Without seeing a plan or pictures it's difficult to know what to suggest. However I wonder if it's possible to use the dining room space to eat in and the space where the table in the eat-in kitchen was as a sitting area. Even a small space should have room for a couple of comfortable upholstered chairs or a loveseat. You will perhaps then have more space for dining and a nice informal space to relax in.

So... why did you take out the wall?

I've always loved the dining room turned library-- I did this when I lived in a huge farmhouse and had the luxury of space and use for a library. Mine was not open to the kitchen but was connected with french doors and the living room with standard door. I don't have photos but I had two walls lined with bookshelves, a comfy vintage wing chair, a work table/desk and a game table. I probably used this room more than any other. I think the key to this space working as a library was that it wasn't on a direct path anywhere. There was another more direct route to the kitchen from the living room.

What will work best for you really depends on your lifestyle and how you use your existing rooms.

We nixed our breakfast "nook" and placed two reading chairs and a nice big coffee table. It is used on a daily basis -- It's just a really nice little space. I'll attach a photo later.

I agree with you. Two tables next to each other looks strange. Have you considered getting rid of one and using the space it stood in for something else? We did something similar to what it sounds like Janice742 did. In our case, We opened up a family room to an eat in kitchen and made one large space. We did not want the noise of the TV in the family room/kitchen. We had a large living room - dining room combination. We never liked the living room - dining room space. It was a long narrow space and furniture placement was always off. We divided the two rooms (the living room/dining room) with a wall. The former dining room made a super cozy TV lounge and contained the sound. The living room stayed a living room with a piano and books shelves. The family room and kitchen area now one custom dining table that can be opened to seat 12 - 14 or closed to seat 4 - 6 (truth is, our family eats about the kitchen island more often than at the table). We no longer have a formal dining room space, which is great. We just swap the furniture in the family room area with the dining table in the eat-in kitchen nook as needed. A long time ago, this was how things were normally done. Furniture was moved around to fit the household's needs. There weren't dedicated places for each use. It makes sense to me since we only need to seat 12 - 14 once or twice a year.

Without pictures to see the size of the spaces you are working with, it's hard to say, but my idea is to use the new dining space for your table and then use the space created in the kitchen for a free standing piece of furniture, like a hutch, for additional storage.

Without seeing pictures, it's hard to say if this would work for you, but what I'VE been wishing I had the space for is a walk-in pantry. Could either of those spaces work for something like that?