Not sure how to lower it...it all came with the home. What do you find wrong with the shutters and what do you suggest?

The chandelier really is way too high. Hopefully there's some way to lower it.

The shutters come through on my screen as being too yellowish/beige for the room. Maybe it's my IPad or the lighting but that's what glares out at me. Can they be painted white white to match the trim around the room? Or removed and maybe drapes added to match the formality of the room?

I also agree armchairs at either end would help a lot. And maybe a long centerpiece on the table.

Actually the shutters are white and match the trim, it is just the color of the photo. Should the upholstery on the armchairs be the beige color in the existing chairs? and what color for the window seat?

I like the room and the colour but not all those shutters , if there were no trims they would look alright but not with all the trims . you need a much softer look .I love the fabric that Judy G found for you .

I agree to lower the chandelier . I personally would do a purple velvet window cushion. And update the fabric on the chairs also. Some cool mercury glass vases in the center of the table help to pull it together .

Thanks for all the help. It is a prewar apartment, so I don't want to change the walls, mouldings, trim, etc. In person, the shutters are white and match....so i'm not looking to change them and make the room too modern. Thanks for the window seat fabric ideas. I was going to do white or a white/blue....but the purple and gray is interesting.

Here is another idea for you

Gorgeous room and more along what I am thinking....I want to keep the existing chandelier. Basically we've already done work elsewhere in the apartment so budget is a bit low now for "extra" changes. I think a rug under the table will definitely liven things up! do you think i could use a blue / white like you have in the photo with the existing decor?

rug like this?

Beautiful dining room but the shutters are way too casual. Panels would add interest, softness, height and pattern.

As others have mentioned, the chandelier is too high. An electrician can lower it. Ask your realtor to contact the previous owners to see if they have the extra chain.

Consider purchasing server

A rug and a fabric to redo the chair pads and the seat bench...no chairs in the corner...but you could put chairs Host chairs full upholstered at each end in a complimentary fabric.

You've got a contemporary table in a traditional room. Do the unexpected. Add color. (And lower the chandy. An electrician can do it in a snap.)

tp, how much room do you have between the edge of the window seat and the dining table? Thanks

tp, The shutters are looking pretty casual for your dining room. You have taken the time to do all that millwork so I think perhaps you need to reconsider the window treatment?

Also, I'm wondering if you would want to reconsider how to treat the "window seat" area? Generally in a formal dining room the window seat becomes casual, as well. Perhaps this would be a good place to "stage" just a few important accessories?

There is about 5 feet from the edge of the table to the window seat. The table is centered under the chandelier. The room came this way- we just added the window seat to cover up an ugly radiator. I don't need to keep the room 'formal' per say, I just want to do something with it on a low budget. I can ask my electrician the cost to lower the chandelier, but I don't think I have any extra chain. What about a silvery gray window seat? Personally I'm not into very bright/contrasting accent colors- the home is too traditional and I like something a bit more soothing if that makes sense.

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life. I am looking to buy two dining chairs with arms as suggested to make the room a bit more alive. I can't match the original chairs, what do you think about two beige upholstered chairs?

Can you take a photo of one your existing chairs to see the legs, etc.?

Current chairs

A ceiling tile could be a nice addition to this room. Take a look at the Traditional 1 ceiling tile in Crosshatch Silver!

Could you pull the chair over to the wall facing into the room so I can really see the entire leg? Also, what is the height of your chairs?

They are 36 inches high.

Your shutters look yellowed compared to the rest of the trim.

Ordinarily I love shutters but those need to move to another room. They're too small and busy to look right in your formal dining room.

Eventually you might want to get a buffet for the room.

The PB Comfort chair has a nicely tapered leg whereas the others you have proposed do not. So, out of the choices you have given that would be the one I would choose. Also the arm chair is at 41" which will work nicely with your 36" chairs. You have a nice choice of fabrics. However, you will want to ascertain the undertone of your existing chair fabric if you are planning to do another solid fabric. It appears you can send away for samples.

