Downstairs...of Horrors!

So this is the living room. I know - it's very sad. Go ahead and cry.

 I've removed the lovely brass frame from around the gas fireplace and it looks much more hearth-like without it. It's a long room - the dining room is directly to the right in this pic, the big front window and door to the left. The room you can see through the door is a sort of sun room that we are making an office. It's below.

Those doors look out into the backyard via the pergola -covered patio.There's a gas heater that I want to turn into a gas fireplace. You can see it on the right of the pic. The ceiling was covered in horrible foam-cardboard-y tiles that I popped off and found beadboard underneath. Yay! A few hours of prying out staples and the ceiling was ready. This room is fun, but FREEZING! When it warms up, I'm sure I'll be in there all the time.

This is from the living room looking into the dining room. Love the archway, but behind those hideous curtains are TONS of cracks in the plaster. We've patched it all, and I am painting it this weekend... I think. 

This is the full-on dining room shot. The chandelier is actually covered in tiny bunches of grapes - super tacky - but it looks alright from a distance. The carpet is up to reveal the wood floor. The kitchen is through the little door on the right.  

This pic (below) is the other end of the living room. Front door is immediately to the right.

Because the kitchen is out of commission, the dining room is full of kitchen boxes and I have a slight urge to cry when I walk in there. But hopefully, with a coat of paint and a little more elbow grease, we'll be set. Hopefully...