apologies for having to post this additional pic via another post!

another view

This post was edited by desert_solitaire on Thu, Apr 18, 13 at 16:15

last one, view of adjoining living room space...

the living room furnishings will be replaced...still deciding on upholstering the ethan allen chairs which are in excellent condition, but the fabric must go...I am looking at some english arm sofas to replace the sofa that is covered temporarily with slipcover

Here is a link that might be useful: basic english arm sofa

geez! this website is terrible for uploading pictures...the pic was there, and when i posted it was gone! try again!

Have you ever thought about putting the sofa facing the fireplace with it's back to the dining room and then put the two chairs at an angle to the fireplace? That way you have a semi separation and an intentional focal point.

hi yaya...yes, we had the sofa positioned in that orientation originally (purchased a very uncomfortable small sofa for that reason)....my husband really didn't like it because he likes to stretch out and lounge, and the 78 inch sofa (with the big rolled arms) just doesn't allow for that in this space...i think i will need at least an 82 inch sofa...if i purchase that length and float it, it leaves no room for end tables or lamps....so i think floating isn't a really good option (though i liked how it looked!)

i'm not too concerned about the current configuration in the living room...i've had the sofa on either side and floated, and frankly from a utilitarian pov, positioning it against the wall seems to work best...

not sure if you can tell from the pictures, but right now the dining table is centered in the middle of the room (and the living room opening), and for some reason this just looks awkward....but it seem more functional than pushing it closer to the wall, if that makes sense...

i have to make a decision about the positioning of the table soon because i need to replace (and move) the chandelier ...

i'll probably mount a large drum pendant over the table...right now the room looks extremely traditional with the egg and dart trim and crown moulding, crystal chandy, etc....and i want a more transitional look...

i plan to buy upholstered chairs for the dining table, but i think those need to wait until i pick out the living room sofa and chairs as they relate so directly to each other visually

any other suggestions about decor is much appreciated! really struggling with the space and how to furnish!

I think I would cheat the table toward the outside wall and center the chandy over it....it will still look like a full blown DR while allowing a little better traffic flow to the LR.

I agree with Annie.

hi annie, and ellendi....

how far would you 'cheat'

i tried positioning it within the half wall 'space', sort of centering it there, in which case it looks more like a dining 'nook'

and it limits your movement around the table on the window wall side, having it just a few inches off center just looks 'off center' to me.....btw, you cannot tell from the photo angles i posted but the opposite wall from the window opens into the kitchen (same size opening as into living room) and there is plenty of room to walk aroun

very frustrating, because if i 'cheat' it toward the window wall about a foot, it looks more centered in the living room opening from the sofa (optical illusion) but looking from the dining room side into the living room, it looks off-kilter viewing into the living room...i think the half wall really makes it difficult visually...basically trying to 'center' it on 3 different elements of the room at once, and depending on your perspective from the room, thus far nothing looks 'just right'

A few years ago we nearly bought a house and the DR setup was just like your's. I actually liked it. The only reason we didn't buy the house was because it had a small yard.

I would leave the table centered. It may be unusual but I don't find it awkward at all.

hi oaklyok....thank you, i'm leaning toward keeping it centered as well, mainly because as you enter from the foyer, it looks better...i was hoping for some feedback either way....i surely don't want to move the lighting fixture again, that much is for sure!

perhaps once the 2 rooms are fully decorated with artwork, lighting, and window treatments, the space won't seem so awkward...er...unusual! i like that much better...thanks again...

i really don't know where to start with furnishings, being one of those who 'knows what i like' when i see it, but have a terrible time envisioning in my minds eye how colors and furnishings look until i can actually see them in place!

If you always need to be able to move around it, then you answered your own question. Function over form. But, I still think for everyday use, if you don't need to get around it then it functions better a bit off to the side.
When you have company, you just pull the table out. My kitchen table has the fourth chair against the wall and we have to pull the table out for someone to sit there.

Is your dining table rectangular? If so, try turning it the other way....shorter side toward the window. Might make a little difference.