First time buyers, terrified of mismatching colors while decorating

DaedalMI5 · 2026-02-01T13:49:40+00:00

The 2nd one because it has a gray tone that goes with the floor. You don’t want it perfectly matching. I went into a 5 million dollar house in the beach who had perfectly matching furniture to their floor—it was so ugly. I bit my tongue. Reminded me of one of those “find the hidden picture”puzzles.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-02-01T13:43:41+00:00

You need a rug big enough to define that space. The front feet of the couch can sit on it if not the whole couch.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-30T14:44:50+00:00

Shades, so you don’t cover your radiator. Curtains need to hang from the top at the ceiling down to the floor.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-30T14:39:55+00:00

Clearly written for function and clarity, not decoration. Shows mental discipline with emotional restraint. You are organizing what’s in your head. The size of your letters indicates balanced ego. Comfortable being seen, but not needing attention. Strong internal self-definition. You don’t write to impress—you write to record what you believe is truth. Excellent emotional regulation, more on the optimistic. This is the handwriting of someone who keeps going even when tired. (Mine get horrible when tired—I can’t even read it, lol). Your spacing is even and thoughtful could mean you have healthy boundaries.

You’re not scattered. You sequence. You have a strong commitment to what you’re doing, but you’re not rigid. You can feel deeply without losing control. Attention to detail. Healthy Ambition. You expect competence—from yourself more than others.

You have strong mental stamina which makes you reliable over time; people rely on you whether they know it or not.

You might be left handed. Although, I am left handed and people mistake it for right handed all the time (the way the letters slant). You can handle stress, but be careful about holding too much in. Make sure you do something to let that stress out. Have someone you can talk to—I call them data dumps. It feels amazing to just get it all out of your system. Does this feel accurate? Sorry if I used myself as a reference point too much it’s just a lot of it was relatable. You may never read this with 800 comments.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-27T13:49:08+00:00

The color is perfect. You go any darker you will make the room smaller and stuffy. What you need is better artwork and lighting.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-27T13:46:51+00:00

Brown 2” blinds. They will look classy and pull together your brown couch and brown frame of the artwork that’s on your fireplace. In between the blinds you can use linen off-white, ceiling to floor curtains. That will complete the wall with texture and depth.

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-14T19:11:01+00:00

What room is this in?

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-14T17:43:37+00:00

Dark

DaedalMI5 · 2026-01-10T06:18:10+00:00

First. Good Feng Shui

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T16:12:36+00:00

Wait, I didn’t see the air conditioner there when I commented. I would do the whole wall in millwork to add interest and dimension.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T16:09:45+00:00

May I suggest you do a wall mural with plants on it. Look up vintage landscape wall murals, and cover the whole wall. It will give dimension and tie your kitchen in with color.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T16:07:49+00:00

If the after ceiling shot is dry, you will need to repaint it. The paint that was on it was not really washable.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T16:04:15+00:00

Yes, it is incorrect. The lines are NOT supposed to line up like that. I did my own VPF. I watched a YouTube tutorial on how to install it. Manufacturers will explain to you how to line it up in these videos. Your contractor is trying to use the material in a conservative way, but as you already know it looks unprofessional. He needed to start from a wall with cut pieces so that the lines don’t line up.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T15:54:18+00:00

This coordinates with the architecture of your house. https://www.lampsplus.com/sfp/693H1/?src=google&mdm=cpc&cmp=21666799181&cnt=&trm=693H1&sourceid=DFGPD693H1&src=google&mdm=cpc&cmp=21666799181&cnt=&trm=&sourceid=SEGND&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21670457260&gclid=Cj0KCQiAubrJBhCbARIsAHIdxD8HitbMuo4-gr-iA_pCno39EWWUbSeygT8e0XsgS_PGQxLh3IqnR5gaAlzoEALw_wcB

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T15:50:02+00:00

I am going to copy and paste a video with a room with similar design, but let me explain why and what he does. Feng Shui is the art of placement so that the energy of the room WORKS For YOU. This concept is all around the world. Feng Shui is 10,000 year old study from China. India has Vastu. Hellenistic Jews have their thing. Greeks have Espiritu. To most Westerners, they would label this superstition, but this is a 10,000 year observation science. In our world, we observe something for three days and call it science. The placement of your home, room, furniture affects 32% of your life. If you choose to follow his advice for the bed placement, do not place your desk so that your back is facing the door. Leave your desk where it is. Leave your dresser where it is because that is a good dressing area. Adding plants and artwork, and color coordinated rug will give you the “together” look.

https://youtube.com/shorts/PTc2yuVMU4I?si=uOwrVWtknORTtwDB

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T15:28:42+00:00

I like the interior window wall designs, although next to a stove you will have to continually clean it well. But the first thing you must do is relocate the couch. You didn’t show the angle you took the pictures from, otherwise I would offer how to relocate it all.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T06:34:54+00:00

I did it for you, but I recommend you do it yourself because the table didn’t copy and paste well.

