I don't have any suggestions at the moment, but I did lighten up your picture:

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Do you eat in the dining room every day? Or just special occasions? And if everyday, do you have kids and what ages?

What does the dining room table look like without the tablecloth & placemats? What about just using a a nice centerpiece and bare wood?

Your living room looks really nice. It's simple, yet elegant. The wall color is pretty in there. I can't see the Blonde well in your DR photos, but I really like that color and imagine that it is a good choice for your DR. Dining room photos are dark, as you noted, but still, some things are easily apparent. The walls are a nice neutral, your furniture is very beautiful, and you have good light sources in the two windows. I also like your chandelier.

First thing I would suggest, is to try to take another shot of the DR for us, using flash or something to shed a bit more light on the subject. Remove the tablecloth and placemats, what you have on there is doing nothing to enhance your elegant furniture. And for upholstering the chairs, I would suggest a nice patterned fabric in a deeper color, maybe a dark gold or a deep red tone, perhaps something with an elegant pattern, not anthing chintzy or in cotton blend. I love, love, love, window treatments, so I almost always suggest starting with the windows before choosing the table stuff or the fabric for chairs. I would use panels at those windows, perhaps hung on 1 3/8" wide rods about 8-10" away from edge of window, so the panels can hang nicely without obscuring any of the light. A velvet might be nice, or even a subtly patterned chenille in something to work well with your current wall color.

Red

First I want to say I love your furniture, it's very pretty.

The first thing comes to mind is a centerpiece without the placemats and table cloth and maybe just a runner.

Sorry Sweeby, I just get the willy's when someone puts anything down on a beautiful bare wooden table. LOL It's my OCD kicking in.

First let me say I love your furniture, it's very pretty.

I'm thinking some side panels to frame the sheers would give the window some punch. I just noticed the sheers are short. If you can replace them with some that come to the floor that would be better.

I don't know what your budget will allow, but recovering the chairs would also be an easy, inexpensive update.

Maybe some plants/trees or table with topiary in the corners where the side chairs are and move the chairs to another spot. That way when you enter the room your eye will be drawn all the way to the end of the room.

Itt's difficult for me to do this because I can't get a perspective on how everything is situated in the room and I'm no pro.

Hope I've helped a little.

I trhink panels would go a long way in making the dining room feel more luxurious. Also, why not try fabric or decorative paper on the back wall of the china cabinet, and then display the china or silver in front of that? Something colorful on top of that cabinet would be nice, as well. I'm not a fan of fake ivy, but it's a way to bring some life into the space.

The living room could use some color and pattern, to my eye. Maybe some cushions or an area rug under the coffee table?

Thank you for your help and compliments. I tried for some new photos. It is a cloudy day and the pics might still be a little dark. We use the room about 2-3 times per week, and no kids. The single window on the side is a small casement window, about 20 x 30 in. The other windows are 63 in long. I didn't see the post about taking chairs out of corners, I don't have a lot of other space to place them, maybe I could put them in living room.

The dining room is off of the living room. The 2 large windows are on the wall opposite the opening to living room. So, facing the double window, with your back to living room: the 20 x 30 window is on wall to your left and the cabinet is on wall opposite that small window. The larger painting of asters is on same wall as small window.

Here are some new pics.

I'll show you your lr room with a bit more color added, and have a couple ideas for that area. Earth toned and monochromatic rooms are beautiful and restful, so don't feel one always must add color. A variety of tones and textures adds interest to those type spaces. Since you have added an accent color with the chair, I've put a little more of that around -- a little fringe or other trim added to the pillows, a bit of red on a chair pillow, maybe even a shot with the throw.

In the last pic, I even glazed the coffee table for more variety with the wood tones (like that's gonna happen :)

The coffee table looks a bit small, so I've added a bevel edged glass top (from the glass shop). Smooth glassy top, textured basket in the shelf adds some nice texture and interest. Big candle (this one in a glass hurricane type holder, which looks nice with pebbles, shells, sand, maybe even fruits around it).

HTH! Verrry nice space!!

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You have so many beautiful pieces that I don't have much to offer in the way of advice. I do agree that the sheers should be changed out with floor-length sheers. I've attached a link to some beautiful sheers from Country Curtains (just saw them in person today--my first visit to a Country Curtains store!).

Here is a link that might be useful: Sheers

Good job, Terriks!

Red

I'd like to echo everyone else in stating that your furniture is absolutely beautiful. Your china cabinet is lovely. Does it light up?

I agree with you, the room could use some bling. Restful is lovely in the bedroom, but you don't want your guests falling asleep in their soup bowls. Dining rooms are places for lively conversations, clinking glasses, and laughter. I think that's why they're often painted red, or dynamic gold; you wouldn't believe how warm rich colors can change how people act, but they sure can.

I'd bring in some deep red and gold in a rug under the table (watch your Craigslist for a bargain), and the chair seats (easy and inexpensive to do it yourself with a staple gun and a little fabric).

Unless you have to have them for privacy I'd ditch the sheers and the topper to bring more light into the room. I'd go for something like one of these...

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Or...just the panels on these, not the topper:
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Do you have a corner to stash a big ol' palm tree?

