Ps I agree with everything azotova said :)

I am also surprised that there are so many posts on this. If the room is so great why do much activity? I'm not bullying , just trying to make this space more inviting and comfortable.

She didn't ask for help changing what she did already. She is happy with it. She was just asking for a confirmation on the last thing she should do in this room. Pretty much like a vote, whether she should do a credenza, an art or a rug.

Quality of comments over quantity of comments Susan. I know you can do better. I seen your constructive comments before. I know you can do it.

Shawn this room is SPECTACULAR! If you like this lamp, leave it! It's big, unique and just perfect for this space. I LOVE the bench here too. I think it looks better than having chairs that are too matchy. And like Azotova said, you can always put a cushion on the bench & make it more comfortable. All I would add here is a nice, big painting, canvas or tapestry on the far wall and you're done! And I agree with you, the fig tree might be a bit too big for this space- perhaps you can rotate it so that the shortest branches face the bench? Give it a haircut, maybe? Or just leave it there...Enjoy your space...IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

Far be it from me to interject my own preference. I am just trying to make her space a little more inviting. There is no warmth and inviting to any aspect in this room

All who have commented are in agreement that this space is cold and needs help.

With such a fabulous live table top it's impossible for this room to feel uninviting. It is perfectly delightful, just my humble opinion. Happy New Year everyone!

I love your room! I have a similar table, and it can be hard to decorate around, because you don't want to take too much attention away from the table. Keep the pendant, no rug, no bench, a large abstract painting, and for now, move the tree. In a few months, it will be taller, you can prune the lower branches, and bring it back. In the mean time, get a couple of board mounted stag horn ferns, they are very sculptural, and hang them on the wall, where the fiddlehead is now. Apartment Therapy has a great post on using these as decor. They take little care and grow well. Need to spray with water for humidity.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/A9NDggAQAI4ByiUFcnMAAAA/

The room looks great without you having to spend another dime on furniture. The photo angle suggests something could go on the wall but there is no rule there has to be. Those who don't like it should post a picture of there dining room. You would likely find a huge difference in styles.

And Shawn, I just had a thought. What if you hand a large quilt on that wall? Something colorful, but soft as well? The softness will help with acoustics (high ceiling rooms get echo-y).

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/A1mSbgAQANkAjkDjnMoAAAA/

Your room is divine. Losing the bench for more chairs will help and I would change the light fixture to something larger and softer looking. The right light fixture can really set the tone for the room. Something a little organic as well, maybe in fabric. Art is optional, it isnt desperately needed. Maybe another plant.

Love the table and chairs but agree with everyone who recommended nixing the bench in favor of more chairs.

The light, if you like it, is perfectly fine. I think in a tall room like yours, you need a fixture that concentrates the light on the table instead of dispersing it all over the room and your fixture does that exactly. Any of the fixtures recommended by other posters, while nice looking, will create terrible quality of light in your room.

I would put a large piece of art on the far wall. Something like this (from Pier 1 - 36"x55" - not sure if it is large enough):

No rug if your table goes all the way to the wall (and I don't think it's necessary either). Also, please no tablescapes or runners on that beautiful table!

If the HO is happy with that area, is really what is important. If they live with that every day and they are in love with it, Who really cares what an occasicsial guest thinks

@dallas, you asked for photos of our dining rooms, here goes.

Our dining room looks bigger than the OP 's space. Our live edge cherry table is smaller. We used black Windsor chairs. The bookcase is reclaimed wood and black iron. The wall color is Behr Rhino. The art is from my husband's photos, that we had enlarged and divided into a triptych. The room faces north, and is dark, so we decided to play that up, with the dark paint. We are very happy with this room. Is it to everyone's taste? Of course not. Do we care? Of course not. We all need to develop confidence in our choices, and stop seeking outside validation for what we love. OP has a beautiful room! I believe that art would kick it up a level.

Your husband built a beautiful bench! I agree with other posters that chairs would be more comfortable at the table, and I hope that you will find another place in your home for the bench.

Floor and table are great. I would consider an old map or some type of large historic print from the area. Something to fill some space but not over take the room.

Gorgeous room. Beautiful in it's simplicity.

There is a lot of activity on this because we are all attracted to this space. Beautiful room and I would love to be invited to dinner here. I'd go home inspired.

I, too, love the space. Whether you do chairs or keep the bench, the tree needs to go somewhere else. It encroaches a bit too much.

If the table is 10' long, I'm thinking you might do two pendants instead of one.

And something--art or something more organic--on the wall at the end. I have an idea for that. I will hang it and return in a bit.

I'd love to be invited for dinner here too. But dibs on a chair!!!!!
- i.e. ditch the bench :)

I really love this room! I would prefer all chairs to the bench, but no biggy. I do think big art/tapestry/African basket collection or something on the end wall would be fantastic. Looking forward to seeing what Grover comes back with for that wall.

What a beautiful space! I like the whole picture, bench and all! If you're thinking about changing the light, hanging two pendants might be a good idea (I was thinking the same thing), but if you stick to one, what about this one? It will give a softer overall look.

I really would forego a rug and I don't see the need for a credenza as a space filler. Big art is always a good thing though. :)

Good luck!

Oh yeah, no rug. It would just be wrong all the way around.

And Ann, I'm surprised you didn't guess what I would choose for this wall. ;-)

Oh my gosh, that's wonderful Grover. And I'm still loving my kind of new Kuba cloth:)

The plant Grover put in looks like a Dracaena. I have a large one of those in my dining room and I like that plant a lot!

