Since you are planning a reno in a few years I'd be tempted to keep your current carpet if it's in good condition. If not I like the light carpet with the diamond pattern that you posted up top preferably in a larger size. Actually I like the carpets carolins posted too but understand your objections. I would treat this room as a congregating room when entertaining so that chef, I guessing you, can join in with the guests. To that end orient the seating towards the kitchen. I would float loveseat in front of windows, remove matching chair and place one of the dining room chairs on each side of loveseat with coffee table in centre as currently situated. I know the dining chair style dosen't match the loveseat but they are gorgeous chairs and I'm not a fan of matchy, matchy anyway. Then I would shop the colours from your adjoining rooms to tie it all together with pillows and throws, blues and yellows from family room etc. The curtains could either stay light and neutral or corordinate with your accents. if it was me, I would paint or stain that dining room mantle a darker colour to coordinate with table and floor but you didn't ask so feel free to tell me to blow it out my ear! Bottom line, pattys16, you have a lovely home and your plans for future kitchen are stunning. Trust your instincts, they're spot on.

Those chairs are fantastic! But they look like they are plotting a conspiracy against the poor little sofa ;-)

If you want to use them, try putting the sofa back against the wall and the chairs opposite the sofa, not angled, just straight. Their tall backs will create a 'wall' and a cosy little conversation area. Hopefully.

I think your style is lovely but here is where I see the dilemma in you not feeling like the space is giving off the modern/transitional vibe you are wanting to achieve: the sofa.

To me, this type of slipcovered sofa gives off the casual chic feel that you have going on in your family room. If I understand you correctly, though, that is NOT the look you want going on here, correct?

To me, transitional with a modern kick has a lot more clean lines which I think the chairs provide, but I don't particularly think the chairs go with the sofa.

Here are some rooms that I think fit the bill of "transitional" and could work in your space.

Boston Magazine Design Home 2015 · More Info

DuPont Circle · More Info

Short Hills Estate · More Info

Parkwood Road Residence Living Room 2 · More Info

IMHO, I think some pieces of furniture with reflection (like a mirrored piece or a glass coffee table) would be very nice additions. I, personally, would go for a darker rug with kiddos and a dog; however, I just purchased an ivory shag rug for my front living room so take that suggestion with a grain of salt. It was a little frustrating, though, to be scrubbing orange jello out of it the other night when the rug was less than a week old :(

Why don't you put the sofa and big chair on Craigslist and have the lovely wing back chairs recovered in a fabric that you love. Maybe they will even be good company for the dining room chairs and you could have the four chairs around the coffee table? That way you don't have to invest in a new sofa and you can have the two recovered wing back chairs in this room when the kitchen has its island.

Ah yes, things always work so well on paper. So, patty16, how does your back feel after moving all that furniture? I agree with shead, the sofa doesn't work. I also think your other two wing back chairs are too traditional but they might work if you found a funky fabric to reupholstered them. I still love those tall wing chairs though. What are the measurements of this space and how many people do you ultimately want to provide seating for? With the matching sofa and chair, the room looks larger but with the two dining chairs it looks smaller. I can't get an accurate read on the size of the space. Would it be possible to place the two dining chairs in front of the window and invest in a round ottoman instead of a coffee table for more seating or would the space look too empty? And thank you for the mantle update. I am now a happy camper!

Okay, you need to think long and hard about the following:

1) Do you really like the wingbacks that need to be reupholstered? If it were me, I'd ONLY recover them if you planned to put them in the dining room and leave the larger chairs in the living room. Reupholstery is not inexpensive and you may could even find a sofa on Joss & Main or other places for about what you'd spend on the reupholstery, unless you plan to do it yourself.

2) Is it worth the time, effort and money to make this space suit the particular style you want it to have long-term NOW versus waiting until you do your kitchen remodel? Or could you live with a more shabby chic room until the time you are able to do the entire space the way you dream about :) If you do the room now, will the thrill of the design lose its luster once you do the kitchen, etc.?

The answers to those will help you (and us) advise you about the elements in your space :)

Ha! Funnily enough I wanted to suggest a very similar rug to you. I like it! And the art is interesting.

I did likethis one, but it's not the one I meant to suggest. I lost that one, will try to find it. But I prefer yours anyway.

Ah... found it, it was this one. But there are no reviews.

Art is very personal. If you like it, you should get it. The price is very good!

Have you thought about leather club chairs type of chairs. They will work with your sofa and if you go for an updated version, they will be great when you have your new kitchen too, so it won't be money wasted. Crate & Barrel have some lovely looking once for example.

I love those chairs you linked above. Do you like anything about this design?

More images from this room can be found here.

If you look at the rest of the room, you'll see some other more modern chairs with cleaner lines. I think you could definitely pull this off with what you currently have by getting a sisal rug, the round coffee table you showed earlier and some chairs with cleaner lines. Add some reflective pieces and a pop of color in art and I think you'll be a lot happier with this space for the time being. Maybe even a gold framed piece like a mirror would give it the unexpected twist I think you are looking for :)

If you're not keen on the sisal, I think a navy or charcoal based rug with ivory/white trellis-type pattern would be a great color to introduce into the room.

Here are a couple of examples to show you. One modern black, one slightly less modern with a tapered shade and one with a straight drum. Also gave you two club chairs, some pillows, a rug similar to yours and another coffee table. Oh, and art. Just having fun virtually moving things around in your room :-)