SFGate

decoenthusiaste This looks pretty rustic, yet you mention sophisticated approach. I'm not sure what you mean, but I might try doing built-in window seats under the window each side of the fireplace. What is the piece under the stairs? I think that would be where I'd put the TV. We actually don't have enough pictures to tell what is going on in the space. Can you stand in front of the FP and shoot pic around the room going clockwise? That would help a lot.

tildar Sofisticated is such a subjective term, I long for clean lines, zero clutter and not too much wood. The space is rustic by defult because the previous owner did not finish it. I am brought up in Scandinavia, with all that light wood abd love it. This house is not for that though.
The pics are taken clock wise, one down one up, from the fire place.

tildar More pics following clock wise.

sandra1942 You have an incredible project in front of you. I've lived in, and decorated, ten homes (most sold within a week). Even with my experience, I wouldn't think of doing this without a designer. Your home has so many different things to consider. Stone fireplace, beams, high windows, so much wood, etc., and sometimes the home dictates the style. Husbands are not big fans of getting designers because of the expense. If you purchase through them, designers often charge nothing. That means, probably, more expensive furniture. I would find one to do an overall visit, by the hour. List everything that has to stay, what your budget is, etc. Cut pictures out of magazines, or print from here, to give the designer a sense of you, style, color, etc., no fancy plans or drawings, just suggestions. Tell your husband to go outside and look around him and tell you where he sees big, blank white spaces. You have not purchased a Scandinavian type home, it won't become one.

collettec I would paint all the walls including the paint which is two tones a light taupe or greige which is a combination of gray and beige. As for the decor, you have a lot of many small decor items. I would change that for larger pieces of art with some brighter color. Around the fireplace the decor items on the mantel and around the fireplace are too dark, I would go for some items that are lighter to show up better against the darker stone. Not sure if something that you would consider doing, but painting the ceiling between the beams a light color would lighten the room as well.

libradesigneye Let's acknowledge her conservative husband, and give her some help she can get done. First, let's celebrate the givens - lots of wood, gray river rock stone and some terrific architectural interest. I see a gorgeous model boat and another clock that evokes this style, so I'm going to suggest you go nautical. I see beaches in your art too . . .

If possible, I would use a deep ivory paint and wash / stain all the exposed wood to unify the variety of tones - especially the open beam ceilings where it is low. If you run out of steam to do all the wood, then leave the stairway, seat below and upper railing, but get all the other wall and ceiling wood you can. This end result will be creamy ivory and also gray where the knots and dark grain are - you will still have all the texture of grain coming through.

Then, ideally, paint all the stark white walls in the main room in a straw / pale honey tone. Feather out the walls where the trim boards were before. Carry this golden straw color through the kitchen where the too-bright mustard paint is now. Paint will be your best bet $ wise to get a different look.

With this light and bright background, use a color palette that ties together different shades of gray, pale aqua to turquoise to teal (greyed down a bit for sophistication - the blue-green blues), bright yellow accents and natural wood tones. This will tie in the teal chair and charcoal sofa and accents throughout your first floor living spaces. Take the old trunk and paint it out a muted turquoise accent hue, but use it in a different capacity and build a simple box of open shelves and baseboard trim for the electronics / paint it out dark gray. (Any shelving you have that is now natural wood, paint it pale aqua or different shades of gray).

Group small wall hangings together for more punch. Take the ship and drop it into the center of the wall it is on now to be a focal point. Move the clock to a spot under the stair. Add a bunch of baskets to your open shelves to hide clutter, quiet the look, and find those gray plastic cord covers from IKEA to hide electronics cords.

Carolyn Albert-Kincl Design You definitely need to weed out your all too many small pieces of furniture and accessories. You may be able to group the accessories together to better advantage than scattering them around.

