Perky_2- thank you! The trim and built ins sold us on the house.

@Tiffany, the rug is beautiful and really such a good quality, especially for the the price.

It just doesn't work design-wise for our space. But it was just featured in another dilemma, and it works so well in there.

So just like most pieces, sometimes it works, sometimes not.

So, in our case, we believe there are just some better options. Lots of times, it's just about trial and error. :-)

#2 rug, love your blue! Love your room.

Avery, I appreciate your feedback on the quality of the rug. If I end up going with it, I'll feel comfortable ordering it online. Tomorrow I'm going to see what the room looks like with bare wood and maybe save myself $700!

Thank you happyleg!

Post when done! We'll be waiting.

I pulled the rug out this morning and I do like it better! But for some reason I haven't been able to post pics on Houzz all day...

I had to post pics through my desktop so I hope these aren't huge!

I removed the rug and replaced the artwork with a large map. I'm looking at light fixtures and am hoping for some input. I think I need a chandelier that is 20-24inch wide and would prefer something round so I can keep my ceiling medallion. I've been looking at drum shades over 5 light crystals, ring chandeliers with edison bulbs...I would love to see your ideas!

Tiffany, your dining room looks amazing. I love the way you have kept the charm of the early 1900's but have made the room feel fresh and modern at the same time through the use of great paint colors and art. I love the large map on the wall. The size and colors work so nicely. I have mixed emotions about not having a rug, though, only because the wood table and chairs tend to blend in with the wood floors. I think the rug softened the space, but I would keep it this way for awhile to see how you like it and to see how others feel about it.

I just removed my rug under the dining table today and like it with the new paint color and off white slipcovers, but if I end up going with the wooden chairs, I'm afraid there won't be enough contrast and too much wood.

I'm sure Flair Lighting will help in the department of light fixtures.

Hope you found another wall (a smaller one) in the dining room for the Matisse!

Thanks Karen! I put the Matisse over my husband's desk for now.

The rug is such a dilemma. Without one, the room feels bigger and I don't have to worry about stains from my kids and dog. I also love being able to see the hardwood floor. The room serves as a pass through and if I got a bigger rug than what I used to have (one that's a better size for the table) you would end up walking half on a rug and half off it going between the LR and the kitchen.

The pros to having a rug would be softening the space like you were saying and giving me another design layer to play with pattern/color.

Karen, is your home early 1900's too? I love your ceiling!

I love the table and chairs. Look at some modern larger art with bold color.

Thanks Sandra! I just added a large map. There are some photos in the comments above. Do you happen to have any ideas for a lighting fixture?

ideas for light fixture:

Sandra I really like that direction for the lighting! I have been admiring these styles but thought they might be too industrial. Do you think it works for a transitional vibe?

Yes, Tiffany. Our home was probably built in the 1940's...good observation, and yes, I think it's great idea to leave the rug out for now. I'm going to do the same thing. At some point I may bring one back.

I've been drawn to lots of pictures of rooms on Houzz lately where there are no rugs. It's nice to be able to appreciate the wood floors, and yours are beautiful. Why not show them off!

Like Sandraclark's above suggestions on lighting. Keep us posted on any more changes.

Glad you saved the Matisse!

I ordered a knock off of this chandelier from RH.

https://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?link=Camino%C2%A0VintageFilament&categoryId=cat6560022

I can't wait until houzz fixes the glitch so I can post pics from my phone or iPad again :/

Camino Vintage Filament in iron.

Is this it, Tiffany?

Yes, that's it! Thanks for posting the pic. I also got the taller Edison bulbs.

Can't wait to see the new chandelier in place!

Me too! I'm hoping the chandelier completes the room.

The new chandelier is here and when I got it out of the box it looked great! I hope to get it up this weekend and will post a pic.

Do you think the chandelier is the finishing touch?

Oh wow, I don't think I've been receiving notifications about these new comments because I've missed several until now. Can't wait to see the new light in place!

I like the bigger art (map), but it looks like it isn't laying quite flat and/or has quite a bit of glare. I had to have a few pieces reframed with museum glass due to glare and they turned out great, but the glass was surprisingly expensive.

Hubby and I are going to try to switch out the chandeliers ourselves this weekend. We've installed other light fixtures and feel fairly confident.
The map does look funny in the picture. It doesn't look like that IRL. It's just all the light from the large windows, not the easiest to photograph.

Very exciting! Can't wait to see the new chandelier after it has been installed. Love your dining chairs! Are the part of the set?

Yes, the table and chairs are an antique set that have been passed down from my husband's grandmother. The chairs are smaller than the average for today's standards but I've noticed low profiles are making a comeback!

I love the color choice in this room. The rug could be a bit larger, maybe more bold. I would also add a different light fixture. This itself will make the whole area look fresh and new. From there, I would look at adding a few larger art pieces on the walls!

Thanks Backsplashideas! I've pulled out the rug, added a large framed map and am putting in an iron ring chandelier with Edison bulbs. You can see some of the changes in the comments above if you want to take a look! I'm so glad you like the paint colors!

Tiffany, I agree about low chair profiles making a comeback, a big comeback!

Your dining room is lovely, I like the last rug too, another couple of ideas

Thank you!
You've got me thinking about rugs again because I really like the medallion one...

The rug with the teal leaves is absolutely beautiful.

I love that one too, Nancy!!!!!

I think crown moulding would finish the space, rug or no rug. Looks bare at ceiling level

I feel like the original window and door casements are so beautiful and hefty that crown moulding might not be necessary. I'm going to do look into it though. We have some eggcrate trim on some of our other built ins in different rooms that could work in the DR.

Got the new fixture up! It took us an hour and a half but it was worth it!

Looks great and an hour and a half isn't bad at all!

Thank you Ann! We love the new fixture. I guess the installation felt long since a lot of the time was spent holding the chandelier up ourselves ha ha!

I know, that's always my job while Hubby does the wiring and you feel like your arms will break off after a while:)

It makes me wonder how an electrician does it alone!

Looks great, Tiffany! Enjoy your new space.

Thank you Karen! Talking about function on your thread made me realize that now is not the time for me to have a rug in the DR. My boys are 6 and 2 and we have a 6 month old puppy. A rug would be money down the drain at this stage. For now I'll enjoy the ease of cleaning the bare floor.

I completely agree, Tiffany. When I pulled my rug from beneath the table, it was so soiled in certain spots. Now I feel like it looks fresh and clean.

Your space looks great as it is. You have enough other interesting stuff going on in the room that you don't need one other thing.

Smart move with both the light and going rugless. I have three dogs and three men in my house, and with no rug, I can just run a dust mop over the floor and under the table regularly and be done. No lugging the vacuum out, moving chairs, worrying about spills.

Love your space. Such a wonderful blend of traditional and fresh modern.

Love this room, feels great!

Thanks so much Houzzers! I'm really grateful for the solid advice and also for all of us sharing DR dilemmas. I learned a lot from other threads that sparked ideas in my space. I love that my room feels special but isn't so precious that we can't finger paint in there :)

My first home didn't have a dedicated dining room so it's been really fun to do this one!

What color did you use for the light blue?

It's actually gray, Valspar's Gravity.

Looks great. Thanks!