Are you going for cohesiveness as more of an in use dining room? Or are you looking for a cozy multi use space?

Hi, you have a beautiful room to work with here. But it could use some color as you suggested, to warm it up. You could paint the fp wall a darker, rich coco which would look stunning around the mantle and white drapes. And hang the print rather than lean it. And I agree, a chandelier (make sure it's a large one) would make a huge difference, hung about 30-36" above the table. I would also add some greenery - how about a large colorful container with 3 orchids on the table along with 2 meaty candlesticks in a metallic finish for sparkle and a couple topiaries on the glass side table (those accessories look too small to me). On the wall to the right of the fp, I would replace the smaller pieces of furniture with one large impactful piece to balance the room. And replace the white sconce shades with, again, something darker and rich - maybe a red shade to liven it up? Another idea for color is to drape a scarf or something similar over the backs of the arm chairs. Hope this was helpful to you. You're on the right track.

I think all you need is a deeper color on the walls. Swithch the long table and the buffet the buffet will balance the wall of pictures better if the sconces are not hard wired they can be adjusted to fit over the long iron table. The small table looks like an after thought and doesn't seem to belong, even though you have placed pictures above it the scale is wrong. I think they will look nicer above the iron table with maybe one more framed piece, or maybe remove them and add a large mirror in a antique style frame. The standing lamps are the wrong thing here, I would find torchieres that will trow light upward being sure they are on dimmers. I think what you are missing is the chandelier that should be over the table, so you are substituting other lamps. Have an electrician come and see if he can put an electical box in the vaulted ceiling so you can have a chandelier hung. If he can, get the chandelier and have him install it. I will be worth the cost,

Plants.

Yes, I would love to see a chandelier above the dining table and a stronger arrangement on the table. Try a drum shade with your decor. Many of your pieces are gorgeous, but everything in the second pic seems too small in scale.

This is a great space and I love the pair of French doors flanking the fireplace. I agree with Katherine Marle-Moberg that the small table should be removed as well as the small accessories on the iron console table and buffet...I count no less that 8 candles in your room:) Go for fewer but larger and more impactful accessories. I would suggest a transitional style light fixture to complement the sleek lines of your dining table and chairs. In keeping with the simple lines of your furnishings as well as the modern portrait, you might also consider transitional sconces as opposed to the scrolled iron ones you presently have.

Wow, great ideas. Thank you thank you! As you can imagine the things in the room that are small in scale are just things I had and just stuck there. And now I can shop for bigger stuff! Yes I do agree a chandelier is a must. The scrolly sconces are hard wired and I have 2 mirrors coming to put above the buffet (picture attached). So I am hoping that vignette will look better once they are installed. And yes, you are right, the small table with the pictures above was also just stuck there to see if it worked...and now I know it doesn't! :)
Anyway, if there is nothing there won't it be worse? I LOVE the orchid idea, were you thinking a large rectangular vase for all three to go in? And I also love bringing color on the chairs, cuz that's alot of mossy green in there. Painting the french door wall is also a great idea and I will start looking for colors there too. The other suggestion I love is the large scale topiaries.
I don't think I should switch the large glass topped buffet, with the wood one because when the mirrors are installed that might look unbalanced. I thought the visual weight of the 16 pictures with the glass buffet kind of balanced the weight of the wood buffet and (new) mirrors.
You guys are amazing! Thanks so much for your tips! If I can ever offer free drapery advice, please email me!
s.phillips11@comcast.net

sorry I wasn't specific, I bought 2 of the mirrors above to put side by side as the space above the buffet needed the width

Hi Sarah, to answer your question this room is pretty much devoted to dining, but I love when people WANT to stay in their seats and chat after dinner. I tried to get comfortable chairs with arms that encourage that so I really want it to be a warm setting

How are you adding pictures to your posts? Everytime I try and add one, it just blanks out.

A Free Vastu Tip , get rid of that Woman on top of the F/p , and see the change in your life .

Hi S. Phillips, You have a very larger airy room to deal with. I think all the ideas are wonderful, but I do have a few things to add. Have the electrician change out the overhead lighting above your fire place to a directional head. It is great for the art work and will really make your fireplace pop, instead of flooding the light into the room, you will want these directed once you have a chandelier in place. Also, I think your wood buffet even with the mirrors above it, appears dwarfed in the room. My sister had this same issue , big tall walls, the solve was, we bought an amazing armiore which can be used to store you china, linens etc... and then flanked it on each side with the type of mirrors you purchased. It brings the room down and makes it more cozy.and of course some color. good luck....

Just a thought !

Maybe this room will inspire. Take everything off the walls. Paint the room a white color of your choice. Hang a knockout chandelier and that tall mirror (suggested above) over the mantel to reflect the chandelier. Use the console table in this pix to give you an idea of how to reuse yours. I also like the horizontal treatment over the console as opposed to your multi-pix treatment. Maybe you could take some of those and hang them the length of the console.

Oh, and remove the window treatments. It seems to narrow those lovely French doors.

See at the bottom of the "Add comment" section, there is a button "Attach images" click on that then browse your computer adn find your saved picture. Double click on the file name and it will insert it. Then another "attach images" icon will appear and insert another picture by double clicking on your file name. I was able to put in four then I hit the green submit button and it worked for me

Really pretty room and it doesn't seem like you really need a lot of expense to bring this room to life. I would splurge on some fabric, art, and a new area rug.

