In the second photo I can almost see what you mean about warmth... :) and I mean as though I was there in person.

Excellent.

I wish I didn't feel so unsure about lighting - must be an experiment a lot of homeowners have to do on their own, by bringing it into the house... just wish installing it wasn't so much trouble. Good for you!! :)

Looks very good. I wish we could convey to all these posters that use those pendants with the up lights how very different and better a room can appear with a chandelier with fabric shades. Forces most of the light down and really enhances the appearance of the table, the food and the people around the table. It's still a soft light and not harsh.

The idea of putting work of art in the dining room is pretty
awesome. I however would hang the canvass a bit higher so people could have a
better full view of the painting .

Thank you all who commented and gave advice!

Hopefully I will be able to take some better pictures tomorrow in the daylight!

I love your chandelier! Where did you get it?

No art on the window wall. It's too much.

Room looks nice.

Don't rule out a modern ceiling fan with light for over the table.

Not particularly a fan of abstract art and I readily acknowledge that I know very little about it except that some I like and most I don't. The other large art piece in your dining room is a "landscape" rather than a "portrait" shape -- hung horizontally rather than vertically. It occurs to me that your feeling that something is not quite right about this room might be about symmetry -- that two seriously large art pieces should be hung the same way when in the same room. Instead of hanging the abstract vertically, you should at least try it horizontally at eye level and see if that changes your "feel" of the room. Maybe swap the side of the room they're on, if need be, in order to accomplish this. ( Just thinking... with abstract, art, shouldn't the preference of the owner mean more than any supposed intent of the artist as to how it's hung.)

Thanks for the additional comments and suggestions. Definitely no art on the window wall, Grover :-)

Susan2494, I am actually thinking of replacing the existing plate with a new picture but I was thinking a single picture in a black frame. The chandelier is black and I feel like I need another black element in the room. I have a lot of brown and green. So instead of the plate, how about a picture with a black frame and white mat?

Thank you. I've decided that the room is too small for a rug. No issue with acoustics at all, I think the curtains are enough to take care of that.

New pictures:

I thought you just said no art on the window wall? LOL. The best way to draw attention is to put something there that no one likes :>)

Black would be good, but how about just some black metal sculpture

It looks good! A small rug or carpet would complete the look though!

Haha, I meant "no" to the other side of the window as someone suggested. I'll take the plate down and see if I like it better without anything. I may try a new picture or a metal sculpture.

That poor plate has been banished from the living room, now it's being kicked out from the dining room... We need to find a home for it :-)

i like the light fixture. its modern and traditional much like the room.

It would look good if you had a couple more to add to it. Plates are great in dining rooms. It is just lonely and wants company :>)

If you ban the plat from the window wall ... what next ... the hall?

Since the wall on the right is a more narrow space than the wall to the left of the window, why not just move the plate a bit to the left, leaving the same amount of space on each side of the window -- the plate would be more under the cased opening and you'd have more symmetry.

The plate on the wall is just a distraction. Unless there's something special about it, I'd banish it again. I like the window wall bare.

It was a gift and I like it but I don't have super strong feelings about it, so it may go...

The room could use another black element, though, and I don't know what it should be and where. The pictures don't show it well, but the chandelier is pure black while the curtain rod is dark brown (bronze?). The McKnight is framed in black so that works but I feel like I need another black element in place of the plate. Any suggestions?

I remember that plate!!
And once again, the plate isn't the problem. Having it sit all alone on a wall (where nothing is needed really) is the problem.

Next time, choose a better spot and give it some company:)

Too funny!! I just don't have any other plates that would go with it. And in any event, I'm not really into plate arrangements on the wall, so I don't even know why I keep on trying to use it... All right, it's coming down as soon as I get home tonight ;-)

But, please Houzzers, put your heads together and suggest something black.

I received a plate for wedding anniversary that I don't much like, but the thought at times has warmed me. Maybe if you 'swing with the idea' and buy another blending color and place somewhere anyway... heck will the décor police come if you place it over art somewhere?

Searched for black wall wine holder, and:

5 in. Wall Hook with Bottle Holders · More Info

Cyan Design Small Fresno Wall Wine Holder - 04902 · More Info

Black frame with mirror circles 27x27'

Just throwing out things that you might like. What about a metal sculpture? In black of course.

the window wall looks good just with the curtains, there are enough things in the space, let that space stay simple.

yes it looks great as is!

A great lesson in design learned: less is more! I have removed the plate as suggested by some of you and left the wall empty. And I have to say that after a week now with the empty space, it was the right decision. The room really doesn't need anything more.

I rather like the abstract painting, but the "cityscape" print doesn't help help the room. Since you already have a big work, consider a cluster of smaller pieces. Also, you may want to move your larger, more impactful or evocative art piece (the big abstract) to the wall where it will be facing you as you enter the room, in other words, the wall across from where it is now. The wall between the doorways should have smaller pieces that one would view closer-up, since it's an area where guests (or family) would be more likely to stand.

Since most of the architectural features in the room are vertical (doorways, windows) you should consider hanging the big abstract piece horizontally. Or if you know the artist, ask them what way it was meant to be hung.

Hi keenplanner, the wall with the abstract is actually the wall you first see given the traffic pattern in my place. The abstract can be hung either way but a horizontal position would require something underneath it to ground it and I really wanted to avoid that. Here is the inspiration for my room:

Grant Park · More Info

That's a cool spot to enjoy...