i do not think there is a problem with the look more than there is a problem with space, i believe you need a minimum of 24" to move the chair out. If you have children you might wish to give more?

actually, it measures 24" exactly. I think I'm going to have a difficult time finding anything that will fit there that is narrower than 18". for the few times a yr we use the room, I don't know if it's that important. ..buy maybe I'm wrong. open to suggestions

It has much to do with who is sitting there. If i were you I would try it out. Are you getting the china cabinet and placing it in there, because your traditions expect you too? Now a days you do not have to have one. or perhaps you want to do a few higher wall shelves with your larger prettier serving dishes, vases, things like that? or a corner cabinet?

havingfun,

definitely not about traditional protocols. I just love that cabinet and love my china and thought it would be a great way to display and store my pieces. I also thought about doing glass panel buffet, but then don't know what to put on that opposing wall then...
I'm afraid shelves would make the room look too bare

I know you just put up the wainscoting, but did you consider doing 2 corner built-in china hutches to flank the window? You could take them all the way up to the ceiling and add a fancy arched trim board across your window at about 4" from the window trim so you can get your curtain rods in and out, (it would kinda act like a built in swag...) and paint them all the same color as your wainscoting. You could also do a contrasting wallpaper on the back walls of the corner hutches for a pop of color, or a solid light gray... or if you like red, you can mimic the print on the table scarf... can't think of them name of that thing right now. I agree with others, it does look too heavy, what about putting it in your family room and putting books or souvenirs in it from your travels?

not really sure i understand the statement if they are dark and same with as cabinet you are only missing the sides and glass. You also could apply art work? I like your cabinet choice too. and like i said it is up to you, but it does no good if your first guest crashes into it.

No wall space in living room bc I have only 1 wall w open floor plan. family room is all toys. I have 2 little ones. the DR and LR I have taken over and making them MY rooms. lol. the kids have everything else. so the dinj ng room is the only place I really could put this...at least for now until the kids get bigger.

We had same problem, used this bookcase

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/beckett-6-high-shelf/s528870

Agree with tatts, a buffet would be more useful. The display case is going to look busy and hectic when it's filled with all kinds of stuff. Plus it is huge. You could even go with a console table there to use for serving. You can get very narrow consoles 9 to 12 inches.

its a pretty cabinet and if you have things you'd like to display and already understand your space limitations, go ahead. have you checked the depth on similar pieces at arhaus? every inch in depth counts here.

No in my opinion something like this one would be better ,it also comes in grey if you like .

would you do 2 consoles...one on each side for balance or just one side?

I'm not as concerned about the space to move the chairs as I am about the height of the china cabinet. I don't like the way it cuts up the wainscot. I think a single sideboard on one side, nicely styled with art above would look great. You don't need to match it on the other side; not every space must be filled.

I would replace the mirror, though. It's not well proportioned for that wall. I'd probably hang three framed black and white prints or botanicals in a row on that wall.

perhaps put mirror on other side? I love the mirror

my original thought was to out buffet on wall where mirror is and then have tall candles/lamps /whatever on each side

Actually, the mirror might look better over a sideboard. Right now, it's just hanging out in space with nothing to ground it.

groveraxle. my thought was to put a sideboard under mirror to ground it and then pain is like you suggest on the opposing wall so that you can see them in the mirror. where did you find those paintings? i am always looking but never seem to find what I'm looking for. you may have found it!

*paintings on opposing wall

The shorter wall can handle a slender buffet and the larger wall a big china cabinet. However, the issue many have pointed out is navigation room. Not only do you need 24" for each chair to be pulled out and sat in, but you need another 18-24" to walk around behind the chairs while guests are seated in them. if someone is serving food or excusing themselves from the table while others remain seated, there must be room to navigate between occupied chairs and the furniture on the wall. Here's a beautiful pair of corner cabinets to flank the window.

Candi, the art is from Ballard Designs. It's really pricey, though.http://www.ballarddesigns.com/looking-at-the-horizon/wall-decor/art-by-type/framed/316984

story of my life! I'll check it out and try wayfair too. they look perfect

For art, always try etsy and Saatchiart originals.

For art, please go to artist shows and artist collectives and studios. For the price of some mass-produced schlock (i.e. the first page on Ballard Designs) you could have an original piece from a real artist and support the arts and artists at the same time.

Mass-produced 'decor' looks like exactly what it is--lowest-common-denominator trinkets that belong in a dentist's office, if at all..

I just bought a striking ceramic bowl two weeks ago from a ceramic studio for a gift. Beautiful, one of a kind, and a technique that I have never seen. And I paid no more than I would have paid on Wayfair for something that screams "Made in China" from across the room.

Amen to that tatts.

I agree with the sentiment, Tatts, but not everyone lives in or near an area with art studios, or has the time or money to hunt down that perfect piece. If you love it, no matter where it comes from, dumpster or Southby's, free or millions, use it.

Yeah tea! Maybe we should start an art parade?

