I was thinking the same. Here is a conceptual rendering I recently did for a client who wanted her seldom-used dining room to serve a second purpose. This is a dining/library.

I would recommend moving your table and chandelier to one side, so that a seating are can also be set up.

[houzz=]

iI you can send photos of the 4 sides to the room along with a rough measure of depth and width I'd be happy to take a look at it for you...ryandes.com

Here are the four sides. Room measures 12x16. Large archway to foyer and small arch to pantry and into kitchen. Large window on front of house. Sits directly across from our office. Which we've contemplated turning into a library as well. But I love reading and would put books and great chairs in every nook of my home if I could.

Love the roll-top desk. Consider moving the chandelier by the window, with table underneath.

Consider a space for the desk/a couple of comfy chairs/fill the china cabinet with a comb of books and china.

I love the idea of the table in the center and a library setting maybe some nice comfy reading chairs and the art work beside the mirror is not right for that space and the mirror is too small why not a really nice display cabinet with glass doors if you have quite a few pieces of nice silver I like the desk but really don't like the white cabinet for this space.. A great space for a gallery wall.

I vote for a library. bookcases, a couch and/or some club chairs, the lovely roll top desk, the beautiful dresser can work between two chairs with a lamp. a small round table in the center. classic and beautiful

I like the thought of two great chairs by the window with a small table and then a round dining table with 4 upholstered chairs that can expand.

The furniture here is not intentional. It's all leftover from other spaces in our old house.

I agree that the mirror is way to small. Something much larger would be great.

Anyone have suggestions on wall colors? To blend well with my brighter and lighter colors in the rest of the house. I was thinking a crisp dark grey or navy to reflect light from crystal and silver and rich fabrics. Other ideas?

Also, having a chandelier by the reading space would be great. Can there be two in a room like this? One over the table? Or wouldn't the space be lopsided?

Right....I figured the furniture was temporary.

I don't think the sea salt paint and pickle work together. Here are some paints that would work well with seasalt.

I think you could also go with a darker gray. I would stay away from navy blue.
[houzz=[houzz=[houzz=[houzz=]

Yes, you can place a chandelier on either side of the room.

I agree with the ida of a mixed use Dining/ Conversation/ Reception Room
Let's begin with your 'backgrounds'....Repaint the walls in a medium toned gray that compliments the Sea salt in the pantry and will connect much better to the Pickle Green of the kitchen walls as well.
I would recommend that the Dining Table be round to give a contrasting shape from the rectangular dining surface in your kitchen.Choosing the round design also encourages a natural flow of energy and traffic flow through and around the room. I would use a 60" table with rounded leaves that extend to a 72" round to accomodate those larger dinner parties that you have a few times a year. i suggest that you replace the existing chandelier with a chandelier that has much more crystal or " sparle" to compliment the silver that you also wish to display.
Speaking of the Sparkly Siver that you wish to showcase I would use a tall and wide distressed painted glass front China Cabinet. ( approx. 96" or more high x 72-78" wide x 18-20" deep). If you place that on the rear wall (opposite the large archway) it will be a beautiful display cabinet to for your china, silver, books and collectibles. I would make it a multy purpose display cabinet to encourage a " mixed use" feel to the room.
I suggest that the cabinet be painted in a blue gray wash antiuqe finish and do the back wall of the cabinet in a charcoal grayish or dark graysh blue tone it will draw your eyes into the room and show the silver up even more.

if you choose 4 comfortable upholstered dining chairs they can be spread throughout the room. I would place one on either side of the Glass cabinet..(great opportunity to add pattern and shape with these chairs. the other 2 chairs I would place under the large window with a narrow flip top table with a beautiful glittery lamp in the center. This seating area can then be used any time for coffee, wine, ipad work or letter writing..great 'get away' spot for quiet contemplation or to relax with a friend or the hubby.
it can also act as a server when entertaining with a cocktail party to full formal dinners.

On the Opposite wall....(left if entering from hallway through large arched doorway)
could be the Perfect wall for your photo gallery!

A FEW NOTES:
Keep the room open and airy and don't be afraid to mix traditional tables with transitional style upholstered chairs to give you that Ecclectic style that you're looking for.
The round table can hold stacks of favorite books and magazines and will look wonderful with or without a floor length table cloth...swithc it up with the season!

Put a chair rail in and do the bottom half white with faux wainscoting, and then paint the top half white a dark teal color.

Thanks so much Lullabys. I love the idea of a flip top table by window and using four chairs in this way.

Last question, I think. Chandeliers. The entire house used lighting with the burnished bronze type metal. And the lights are actually very nice quality. However, I prefer silver and crystal. Is it ok to have a variety of lighting metals in the home? The foyer right next to this room also has a large chandelier in the bronze.

Okay to mix it up.

In that case I would still go with the crystals idea but for the iron frame of the chandelier you can have it in an Oil Rubbed Bronze finish which will work beautifully with the Antique bronze elsewhere. make sure its of a good scale similar to the size of what you have there now. ...www.ryandes.com