Looking at the front entry windows - I think if you narrowed the LR windows a bit and made them 3 columns of panes they would look very similar and might even be around the same size.
I don’t find the windows as currently sized to be out of proportion. One thing I like about the current windows is that there’s ample wall between the upper outer corners of the windows and the ceiling, so the placement feels deliberate.
As much as I love a rectangle, and added window space just about anywhere, I get a sense from other photos that this room has plenty of natural light and does not feel closed-in. I trust cb to sense if there’s something off when standing in the room.
I wouldn’t want that upper outer corner to get too close to the underside of the ceiling either.
There is a ton of natural light in the room, so that should not be an issue to be concerned about. There are 3 windows on left wall and two full size French doors and a center window on the right wall. In fact, there is hardly any wall space!
I am going to mock in the built ins (low cabinets with doors to stash all the TV and stereo equipment) and then take a photo so we can get a better idea of proportions. The three windows on the left are basically a 4’ x 4’ square
However, I do like the idea of lengthening the windows into a rectangle to better mimic the original windows by front entry and to provide more interest. I’m just always on a mission to keep original openings as much as possible to reduce cost. But, the living room is the Wow feature of the home as a buyer enters (with it’s views on right side) so we want to get the living room as perfect as we can
I will admit that I always get worried when people start suggesting structural, plumbing or window opening changes for cb’s projects. I want to scream, “No, don’t make her spend more money!”
If the built-ins go right up to the bottom of the windows, the entire unit (window plus shelving) will read like a tall rectangle. Does that help at all?
Living Room Chandelier
Back to shopping for the living room. Of all the links in posts above, I think these are the finalists that fit the size and shape of the room and are within the budget
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Quoizel-Mirren-8-light-Chandelier/8616052/product.html
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Old-World-9-light-Chandelier/2064093/product.html
I like #5, #2 and #3
My favorite is still the Old World Nine Light. I just think it fits the house.
An observation: I’ve mentioned this before, but could you extend the deck around the south side (fireplace wall) and have steps from the front yard onto the deck?
I wouldn’t want that upper outer corner to get too close to the underside of the ceiling either. >>>>>
Yes, it would look awkward.
I like the Mirren 8 light, #1.
The deck is going to extend beyond the house about 5-6 feet to the SW corner of the yard. There will be wood stairs coming down from the deck behind the fireplace with a gravel path over to the main front walkway. It doesn’t make any sense to extend the deck along the South wall behind the fireplace because there really isn’t any view there and it would be really skinny (about 5 ft). So we are using that area for a planted walkway to the deck for guests arriving to a fabulous sunset cocktail party (!!) via the front walkway area
I like lights 1 and 2.
the view out from the living room through the windows flanking the fireplace is a nice ‘open’ view across the canyon area. No ocean or water views from those windows
OK, I’m going to take the tape measure and mimic the measurements of #1 and #2 and see which fits the scale the best
3 is going to appeal to younger buyers because it is more unusual / slightly contemporary
For the realtor open house!!
I like #3, but there is something about the shape of the wooden part that looks like a giant lightbulb