You could pull out the colors of the rug. Light cool grays would work well since your rug has those cool grays next to light blues. Maybe SW 6255 Morning Fog or SW 7664 Steely Gray?

For drapery hardware, I think darker stained wooden poles/finials would work well. Since you have the light hardwood floor and dining furniture with orange tint, introducing a third wood tone to the space would work nicely.

For drapery you could even do darker shade of blue so it gives variance and interest from the light blue in the rug but different enough so not everything looks too matched.

Hope you like my ideas!

Thank you for the ideas. I'm hesitant to pick grays as deep as your suggestions since the entire front of the house is rather open. I was thinking lighter more neutral grays would flow better with the whites in the entry hall and office. I do like the idea of a deeper shade in a diningroom but am concerned about the room color standing out. If I used a lighter gray paint, maybe a darker gray window panels with black hardware? The carpet has a lot of black accents. Would it be a bad idea to do gray panels on gray walls (light panels on darker paint or darker panels on a lighter paint) with black hardware on the windows?

I love the thought of going with the red that is predominate in your beautiful rug. Red has always been a great choice of color for the dining room since it enhances the appetite. I also like the idea of using an off-white below the chair rail. However the very best (& I think the only way ) to select the proper color & shade of color is to buy sample cans of the color to paint onto 2 X 2 foot poster boards to move around the room and observe that color at different times of the day.

Red is a very hard color to go with & blue also is a very hard color to try to match with something. Please do not go with grey. I am so tired of seeing everyone choose gray for everything & anything. Since your house is painted very pale colors & the dining room exposure to other rooms is so noticeable, you may want to pick up a folder of all white colors to decide on your color or colors.

It is amazing how different each of the white samples are so different. Pick from that range & still buy sample cans to paint on poster board to move around the room at different times of the day. Keep in mind what ever color you choose will look different when you install a colored drape into the room or choose new artwork too. Love your beautiful rug & furniture.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm thinking it all over, and of course, need the husband's input as well. He thinks all is fine as it is! I feel the same about gray being everywhere but it happens to be in my rug, and is also predominant in the rug in my office which is visible from the diningroom. It wouldn't stand out as much as red would. This room is rather small, though I love the idea of using red and like it very much in other people's homes. I happen to prefer neutrals so I have more flexibility with décor, curtains, etc. My husband would love the shadow box wainscotting and I happen to know someone who does this type of work. That is a consideration as well. I do hope to change the chandelier as well. What is there is not something I would choose. This being a room not used much, I haven't really paid much attention to it until now. I will be considering all suggestions. Thank you!

Are your other rooms painted BM Shaker Beige also? A very neutral gray that integrates well other neutral walls is BM Edgecomb Gray.

I'd go with a charcoal grey above and maybe white dove below the rail. Then if you can get something in a cool steel grey chandelier, maybe modern or shaker to juxtapose your trad look, that could be cool. I love a red dining room, I have one (shown) but I think it might be too much based on your other first floor colors. Pretty house! Maybe this will inspire you to use the room.

I have a couple blog posts that I think may be helpful.

http://timothyriversinteriors.com/2015/03/06/designer-home/

also

http://timothyriversinteriors.com/2015/04/21/the-secret-to-decorating-your-dining-room-that-wont-cost-a-million-dollar/

Happy Designing.

Feel free to contact me with specific questions.