Here are pictures of the breakfast room.

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 21:27

More..

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 21:28

The benchï¼Â

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Sat, Mar 2, 13 at 12:20

The table:

I do like the table but it seems a bit substantial and rustic for what I can see of your decor and seemingly more traditional style. This isn't necessarily a deal breaker if you lean rustic elsewhere in your house or if this is a direction you want to go... but if so, I'd consider a less traditional design for the aquarium... maybe an iron stand?

I assume you know what you are getting into with the aquarium but one of my favorite thai restaurants has a large aquarium with beautiful tropical fish in their dining room. Unfortunately, it requires very frequent cleaning and when it isn't crystal clear, I find it a most unappetizing focal point.

Husband currently maintains a 4' wide freshwater aquarium. It's currently sitting at the other end of the breakfast room. He changes out water once a week, and vacuums the substrate a few times a week. Our pleco in the aquarium works very hard.. she cleans the algae off the glass constantly, so the glass looks quite clear, and we just need to clean the outside of the glass from time to time.. But yeah, overall it's quite a bit of work.

The rest of our house has traditional furniture and decoration. Maybe this room should stay traditional too. There are indeed two traditional (or country style) tables I really like. They are large and somewhat fancy. I was originally planning to get one of them for our dining room (maybe in 10 years). Our dining room is completely ready for a table set, but we are planning to have kids, and want to use the dining room as a play room until they grow up..

I am now thinking, maybe I could have the furniture maker custom make a smaller and less fancy version of them? I don't think there are a lot of details we could get rid of, though..

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Sat, Mar 2, 13 at 12:59

The other table:

I would think seriously about using seating with no backs. Not all of us can be comfortable on hard benches with no support. Perhaps you can get by with a 32" width so that you can fit chairs along the side that faces the windows?

I used a long bench on one side of a table long ago because of space constraints, and it was helpful in teaching my children to sit up straight at the table, but I never really liked it ...

I agree with Bronwynsmom. There is no way that many people can sit without back support.

Your point is well taken. I am looking for chairs now, as well as good-looking long benches with back support.

Our current breakfast table has 6 chairs around it. When I vacuum, I have to move them all to a different place, and move them back when I am done. It's a pain, and I thought this problem could be solved by replacing these chairs with 2 long benches, which apparently would introduce a new problem. :)

I had a table and bench made - in a mixed finish (black painted legs, and stained wood plank top) I quite like the black aquarium - so this could be a way to work that in.

We use four chairs around the table and the bench on one side:
This is from their website:

{{!gwi}}

Link below:

Here is a link that might be useful: custom tables/bench

That wall is so perfect for art with maybe a console or buffet under it. I'm not an aquarium person so don't know if this could work, but was was wondering if the aquarium could go at the opposite end (not sure what room adjoins the breakfast room there), so you could see the aquarium from all sides? That's assuming there isn't a wall there, too.

Janice, thank you so much for the picture. It looks quite good! I am going to check the manufacturer's website.

olychick, the opposite end does have a 5.5' wall, with a window to its left. The current 4' aquarium is sitting along that wall. To the right side of (and behind) the 5.5' wall, is our living room. Below is a picture.

Since I want to move the water away from our nice living room (as far as possible), and husband wants a 6' new aquarium (too wide for the 5.5' wall), we thought it might be a good idea to switch the two ends. That is, hang the painting on the 5.5' wall, and put a buffet table or sideboard underneath, and place the new 6' aquarium on the 9' wall.

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 21:29

I would also look at Hunt Country Furniture. Not as rustic as the first one you posted & not as fancy as the 2ond one.

Thank you, eandhl. I will check out Hunt Country Furniture.

I have another question --

Would it be really weird if I rotate the table by 90 degrees, and have it sit parallel to the short wall, that is, parallel to the fish tank/ painting/ buffet?

If the table is placed parallel to the short wall, it needs to shorter (maybe 5.5', rather than 7'), and it probably could go a bit deeper (maybe 4'). The room is 9' wide, 19' long.

I am thinking that way I'd have more space for chairs on both (long) sides of the table. What do you think? Is it too crazy an idea?

Edit to add:
I just blue taped out my idea on the floor. It doesn't look good. So please never mind..

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Sun, Mar 3, 13 at 13:52