I think that tildar is right than hiring an interior designer by the hour to help will ease the way. I know from 33 years as a designer that without a designer, people are likely to make expensive mistakes. I've always figured that a good designer can save you money by helping you avoid expensive mistakes, and sometimes by getting you discounts.
Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

Amplio Wow, what a nice house to work with. I´m Scandinavian and half Argentinean. I can´t see why you
can´t bring the best of two worlds into this home. I would go Pampas rustic with a nice Scandinavian undertone, such in fabrics and colors.
First get all the wood stained in the same tone.

carole amplio has a point,stain all the wood the same if possible,then i would paint all walls an ceiling white undercoat,(i like the yellow kitchen) tv under the stairs!!as mentioned,any clutter you can put in the case!!and under the stairs,
then stand back and think of the colors and theme,at the moment there is so much going on!!

Amplio Question: Where in Argentina is your house located?

Kelly You do not mention budget, so I always give advice on the low budget size. Below are some pics that I think may give the feel you are looking for while keeping the clean lines, color is basic so your husband will not feel overwhelmed. The wood looks fairly rustic- so painting is going to be a challenge. I recommend a whitewash finish, this can be done easily without a lot of prep on the wood. Rough wood is hard to paint and will use a lot of paint, while a whitewash finish will allow some of the wood tone and texture to come through. The ceiling and beam could be painted a solid color easily. Windows can be treated as one big window, hang the treatments high as possible- placing a panel on either side of each window. Roman shades in a neutral color are another option. Placing a bookcase or bookcases below the windows will give them a uniform built-in look and keep the eye moving. i like reusing furniture, so re-purpose the trunk by painting it a neutral pastel color, the coffee table could also be painted. You have a lot of wall space- cluster your treasure together rather than hanging one piece on each wall. Some floating shelves would look gorgeous under the staircase. I disagree with the putting the TV under the stairs, it will draw the eye away from the fireplace. Clean the stone on the fireplace and replace the mantel with a cleaner lighter wood to give it a updated look. I can't tell what the floors are, but recommend a laminate in a lighter tone.

laliquedesign In the corner try wraping an iron rod at the windows this will add height and have it extend beyond the window to creat the illusion of a bigger window. Thus when the drap is open the light can stream into the room. drapes will close to the corner one to the left he other to the right.

fnstf To begin, if you can afford a designer, i'd go that way- have your pics ready of what you like and the "feel you're after. If that's not an option, I agree with everyone else that the room is "choppy"..I'd do a built in storage under the stairs..Top to bottom... All open, all closed, or a mix. I don't see unifing the space without unifying the textures with color. As mentioned, there's wood, white walls(with design), wood floors, stairs, open area to the kitchen, a loft and beamed ceiling, not to mention the fireplace. That's a lot of competeing textures and, right now, it's not cohesive. I'd build or buy another unit on the wall where the TV is now. That wall is disjointed with too much going on. Love the idea of window seats- both for storage and seating.

Amplio Hi here are some mood boards and sketches. If you husband or you like less colors, the fabrics could be more in grey tones.
But I like a bit of colors and it will connect whit kitchen color.

I agree whit a bow, all small things away and the clear the walls the clock might be very cool in the kitchen or in a hallway.

If you haven a lot of family pictures keep them all in the same kind of frames.

I would get you 40is style chair upholster in flax fabric whit black piping.
If you like the Josef Frank fabric there is a store in Buenos Aires that have a copy which is really nice looking.

All the best

tildar @Amplio, I am out in the sticks, Villa la Angostura in Neuquen. Up in the mountains close to the chilean border. Funny that you should mention the fabric, a cafe here has got furniture upholstered in that and I was trying to find out where it came from. D you have the name of the shop? They got their furniture ready made from Gitano design and she had no idea what fabric it was.

To all, thank you for your ideas, they confirm what I suspected and added some more. A designer is unfortunately not an option as they are way too expensive here. Only the mega rich hire them. I will start with the heavy work of cleaning up the fireplace and staning and wite washing the ceiling for continuity. Then I'll move on from there. we are going into winter so I am sure to have a few rainy days to work before the snow arrives.

Thanks again. You have been most kind to me and I'll share as I complete this project, but it will take time.

Amplio I do its in Accasusso Pica Buenos Aires

here is their link:) http://www.companiadelcomercio.com/colecciones.html

Look forward to see work in progress.