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How about adding some greenery and some crystal to the top of your china cabinet? Live plants add a lot to a room and silk plants do where you can't do live ones.
I'd change the chandelier shades out for red or black, maybe with some beaded fringe for bling.

How about something like this mirror and botanicals on the wall for a little more sparkle?

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I'd use something like this for a centerpiece on a mirror...

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Or... (only I think I'd go for color/pizzaz in the flowers)

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If you don't need to keep a table cloth on there, I'd think about a pretty runner instead.

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Sorry, these look Asian, but yours wouldn't have to.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

I agree with replacing the curtains with only sheer panels and no valances. I always prefer hanging drapes from the ceiling to make the room appear taller. You can now get ready made drapes in the 96" length.

Adding mouldings adds a great deal of ambience and finishing details. The sheers have been taken to the floor, too. It makes a beautiful architectural focal point. The light looks so beautiful, although Terriks brighted it up -- if it doesn't actually get very bright, maybe a wash of light over that window area with a pot light(s)? or built into a window valance? on a dimmer? Not sure if that is something done or would work right, though ... (lighting person!)

Beautiful, beautiful :)

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Maybe some lace ...

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Hi, you've probably got more input here than you'll ever need, but here's my 2 cents anyhow. My very first impressions were that the sheers had to go, and that (radical) the chairs looked like something my grandmother would have been proud of. Now if you really like 'traditional', that's certainly up to you, but if you want to update and can afford it, I'd consider changing the chairs (not just the seats - the backs look old and fussy to me). I think that could go a long way towards makes things a bit snappier.

Great job w/ all of the edited pics! I really, really, really like what Squirrel did w/ your DR in pic #1. A LOT! I also agree w/ adding a big palm to fill a corner. I'd perhaps add it in the LR somewhere. I never wanted greenery in my rms. before & a few wks. ago I added a 7' palm (the dreaded silk - aaaggghhhh!) in my office & wow what a difference! It really softened a hard corner & brought some life to the rm.

I would try to accesorize the top of your hutch & bookcases a little. Maybe somebody could photoshop that for you to give you an idea then you could wander through your home & pic things out and put up there..

Oceanna posted inspirational pics of which I think that if your budget allows you may want to try a series of 3 vertically hung pictures in descending or ascending sizes somewhere. I've always thought that things like that brought instant 'age' and character to a rm.

The added toss pillows & throw go a really long way in warming up a rm.

Love your DR set!

Finally! dang I stalk these boards when I ps. Thanks, ttodd!

Looking at a print -- may not be one you'd choose, but looks a very lovely and English :)

Something a little more tailored and vine-y. Here the window is widened and a different style cornice, perhaps a bit more 'snappy'?

I LOVE your dining room set, and love what Squirrel has done with the room. I like the first picture with the tied back floral drapes and sconces.

Great work Oceanna and Squirrel!

Since it is a traditional room, how about chair rail, which would enable you to paint half the walls a more vibrant color while still maintaining the cohesive look with the living room.

You might want to start a new post on the china cabinet. Open the doors, take a photo, and ask for suggestions to add some bling.

Why of course! a chair rail. I'm fired! (She's just starting to add a bit of color here and there though.)

Wow, squirrel, it is so cool to watch this evolve! It looks beautiful!

I have one suggestion for the living room. On the wall behind the couch...can you widen the curtains some, open them with some sheers maybe, and move the cabinets farther apart? Not sure that would look right, but I think the space between the cabinets and the windows needs something. I notice this only because I have a similar scenario in my own living room, and when I mock up the curtains to be the same width as the couch, it looks SO much better. Might not apply here, but just a thought.

squirrel, it absolutely amazes me what you can do to a room. I love every change and don't know which I would choose .. can't wait til farfrae logs in and sees the changes.

bungalow, I agree with you about making the window behind the couch look wider but I think the problem may be that it is the same size as the side window in the dining room.
Hey squirrel, do you have in solutions for that problem in your 'bag of tricks'?

There's a side window in the dining room!? :(((((( How about a sweet set of little shutters! :))

And thank you so much, ladies :)) Surely made my day, those kind words.

Squirrel -- simply AMAZING virtuals!! Really magical! :)

And some wonderful suggestions for changes -- the room does look so different! :)

Wow Squirrel! You are too amazing!!!
Astrid

Thanks Squirrel, wow those photoshop pics made me gasp with joy! Again the large window with moulding added looks great, I can't believe how good. And I had thought about crown moulding before, it looks so good that I know I want to use it. The large window is 60 in high and 78 in wide, the house has ceilings that are 7.5 ft high. The small side window is 30 in high by 43 in wide, and yes the window behind the couch is same dimensions. You guys are very sharp!

In the dining room I am thinking a small table or even a wall hung shelf under the smaller window with some nice decor items. Also thought about hanging a tie back drape on one side only with straight edge towards living room wall. The china cabinet does light and it is back with a mirror, I will get some pics later in another post.

Living room also looks lovely with your ideas. I have to say I want to get rid of that ugly floor lamp behind couch. Thinking of getting a nicer matched pair for either side. I thought with the two book cases that wall "balanced" the large window at front of house. And i want to get a nice lamp for black octagonal table with phone on it.

Well, thank you again for your compliments, never did I think people would be saying my furniture is beautiful. You are making me blush.