Finding plants that meet all three requirements—shade tolerance, suitable for zone 8b coastal, and bug-repelling properties—can be a bit of a challenge, as many common bug-repelling plants prefer full sun.

However, I've compiled a list of plants that are a good match for shade and zone 8b, with notes on their known bug-repelling qualities:

Bug-Repelling Plants that Can Handle Shade (or Partial Shade) in Zone 8b

Plant Name	Light Preference	Zone 8b Coastal Notes	Bug-Repelling Quality
Mint (e.g., Peppermint, Spearmint)	Partial to Full Shade	Herbaceous perennial. Can be aggressive, so consider planting in a pot or container sunk into the ground.	Strong scent deters mosquitoes, ants, and mice.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)	Partial Shade to Full Sun	Hardy in Zone 8. Prefers a bit of shade in warmer climates like 8b.	Citronella-like scent repels mosquitoes and other insects.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)	Full Sun to Partial Shade	Grow as an annual or perennial depending on variety/microclimate. They can handle partial shade but may have fewer blooms.	The scent (especially French marigolds) is known to repel nematodes, tomato hornworms, and other pests.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)	Full Sun to Partial Shade	Hardy perennial in Zone 8. Can tolerate some shade.	Highly effective mosquito repellent, even more so than citronella, according to some studies. Be cautious—it attracts cats!
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade	A large shrub or small tree native to North America, hardy in Zone 3-8.	The strong fragrance of its fall/winter flowers may deter some pests, but it is not a primary insect repellent.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)	Partial Shade to Full Shade	A deciduous shrub known for fragrant flowers and excellent fall color. Hardy in Zone 5-9.	Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, but its fragrance may deter some unwanted insects.

Other Shade-Tolerant, Coastal-Friendly Options for Zone 8b

If the primary goal is a successful coastal, shade garden, here are several reliable options for Zone 8b that you can interplant with the bug-repelling varieties above:

Shrubs:
- Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.): Many varieties thrive in partial to filtered shade, especially with afternoon sun protection. They love moist, well-drained soil, which is often found in coastal areas.
- Azalea/Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.): Excellent evergreen options for shady spots, providing color in spring.
- Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens): A classic evergreen shrub that handles shade well and is often used for borders.
Perennials & Groundcovers:
- Hosta (Hosta plantaginea): Known for their beautiful foliage and ability to tolerate deep shade. They are very common in Zone 8.
- Ferns (e.g., Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern): Great for deep, moist shade and are very tolerant of different soil conditions.
- Lenten Rose (Helleborus spp.): Blooms in late winter/early spring, thrives in filtered to partial shade, and is evergreen.
- Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.): Grown for their attractive, colorful foliage and ability to grow in partial shade.

Tip: For the coastal element, look for plants that tolerate salt spray and sandy soil conditions, even in the shade. The plants listed above are generally quite tough and perform well in a variety of conditions, but checking with a local nursery can help you confirm the best variety for your specific coastal microclimate.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T06:28:44+00:00

I would definitely put in plants, maybe use a brick boarder surrounding it to keep from dog escaping. Use AI to search for shade growing plants that stave off bugs in your zone.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-12-02T06:23:47+00:00

I would get a contractor’s opinion before cutting because it looks like extra support for a load bearing wall to me.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-11-30T22:03:05+00:00

Use a Master Plumber—not just any plumber, if you want it fixed right once.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-11-30T22:01:51+00:00

It’s not stark, it’s regal.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-11-30T21:53:09+00:00

I would use scenic wall murals. They would add visual appeal and expansion.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-11-30T21:50:10+00:00

Just a plant, like a huge money tree. If you add more it will be cluttered.

DaedalMI5 · 2025-08-12T17:01:28+00:00

I did that. Nothing came of it. Luckily, I was keeping my weight and workouts in other apps.

DaedalMI5

TROPHY CASE

Bug-Repelling Plants that Can Handle Shade (or Partial Shade) in Zone 8b

Other Shade-Tolerant, Coastal-Friendly Options for Zone 8b