I have to say please don't remove the cabinets. This room is so beautiful. I think the chandelier is fine. I think if you wall papered this room in a water color mural you would be done.

I think the room is very charming! My first thought would be to remove the table cloth and just paint the current table/chairs the white of your wainscoting. Center the table with the chandelier, even if you have to remove the sideboard. Then, find a fabric you love to reupholster the chair seats. Done! The room is lovely.

Are you unhappy with the style of the space or does it just seem unfinished?

its already beautiful enough !

This room is fantastic! This is an easy fix. Remove the table cloth and paint the door white to match the door trim and the cabinets. Please do not remove the cabinets; they are charming and are a great feature. It also makes the room look more elegant. I like the sideboard, it just needs a little sprucing up. The picture above needs to be larger or a large mirror will do just as well. Last, you need a more dramatic table top, a clear vase with seasonal and colorful flowers will do the trick.
One more thing, remove the small picture on the wall where the opening to the other room is. It is not doing anything for the room.

It's a charming room and the wall color is lovely, but it sounds like you just want a bit of change. Painting the french doors white to match the wainscot and built-in shelves would tie things together. The shelves are wonderful! The table should be centered under the chandelier and the chandelier should be lower. If you'd like to get a new chandelier, that's something I would change. The room is pretty and a new chandelier with a bit more sparkle is a good idea. I would also remove the table cloth and perhaps, change the art on the wall and above the sideboard to pieces that enhance the beautiful wall color.

Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker

Room is great, color is great. Does the table have a leaf? If so open it up. Paint the French doors white to match woodwork. Some dramatic art work like, Christi suggested and do something with the built-ins what is in there now does not enhance them at all

Thanks to everyone for your helpful comments. I will not be removing the cabinets; hubby has forbidden that. I hadn't thought of painting the wood on the French doors. that's reasonable and easy. I will not be painting any other doors however as they are natural mahogany.
The table has leaves and painting it is a possibility: I purchased it many years ago and it was old then. The sideboard isn't wonderful but it may have to stay for storage purposes. A new lamp can help.
The artwork one of you (Christi?) posted is a lovely idea. I am not so sure a crystal chandelier is our style, but I can look for something more in keeping with the house era of 1940.

I agree that the built in cabinets need other pieces on them. With toddler boys, and given my love of pottery, I don't foresee putting glass objects up however. Would any of you have advice on what else to display in the cabinets? All but the top shelves on each side can be removed. I tried tall glass vases with greenery in them but it didn't quite work: the top shelves seemed to mar the more dramatic effect I was going for.
Thanks again for your comments!

ps Christi, where did you find the second piece of art you selected (with the greens and purples)?

Remove table cloth. Vase with flowers in center. Paint french doors white. Larger art. Paint table and chairs a color or white. Spray paint chandelier white.

PPS. Black Cat, I am trying to work with the style of this 1940 cape cod house although my husband and I are wanting something a little more sophisticated too. If you have any suggestions on how to walk that line (is there one? ) within a smaller budget, I would appreciate your insights!

I would replace the light and the chairs (maybe even with upholstered chairs) because you still have enough coastal/cottage-y in there with the paint colors and wood floor, etc. I'd also add an area rug. I agree with everyone else that the art is too small. I like art because it's an easy way to add color and/or tie all of the colors in the room together but a mirror would work too. They key is layering different things of varying heights in front of whichever you choose. Do the same on the display shelves instead of 1 item per shelf, i. e. layer a frame in front of a vase, use candles of various heights and colors, stack a figurine or small sculpture on a couple of books, etc.

http://houzz.com/photos/15017485

this space feels like an afterthought. I'd begin by painting the French doors white so they blend into the other architectural elements and don't stand out so much, then, switch the light fixture to something more substantial in a style you love, add an area rug that you love the colors of (which may inspire a new wall color), and consider a slightly larger table that can be centered under the light. consider painting the backs of the corner niches in a lighter variation of the wall color, and add to them a layering of interesting pieces...not just a single item on each shelf, but being cautious not to clutter them up, this should form a "collection". you also need some much larger scaled wall art for balance.

Gorgeous room! Love the blue and the chairs.
I might only add that if there are mahogany doors on three of the walls, painting the French doors white might make the room look unbalanced.
Have you tried putting your (or other) china plates on display on the white cabinets?
Two smaller but taller lamps on the sideboard might look nice.
I like the idea of upholstered chairs. Maybe put two parsons chairs with the others you have.

kedquist -- the artist for the piece I posted is Tracy-Ann Marrison. Here's a link to where this can be purchased. Glad you liked it!


http://fineartamerica.com/featured/strata-22-tracy-ann-marrison.html

Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker

It sounds like you want to work with what you have for the most part. I suggest painting the door frame the same color white as the other mill work, and paint the walls an elegant "darker white" I won't say beige because clients usually don't react well to the semantics. That would keep it elegant and light. Also, centering the table under the chandelier (maybe you moved it to take your photos) will improve the balance of the space. You could also add clip-on fabric shades to the chandelier - make sure to reduce the wattage of the bulbs. ;)

I like the space. Glad you are keeping the built-ins and painting the door! I would take the small painting on the one wall and place it above the painting on the sideboard for height and would add two buffet lamps on either side of the paintings. Remove tablecloth and re-position the chandelier; use a ceiling hook as a temporary solution. The chandelier seems high to me. If you get a new one have it hang a little lower and centered. If you don't then you may be looking at new chain and possibly rewiring, if whoever put the chandelier up did not roll up extra wire into the ceiling plate. The cost of rewiring and chain may be close to just getting a new one. You have two different style chairs already and it looks cute. Can you get two upholstered chairs and use the two chairs elsewhere? If you add the leaf could get 4 upholstered chairs for the sides and keep two of the chairs at the ends.

Consider painting the back of the built ins to show off your pottery and changing your wall color to a gray with a hint of blue.

Buffy called it! Kelly Wearstler paper.

Yep. I'd love to see some great wallpaper in here. It's a lovely room. Swag a new chandelier to over the table.