FIREPLACE: Loved the cocoa color idea above the fireplace! The little candle lamps might sit on top mini mirror shelves and light could be added above the art--even at ceiling level. You could add another mantle on top of your mantle, using texture and color. I would also find a more striking bolder picture for the fireplace that compliments the picture series adjacent. One does not currently bring out the other. Add something more noticeable to the fireplace floor--like urns.

CHAIRS: I would recover those chairs in lighter and brighter fabrics that are not necessarily identical but go together, saving some for window valances. Move one window chair to flank the new countertop sideboard (see tables)

TABLES: I'd remove the side table under the art series and its table lamps and move the table to the opposite wall and replace all of the furniture there.. What;'s there looks lost. Place an oversize countertop over the newly positioned side table ! Hang pendant lighting above the table. Adding some silver platters and vases (any metallic or glass) will catch the light. The sconces and art don't seem to go with anything else, so i would move them to another worthy place. I would want to add carefully chosen art on this wall. Three large pieces that go together and with the art you put over the fireplace and the series will ties the room together. And have fun: Make a different centerpiece for each month of the year and fill that table with layered place settings, candles, and plants.

WINDOWS: Consider adding a valance above the windows for a punch of color and texture and hide the uninteresting drapery hardware. Put a tree in one window and move a chair next to a table. You could also hang bamboo shades under the curtains or put in shutters, if that appeals to you.

Hi Bellagio - yes, I was picturing a single rectangular container (say about 18" wide) with the 3 orchids planted in it.

Saw this and thought of YOU!

Along with some of the other suggestions, I would consider adding throw pillows to your extra chairs. If cozy is what you're going for, throw pillows in a dining room can really cozy things up. http://www.houzz.com/projects/17629/Home-of-the-Year

large CHANDELIER! as everyone else has mentioned. That alone will make a huge difference. Love the room...it is awesome. AND i adore your painting above the mantel! and she does need lighting as well....even if they are recessed lights from the ceiling pointing downward towards the mantel, on each side! LOVELY!

I think the right chandelier would be the answer. Check out " The Bling " chandelier by Robert Abbey. It's a knockoff of the ochre pear but more affordable.

Revisiting! Ya know, you could do this the easy and inexpensive way. Flank mirror on the sides of the pictured art wall and then place sconces on each side of the mirror. Hang an incredible chandelier over the table. Try out a mirror runner over the table. Over the chairs with printed fabric of your choice. And then paint the ceiling and fireplace wall with a new and fresh color that can be found in the fabric. Put in a mirrored valance above the drapes up to the ceiling and incorporate the rods behind it to hide them. Sorry to get so "mirrory" but it will really liven up this room without having to do one other thing!

Hello, I took your wise advice and changed some things about my dining room. I painted the focal wall dark, got a chandelier, moved the pictures and buffet, got a large abstract for over the buffet, got some greenery, put some orchids on the table, got the mirrors and made the stools. This is a bona-fide redo from HOUZZ advice. Thanks all, we had a spectacular family Thanksgiving here. What a treat! :)

Great job Bellagio. The accent color on the fireplace wall and the addition of the chandelier make a world of difference. I'm impressed with how you draped the iron console table to give it more presence...clever!

absolutely GORGEOUS! BRAVO!
and Merry Christmas!

looks great. I like the subtraction of the small table and the rearranging of the other two larger pieces. The color is great and makes the drapery panels pop. It does seem much warmer and complete now.

Wow, well done! I really like how you flanked the small buffet with the two cushioned benches to create length. I'm a bit sad that the wrought-iron side table didn't make it though - I liked that piece!

Thanks ericaperry,
The wrought iron table is still there, I just put a table cover on it under the wrought iron so it would still show. The room was looking a bit medieval, and I felt we needed the extra weight of the solid color

It look incredible! You took great advice for everyone in this discussion. I love the dark focal point wall, it definitely defines the room!

Excellent choice to paint focal wall. What a difference! Love the chandelier, too!

W O W! A magazine cover, for sure! Stunning, lively, perfect. elegant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

great transformation!!!

Beautiful!

Thank you so much for posting the follow up pictures, the room is really stunning. It is wonderful to read the comments and view not only the whole process of the room's transformation, but the final results. Best Wishes to Everyone.

Beautiful transformation. Love the makeover on the iron piece! Great scale with the chandy!

Stunning! Would you mind sharing what type of wood floor is and which stain color was used? I am going crazy trying to pick a color and yours looks beautiful!

Mary, Our house was built in 1998, but I will try. They are oak floors and I wanted an almost black, but not black,so our guys mixed up the 2 darkest shades of brown mixed together. Remember there may be more darker shades now. I think they just used Minwax Dark Oak and Provencial which was the darker of the two colors. Try a test maybe, and remember the floors lighten with age and sunlight. I would suggest you post your dilemma in the design dilemma, with type of wood etc. As you can see I had great success doing that and some of the designers are more than happy to help you. That is why I LOVE this site! Thanks for your comment

Thanks! Great suggestion. Your room turned out absolutely beautiful. I love this site also!