Have your windows professionally cleaned. I had no idea just how filthy my windows were until I got them cleaned. Brightened up the whole house.

I think you might find Maria Killam more helpful than Emily Henderson for this particular room. Maria has a great shortcut for coming up with a color palette for a room by looking at the fixed elements (flooring, tile, large furniture that’s not going away), and then picking a print or piece of art as an inspiration that will help you coordinate all other colors. So in your case you could pick a rug and then figure out upholstery etc from there. She also has older posts on her blog about the problems of mixing muddy and clear colors, and how to troubleshoot/design around it.

Good luck, and hope you have fun with the redesign!

Agree. When my grandmother died, she left three rings to my aunt. Many years later, my aunt gave me one of those rings. When my aunt died, she left me the other two rings. As an adult I never in a million years would have asked my aunt to give me any of those rings. As a 15-year-old with an undeveloped brain, I might have. I might not have realized how inappropriate that would have been. I think probably my dad would have been the one to kindly explain to me that I shouldn’t have asked that. Now, I love having these mementos of my grandmother and they’ve also become mementos of my aunt. In OP’s case I think the niece is hoping she will be given the ring.

YES! Loved it!

Agree, especially given how SIL had bullied the grandfather over money (outrageous). If nephew gets $ instead of a ring, when will niece be demanding her check? OP im so sorry but why do you want these people in your life at all? You have permission to drop this rope.

Agreed! (Source: am a T&E lawyer)