tamaltree, There are a few types of wood that don't take paint well. Heavy oily woods, like teak are the kind I mean. Most other kinds of wood will, so long as it is dry, clean and has a slightly rough surface for the paint to adhere to. If you are not a professional or an advanced amateur, don't try for the lacquer. It is toxic and highly flammable. Is that the information you were after?

With your original pictures - I agree with larger rug. But I don't agree with comments suggesting the rooms are monochromatic. They are lively indeed. I think you are just missing some accessories! Art work on the empty walls - even just a single large dramatic piece is in order. In the bedroom on the white wall, in the living space behind the sofa, in the greenish bedroom behind the two beds. Those are instant areas where you can improve. But I think your spaces are lovely and well put together. Also I agree with the comment about table lamps - some of those would really add something, and your coffee table looks so empty - maybe just one gorgeous bowl, or stack some books. These rooms are 90% done in my opinions, just need a few finishing touches. Some of my rooms come out like this because the clients are not willing to pay for those last few finish items or feel they can do that part themselves...

The first thing that bothered me in this room is the distance between the seating area and the tv area and that both seem unrelated in everything. I think what you should do to pull everything together is the following: 1) Move that sectional away from the back wall and the curtains (placing couches against the wall is outdated now) and closer to the tv 2) Center the coffee table under the chandelier with the sectional placed 16 inches away from it 3) get a console table of a height equal to the sectional's back 4) place few decorative items, stacks of books, candles, lamp shades whatever you find suitable on the console 5) someone mentioned that the two accent chairs are not in scale with the room. I totally agree with that. You need wider chairs with a low back 6) A rug is a must and two are better than one, layered of course !! But make sure the biggest one is big enough to place all the seating on it. 7) pillows and a throw will add warmth and texture too...

I've had pleated blinds, metal horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, and wood blinds. Even though there are pretty pictures of blinds, blinds are not my favorite, especially vertical blinds. Blinds are impersonal, not cozy imho, and pleated blinds are very difficult to clean. They attract dust and pet hair, I think, by static, and vacuuming does not get it all. Horizontal blinds, if cracked open for some light, leave a striped pattern on the window which I don't like, are a pain to dust, and are pretty much "all or nothing", and you can't leave blinds open at night if you value privacy. Vertical blinds remind me of corporate conference rooms. Sorry, I hope I'm not offending anyone. Curtains on the other hand, can be soft and flowy, let light in without compromising privacy. You can wash them or dry clean them. You don't have to open and close every single day to adjust for light/privacy conditions. Curtains are easy to change out, and you don't need a custom size if your windows are not standard sized. I haven't had the pleasure of roman shades yet, that's my next new thing to try. More than you probably wanted,mikneleh... LOL! Have fun with your decision.