Is that a recessed ceiling or glare from the light?

If we could see pix of your "modern and chic" style as expressed elsewhere in the home, we could be more helpful! Comment and use the AI button to add more pix.

Hi Margo, yes that's a recessed ceiling with a 3petal flower chandelier

Thx for the interest decoenthusiaste. I am still putting pieces together, here is a pic of the living and attached dining.

After the pics above, my contribution seems a little pale. But because all one is faced with from the front door is two doors, I think you need a strong image between them, to the right of the telephone. The first one here is framed wallpaper, the second something you could do yourself. The third is a wonderful piece, I think, and I doubt if it's for sale, but you can find it on the artist's website, http://claralieu.wordpress.com/tag/scrolls/

If you go this way, whatever you choose would set the tone for the rest of the room. But it should be an attention grabber.

So you're running two threads on this space? I think you'll be happier with the responses if you stick to one thread for the entire makeover, as it is all inter-dependent - foyer - living - dining. Now that I know that the living dining are together I'd suggest you use measurements from the blocked space above the windows to determine stripe width in the dining space if you go with the wide horizontal stripes I suggested. The pattern is already set for you if you take the measurements. You could also make the stripes the width of your lower window section, or half of it, but use the horizontal lines already in your space to determine the other stripes you may add.

Thank u Rina. Will keep that in mind

Decoenthusiast: what colour stripes would u suggest in d dining area? I want to keep.the rest of the walls white. Thx

I was thinking beige and silver for a bit of chic.

i think you need to start by painting the wood trim black. that will set it off. then depending on what colors you like i would try like a shiny mettalic grey wallpaper on one wall and then a darker color paint on the lower half of the other walls. then do another color above it. in a lighter color.