest of our relaxed lodgey style house but I don't want it to be too modern, if that makes sense. The photos have given me a few ideas so thank you so much for your help!

I am blown away from down under by the help that you all have freely given .... thank you sooo much indeed. who would have thought after a year of anguish that I would be put out of my misery! If I do go for the atlantic for chairs I will bring in plum touches and vice versa. Will now need to go and find some plum that closely aligns with your suggestions. Thanks for saying we can keep table! It is a good solid NZ made oak one ... chairs were all the rage back about 18 years ago! Now need to go! I will put up a pic of a rug that was quite nice but rather expensive so ... might be in an hour or so. Thank you so much again.