I was on Arhaus's furniture site and found this lovely cabinet, which is 19"D; wondering if it is narrower than PB's and it also comes in four wood tones. I really like its rustic finish for your room. From website info, it also looks like they have 40% off right now. http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/cabinets/living-room-bookcases-and-cabinets/chorus-theory-single-cabinet-in-rustic-black/

I agree with tatts... there is nothing like a piece made by the vision and soul of another person on this Earth... Good for you! And you can find hand made, original art pieces for sale in ANY county... it isn't that hard, all you have to do is LOOK. I live in a very very small "rural & hick" county and even we have an art studio with art for sale!!! You really do not have to travel far to see art, all you have to do is be open minded... for example, I bet you have a piece your children did that looks like something done by a modern artist?!?!? If you put it in a lovely frame, few people would know the difference! Sorry... to those types of splashes, speckles, circles, and lines type of artists... don't mean to offend, but I am sure if even you dig deep enough into your soul, you know a child can do that too... but I will bend a little and say that some of it is a lot more detailed than streaks of pain, and spatters (I guess that was more of a 80's kind of abstract art)... now more of it seems to have more complicated brush strokes, scrapes, dabs, fading, and smears, etc... so I have a more respect for artists that put more effort in their pieces. My daughter who doesn't do abstract art, does some pretty good girls wearing fashion dresses... anyway, art can be found anywhere... fleamarkets, antique stores, recycled goods, pawn shops, second hand shops, Goodwill, etc. You don't have to go to an Art studio specifically. Heck, even local hospitals around here display art work that is for sale in their main hallways... just look around your environment, and you will find something.

Gosh, I feel bathed in beautiful golden art light!

I'm not saying that everything in your home has to be original works of art, but I do think that they should have a backstory (and not that it was on sale at Macy's (or Marshall's or Wayfair) ;-) ). I cringed when I'd see those ads on TV for "starving artist sales". "Sofa-sized paintings for $xx..." that's the same stuff that Wayfair and Ballard Designs (and Marshalls and Home Goods...) sells. Junk.

And, to build on what Dee Smith says...I live in the middle of one of the largest cities in the US, so I am exposed to accessible art on a daily basis, even in coffee shops. But I don't buy just to fill blank space.

Everything in my house has some meaning--even some posters from places I have travelled or events or festivals I've attended. It's a mix of original art, craft, photography and memories. I'm not a 'collector'; I feel that a few well-chosen items make a better statement than dozens of random commercial ones.

Tatts, of course! Everything you say is true. I'm just saying that if it speaks to you, regardless of origin, then use it. We have an IKEA print of a painting of a Greek church on a cliff, because it reminds us of the small islands we visited in the Aegean. We also have a 36 in handmade ceramic art piece that is worth more than everything else put together, and I think I can include the cars, not the house, that I had to buy a plane seat for 30 yrs ago, to get it home. "Best design advice I ever read, "if you love it, it will work", and from my mom, " if we all liked the same things, we'd have nothing to talk about."

Not being of great help to the homeowner...sorry! However, just stumbled across the art talk and, while it is true that whatever you love has intrinsic meaning, we do appreciate the plug for using original art. Original or limited edition art is not necessarily prohibitively expensive and so many fantastic artists are represented right on Houzz!

Oh dear, so sorry OP, I think we've hijacked your posting! Back to your dilemma!

I will second the opinion on corner cabinets next to the window. We had them in our first house and it was amazing how much they held in the bottom, but how nice they looked with pretty dishes in the top. The advantage of corner cabinets is that they occupy a space not needed by people using the table. I'd paint them to match the woodwork or wainscot and have nice window covering to finish this view.

haha. it's ok. I've enjoyed reading everyone's passionate responses. for now I'm going to focus on finding a buffet and then go from there

Just got in on this conversation and want to vote for small cabinets to the right and left of the window, painted like the beautiful wainscotting. It looks really nice as is, so you don't need to do much.

Sorry - or a narrow buffet. What I love about buffets is buffet lamps - there are some that are so beautiful, and they send out a beautiful light.

Oh dear! Oh dear! I have a dining room narrower than yours and I have both a big fat china hutch AND a buffet on the opposite wall and I do not have any room to move the chairs. It's probably more like 16" from chair back to furniture. Now this is a source of constant conflict between my husband and me. I had the furniture when I moved into his house (eliminating his pink and teal Southwestern furniture) so I'm not about to get rid of a single piece. I do think, although I understand the argument stated here, you will have balance issues. Regarding the art discussion, any "art" presented properly can be fabulous. Case in point: when my son was about 8 months old I had a series of photos taken at Walmart. The "photographer" was reluctant to pose him with a blanket over his head (not in style at the time) but I insisted. It was and still is the best photo I have of him. So I took it to a very nice frame gallery and had it done up right. The photo itself was probably about $1.49 but the frame was $175.00. It is so beautiful and worth every penny. I have given lip service in several posts about art, how the way professional matting and framing can change the size and significance of a piece of art. A piece that's too small for a location can be beefed up and and dominate a space and become a masterpiece (even your child's art.). One thing about you room; forgive me but I keep seeing this . . . What's up with the table runners we keep seeing? It doesn't enhance the room. Save them for a sit down dinner.