ha, I noticed it did it to my comment. too funny.

haha, I thought she was trying to say *****-tail table.

I just moved to Ohio here recently & was really surprised to see just how many people decorate in primitive. ALL my hubby's family has their house that way as well as my MIL's friends houses that I've been too.

I agree with dzinR. Lose the shelves above the windows, they're too high to relate to the space and just look like clutter. Lower the duck thing, or replace it with a nice large piece of art. A rug and coffee table would definitely help. And I would edit down the accessories on the end table.

You are going to love the open floor plan..I also live in a bi-level, and mine is open. I made a dining room, and did away with my living room area..we have a family room downstairs...and I would'nt remove the railing..they look country...

You will be really happy w/ the open floor plan, it make life so much easier w/ kids, so you should definetly do that and I would think about removing the railing overlooking front door and put up a pony wall (short solid wall it will update the look and it's better fo furniture placement also, then that would be a perfect spot for a sectional sofa someday.
good luck:

LOL...for some reason when you type *****tail table rather than coffee table the web site blurs it out....
she means coffee table:

what is a *****tail table? I am planing on getting a bench table for front of sofa, but I babysit and have little grabbing things so afraid they would pull over. same goes for swan, that is funny you commented on that I just told a friend the same but again kids would knock it off! Thanks for commenting I was just wondering what the *****tail table is? Thanks MS

I would add a *****tail table in front of the sofa and remove all the decorative items above the window treatments. Lower the swan and plaque above the sofa so it looks like it relates to the furnishings. I would also add an area rug under the *****tail table to break up the space and define the seating area.