This room is stunning. Try adding a piece of art and a large bowl (s) on the table and you're done.

This chandelier is something like 40" long and not terribly pricey. It's red oak veneer and would add some warmth to the space.

Omg.....what I gorgeous space! When I first clicked on this thread, I actually thought this was going to be a "photo" question vs. a "design dilemma".

You're on your way to an even more fabulous space with some of the suggestions posted here.

Wow Grover, just when I think this room can't get more perfect than it already is, you come up with this...the Kuba skirt on the wall and the dracaena look so good (the first picture) .....I'm speechless! I'm drooling over this room!

How about a Morrocan Wedding blanket on the wall? More minimalistic look. Not much color, just texture.

Dracena is a nice sub for the fig!

Thank you so so so much for all of the inspiration! It sure does help to have input on the space. We have been here for only a year and a half, but most of it was used gutting the place. I lived without floors for a year lol. So it sure is exciting just to be able to eat somewhere other than the floor or boxes. The live edge slab we bought in Auburn, CA. I brought it home and sanded it. The underside I treated with poly. The top is not treated because I didn't want to change the light color (even bees wax changed it too dark when tested on the underside. The legs for the table we had hand forged in Portland. Then we just assembled the legs. We try to do most of the work ourselves or at least what we are capable of. West Coast Modern style is what we love, bringing the outdoors inside. but we also love mid century and industrial, which tend to also filter through our choices. It ends up balancing somewhere in between.

My husband makes lights ( alot of industrial lights you see, including the brass pipe etc) but he didn't make the light over the table. The light over the table came from an old stadium and my husband purchased a few from the park and rec department. I painted it a satin black and had him rewire it with a twisted black cord.

I loved everyone's ideas for the wall! An old map was a great idea, maybe even get it printed on really large paper and do the whole wall in a black and white engineer print. I've seen restaurants do this for wall paper on one or two walls (usually a landscape or something simple) and it provides a modern and instant cool factor.

The hanging of organic material on the wall is right up my ally. I love anything textured and organic. I grew up in a small beach town where everything was organic and repurposed finds.

I'll skip the rug idea under the table.

I love the fiddle fig tree, it will grow taller and then be out of the way. But until it does grow I'll probably have to move it depending on the space after I can afford more chairs. I enjoyed seeing the yucca type tree that Grover placed in the photo, thank you for your time and thoughtfulness! So that is a great idea that I might play with.

Everyone had wonderful insight and direction. I have pretty thick skin and an open mind. I really do understand that our style is not for everyone. I would agree that the space is not finished, but happy to be this far along. I look forward to playing with all of the options and ideas. Thank you again and have a wonderful 2016! Happy New Year!

Same to you Shawn. If you ever feel like posting other areas of your home, I'd love to see what you've done. Your style is super appealing to me!

I love it just as it is too, and though the bench is probably not as comfortable as the chairs, I like the asymmetry and think it gives the room interest. That fiddle fig is fabulous and spot on for a West Coast minimalist space. Your light fixture is just right too.

Frankly, I wouldn't add or make changes to this space unless I found there were problems with function - it's lovely.

I Love your existing light. If you make too many changes you will lose the minimalist look that everyone is loving. Could you put your existing tree on a pedestal until it grows. Maybe hubby could make something?

Kind of digging these, maybe they will help?

I agree, although Groverax rendition is beautiful, it is a departure from the minimalist, modern look. The rendition is more of a contemporary take on modern look.

I hope your last comment wasn't a goodbye. Please post updated pics to show us what you end up doing. Would love to see what you guys decided to do. Happy New Year! :)

I have always thought that a light in the dining area should light the table & it's hard to find them w/o going really blitzy, which I don't like. No rug is needed & I love, love, love the idea of using a very long map. This is one of the most interesting thing for me to look at. They take me away to new & exciting places.

You have excellant taste & how lucky to have taste similar to the hubby's.

Love the look in your room! But yes chairs are much better for sitting and eating and entertaining! Here is a pic with colorful chairs, lighting small pendant idea and large photos for graphic effect that could add impact to the room.

Shawn, I live not far from Auburn CA. Can you say where you got the table? I may have to check the location for a live edge coffee table. :)

Darzy, here is the link to the company.

http://www.californiahardwood.com/

I highly recommend going there and walking around, its really fun! They have a huge yard full of different wood. I saw a tree with the width taller than me. The wood is from blown down trees etc.

Your style reminds me of bluebird from Instagram. Maybe you should try a piece of artwork similar to this...

Can't go wrong with Bob. Maybe also add a fur throw on the bench to add a touch of texture. When in doubt add texture. I connect with your style and am a bit jealous of that gorgeous table!

I read some of the comments regarding the bench, which I love! I'm normally one for balance and such but the bench adds the perfect touch of asymmetry. I think another row of those *gorgeous* chairs would be too much of a good thing, especially since your table is so expansive.

Thanks Shawn for the link. I'll definitely give them a visit.

Love, love, love the room!

I love this room. Don't change the light fixture it's perfect. I think the wall will look great with a picture or how about a large clock. Just a thought.

I Love your space and your style! whatever you do with people's suggestions make sure you follow your instincts. you and your hubby clearly know what you're doing. I agree no rug only huge piece of art need. I think a giant portrait of some sort would look super cool but like the wall hanging idea others have proposed as well.

OLD DISCUSSION