Another point to consider is the seat height (so everyone can be seated at the same height). Measure your seat and compare that with the PB chairs. While I'm thinking about it, measure your table clearance from the bottom of the apron to the floor just to be certain that the arm will fit under the table. Looks as though you might be good, but it never hurts to double check for clearance. Good luck! :)

Please don't keep adding more grey to the room. Yes chairs in the corners would look great. I suggest a purple color for your window seat. buy an oriental or Persian-type rug for under the table and chairs. You could add a chain to the existing chain hanging the chandelier and purchase a chain cover long enough for the whole area of chain so it will be about 36" above the table. I think purple for the window seat cover would be great with your room, however that may not suit your taste. Try a deep navy blue which will probably be in your Persian area rug. You have a lovely area to work with. Add some art to your walls. Also try fabric roman shades in the window instead of the shutters. They will add a softness to your extra formal dining room.

Hi sandradclark, actually the walls are a very light grey / blue, in natural light it looks grey, but with artificial light it looks a bit more blue. Would you suggest a rug with a lot of blue? I like the idea of the blue window seat. We just moved in and did NONE of the decor in this room - our table is crate and barrel and from a modern apartment. We just have to work with it here. Also, the shades are white...somehow in the photo they look yellowed.

As for the comment to change the ceiling, all the wainscotting, moldings, etc are original from the 1920s and I don't want to change them.

I would not change them. An oriental Persian-style area rug with many colors will be perfect in the dining room. Go to art.com & look at some prints that suit you to hang in the room.

To help fill the room before new furniture, you could find a round table somewhere and drape it to the floor. Use it for holding extra wine or food.

The moulding in this room is simply beautiful, I would not touch anything there. My temporary quick fix would be to get rid of the shutters and add fabric panels with a fabric shade behind them. I would think about what colors you will eventually want to go with and work around that. That will change the whole look of the room-soften it and bring it more to a formal dining room. Coordinate an area rug as well with your future colors. My dining room has white paneling 3/4 up the wall with grey wallpaper above it. I went with peacock velvet chairs and worked around that color for my accessories and rug. I agree with not adding chairs in the corner but to do two very high bulky chairs on each end of the table.

Metallic paint for the ceiling!

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/pb-comfort-upholstered-dining-chair/?pkey=cchairs-furniture&

If I was to do this chair, what color / fabric do you recmmend? i can't match exactly to the other chairs...

I would send for any and all fabrics that appeal to you. If the samples are too yellow or pink for your existing chairs, then you will know the undertone. That's the most important aspect in deciding which fabric(s) will coordinate. A monitor does not tell me for certain what I am seeing. I have a pink undertone on my monitor but that could be coming from lighting and having my computer skewing what I see. Thoughts?

I would go with a pattern and bring in other palettes. Not sure what other colors you are working with in the rest of your home. Blues and violets go great with grays. These are pictures of my dining room.

Another view

Another view

This room is on its way to being absolutley gorgeous! I would also take down these shutters and use beautiful window treatments. I am not sure where you live...but I would love to help you finish it...love it so far!

maybe something like this?

Chairs: go with the denim blue. Would go perfectly with the dark blue Persian area rug, center right.

Or maybe the celeste print fabric with the Traditional Persian crown. the celeste fabric is more costly though

Thanks for all the help! I think we will go with beige chairs and a rug like the traditional persian crown. That rug is around $500 for a 7'10 x 10'6 so while i would like to spend less, its not too bad. Wayfair has some cheaper, similar options. I want to stay relatively neutral with the furniture in this home since I don't know if I see us here in 5 years.

Thanks again all for the help. I was reviewing all the suggestions and there was a lot of mention of purple. What do you think of a purple rug, like this? rather than blue.

That is a beautiful choice. I love it

An elegant room. I can picture touches of cream and red to off-set the gray.

That is all the color you need. A couple vases in red. Perhaps some red flowers. And, a dramatic painting on the wall. :)

The pictures are not dining, but shows how the colors go together.

Add the same purple on your window bench and it will balance it out.

Please post pictures when you have it finished. Enjoy!.

Will do! Unfortunately it will take a while as the rugs I found online that are supposedly "plum" reviews claim are red or brown. So finding a rug with the right purples might take some time :(