I really like the chest. I think it adds to the room.

Love the chest. Perfect for that wall.
I like the picture too but it looks big.
It gives the appearance of being larger than the chest.

I realize the chest is where it is because of the seating issue.
You will have several people tell you to push it toward the window but I'm sure it is where it has to be.
That said, how about smaller pictures or one long skinny one where the lrg one is?

Love the chest.

LOVE the chest there -- adds a nice bit of contrast to the lighter tones in the room. And I do like the smaller plant on top and the artwork.

I would love to see a lamp on the baker's rack -- just to add another lighting option to the dining area .....

Is your baker's rack a corner piece? If so, would it fit in the space next to your fridge? The chest is very nice but since your space gets crowded when you extend the table maybe the other piece (the rack) would get in the way as well. Is the chest easy enough to move if you centered it in your space and when you extend the table for 10-12 you could just scoot it over by the fridge? Does this make sense to you?

I am sorry, although the chest is very pretty, I don't think it adds anything there - it doesn't coordinate with the cabinetry or the dining table in any way.

I agree with Dorothy9 - I would move the baker's rack to that corner (which would take it away from the front of the window, too) and find two smaller pix to hang one over the other on the wall space to the left of where the rack will be.

Or, if you want the baker's rack to stay where it is, I would remove the cabinet and just hang the large piece of art centered on that wall. It is too crowded being used with the cabinet, imo, and is large enough to stand alone on that wall.

Just wondering, also - when you extend the table, would it fit better going 90 degrees in the other direction - so that the table ends were the window wall and the island?

I love your large picture; why not center it on the wall and have nothing else there?

Thanks for the input. I don't have a chance to get on much and lately been having trouble logging in. Anyway, Thanks Teacat and praire fox.

Teacats..I'll keep my eyes open for artwork that I like in a smaller size.

Dorothy.. fortunately when I use my table extender the chest does not get in the way at all. That's the reason, I chose this chest for the size. I kinda feel like that's the problem though that the chest is not substanial enough for the space that its in, but It's a catch 22, because I can't go any bigger.

Mitchd.. I will give it a try to use just the artwork and move the chest.

Les.. I can always count on you and highly respect your input. Another reason I chose the chest is for colors. I was told I needed more black accents in the kitchen and I thought the wood color coordinate with the hardwoods and the table legs. I'm including another angle of the kitchen to show the black granite Island. Do you think this angle of the kitchen helps to coordinate the piece or do you think it's still wrong? I really do appreciate your honesty and have taken your advice on many, many occassions.

I love this board and using it to help me tweak my rooms. I would cost a fortune to have multiple designers come and give me this great advice.

Photo of Black Granite Island

sorry about the double photo

Honestly, I would move both the chest and the baker's rack and leave just your print or another substantial art piece with a bit of black. The chest doesn't add a lot to the room, IMO.

If you can put the baker's rack beside the fridge, that's an option. I'm not fond of the way it blocks the window. I'd be inclined to put it somewhere else altogether.

Your other furnishings are nice enough to stand on their own. Sometimes less is more.

I took the chest and replaced it with the bakers rack. Don't mind the blind. It's dark now, so I've closed the blinds for the evening. I'm thinking it looks so empty but I am all about less stuff and more space, if I can't make something work in that space. I kind of feel like it's screaming for something, just not sure what.

{{!gwi}}

So the bakers rack isn't a corner one? It looked that way because of how it was on the wall by the window. Couldn't it be centered on the small wall between the windows or would it be in the way? It didn't look bad there, it was how it was placed.

I don't really like how the artwork looks with the flower arrangement on the rack ...they seem too different.

Another idea is could the chest actually be placed on the wall where the rack was? You bought the chest for in this area...did you find somewhere else to put it that works better? It is nice looking.

I see why someone suggested you add black in, because of the countertop by the sink and other little details. Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way but I think the chairs at the table would look better in black. That would bring black over that way and balance it more. The white of the cabinets work because the trim is the same color. Of course, I'm kind of partial to black painted furniture lately! LOL

Guess what? I moved everything out except the artwork and I like it. I never thought of moving the bakers rack out till you guys suggested it. I'm having a dinner party for 12 on Sat. and this is the first time to use the table extension. We put it on tonight and it's a lot nicer not having all that stuff around the table. It gives us more room to manuever. I liked the chest but didn't like the way it looked it that space and I don't need the cabinet space. For the past few years, I'm all about having less stuff so I have a couple empty cabinets as it is.

Sweets.. I like the idea of having black chairs also. I found that out tonight when I moved my dining chairs in and mixed with the kitchen chairs to make room for 12 people. Unfortunately, I don't feel I can justify buying a new table right now. But If I see one I like, who knows. I wish I was crafty. I'm sure someone could do something with the table that I have. Does anyone have suggestions for that????

I'll post photos tomorrow after I set the table.

You don't have to be crafty really to change you chairs. All you need is primer and some black paint and a brush :) Yes, it's going to take a little time to do it BUT it's not hard at all. Get a friend or two to come over and help, talk and laugh while you're doing it...it will go faster!

Just be careful with the paint for about a month until the paint fully cures because the surface with sratch and knick easily.

If you want to protect the paint job even more, you can brush on some poly or varnish.

Good luck!

Bambino, you have a very pretty home. You've probably told us before and I missed it, but what is your wall color? TIA, Mammie

Here's the photo of the table and area. I haven't yet centered the artwork, but will do that later today.

Sweet..The table now is in a crackle finish. I'd like to find someone who could do a black crackle or something. I guess I'm not sure about just painting it all black. Got give that more thought.

Mammie..The color of the kitchen is a porter paint called Beige Tellin

Dino, what a lovely compliment. Thank you.

Much better without the chest and baker's rack, especially once the art is moved over. The room is lovely, and doesn't really need more furniture to look finished.

I think doing the chairs in black is one idea, but I would be more inclined to do a black or dark brown antiquing on them, which would bring out the texture of the crackle even more, imo. Leave the seats in the wood tone, but antique that as well. I think it would be a lot of black there if the chairs were all done in black. You could do the tabletop in black, tho, and leave the legs in the wood tone.

I would also love to see some type of black medallion or large button done in black added on each of the rectangles on the cornices, about a third of the way up from the bottom of each striped panel. I think it would bring some additional visual weight to the window treatments, and bring some black onto the walls there in a subtle way.

Much better! Looks great.

thanks kail..Good suggestion, didn't really even think to try that option. That's why I appreciate this board.

les..Good idea with the window treatments. I will eventually add something to them. Just have to find the right thing and the right person to do them. Same with the table. That's what I'm thinking. some kind of crackle or antiquing in black. By the time I get this kitchen the way i want it, I'll could be really old. Seems to go on forever.