Thank you so much for your comment after all this time. The colour you have suggested brightens the front door area beautifully and if the two red pots were painted in a tone to match, we think it would look great. Not sure if you can get Crestview doors in New Zealand but there must be something similar. We like the idea of going away from another cedar door - mainly because it would stand out too much while it was weathering. I don't know whether we would have been that brave but the tangerine works so well with the jade green of the joinery. I have re-laid all the stones and put a new wider front step in. The timber colour will soften down in time. I put a big pot in the garden to draw visitors to the front door and have added some colourful bromeliads to the garden alongside the house to make the area a bit more cheerful. We can't make a decision about what to do with a larger 'overhang' to protect the front porch yet - it is a project in progress. Thanks again for your post.

Thank you all so much many of you suggested darkening the ceiling and leaving the beams the way it is to avoid too much work. What color did you guys had in mind?? isn't a lighter color suppose to open the room? Talianko and Hyde Evans and Shauna? ( I preferably will love a rustic lighter wood look, and the beams but does sound like a mission to get it done as sanding varnish on the ceiling might take me forever but if I get brave enough I might do it Sstar. Brio I do so want those curtains gone they are shocking :)you haven't seen the outdated blue couch yet... but I have to decide in the colors of the walls first :) I am inclined to have a rustic look for furniture... more like farm style and I also like wash off colors...my next vibrant color that i want to add is yolk yellow ( don't roll your eyes that will be in a cushions or a vase a picture) I am very impressed with all your answers and thank you all so much for taking the time to help a girl out :)

Hi anne, that's what I was originally thinking, my issue is what colour I use for the 'pop' :) I keep coming back to a teal/turquoise colour (it's one of my favourite colours!!), I love blues, purples, teal/turquoise - many on here have suggested yellow but I'm really not sure about it. Here in New Zealand we're in Autumn, nearing Winter so uncertain about the yellow. I found these cushions that I've fallen in love it, and wondering how I could make these work.. do I try teal and mustard together, as an interior designer suggested?

I would move the two chairs against the wall with the table between for a "side" seating area... which can still see the t.v. (needs some baskets or something under that table... a trunk maybe...to bulk it up). Then make an L shape with the other couch/loveseat that you have. You also have great storage along the tv wall but it's kind of bland... punch it up with a color along the back of the bookcases or a funky wallpaper. Drapes for a punch of color with some other accessories and you'll have a gorgeous room. It also looks like you have an ottoman.... put a tray on top and use it as a coffe table for a while.