You could try a pale green matching one of the secondary colors in the area rug.

Blue, medium to a deep blue would look nice with the color of your furniture, then accessorize. Have fun with it.....if you don't like it , repainted it.

Depending on your budget of course - I would recommend putting in hardwood floors (medium warm brown), do not install wainscoting because it will not coordinate well with the style of your dining set, go for a monochromatic color scheme, new wall art. I will look for some images for you.

I cannot change the floors as it is travertine tile through out the house. however I am intrigued that you don't think wainscoting matches the decor. I'm rather relieved. should I remove the chair rail
I'm still lost on the color. I'm tending toward a pale green

ok then I might want to put in an area rug which almost meets the wall because I am having trouble with how the furniture color does not work well with the travertine color, am I seeing it accurately?

I was thinking that removing the chair rail would be a good idea too! It competes stylistically with your furniture. I hope you can.

Are you open to moving more to a contemporary look? I found a photo which is contemporary but ignore the furniture and just see if you can imagine the painting and wall color coordinating with your furniture. I think it would be a beautiful change.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-dining-room-contemporary-dining-room-new-york-phvw-vp~3425551

https://www.houzz.com/photos/back-bay-brownstone-traditional-dining-room-boston-phvw-vp~6630228

If you like certain elements in the photo, you can imitate them. :)

BM Bonsai

BM Oak Grove

oak grove

bonsai

I'm concerned with the wall correct and the furniture. I really want to tone it down
.

I like the idea of the olive color, but that paint change will probably make the rug not usable for the area. I would not consider blue, but browns would work in the area. Maybe eliminate the chair rail completely since the wall height in this room is not very high. The real issue in the room is the dining set finish......just not classic in finish or style.

definitely the furniture finish is my problem but I'm stuck with it so I am trying to work around that and the rug. sounds like brown tones the way to go??

Have you thought about going for a monochromatic look? Monochromatic is using same hues in same room - same color in different intensities. You can keep the drapes but change or remove the rug or replace it with a muted Aubussonif In same color scheme. Done right it is very beautiful and dramatic. Look here on this site for monochromatic looks to give you an idea.

The olive color is beautiful and it would not compete with the rug. The olive is more neutral than the brighter greens posted and the olive is more soothing to the eye. Your rug has acquired a patina over time and the once beige tones have brought out a nice olive tone. This is completely normal for oriental rugs and can even bring out some of the value. Some people will pay more for a patinated piece. I would go for the olive. If you choose a brighter green, you will love it but you'll get sick of it a lot faster and be in the same situation you are in now.

Are you keeping the rug and the artwork?

What color are the walls in your adjacent living room

Nature's Reflection more olive

Jade Romanesque

I hear you saying you are stuck with your dining room set. Been there done that. I couldn't get rid of everything like I wanted to so I was able to switch out my chairs and now I like my dining room better.

To my eye, the china cabinet is overbearing and dominating the room. If you were to lose it, you will be able to update the space with a monochromatic scheme, as suggested above, and simply window panels (no valance). The result would give a more modern and elegant feel to the entire space.

yes I will be keeping the art and the rug. the walls in the living room are a darker beige. I was thinking of doing something close to the color of the frame of the art work. here are some pictures of wall in adjacent room and frame. thank you everyone for the input. this is so very helpful.

Hi Nancy - from what I can see in the photos, the frames are a brushed silver, correct? If you place a frame standing up on a chair and let your eye see the wood of the table and chairs next to the silver frame, do you feel it coordinates well?

I'm thinking it really doesn't as one is warm and the other is cool. Also, if you paint the walls the same color as the frames, your frames will get lost visually.

I would try and select a warm beige tone for your walls. This will work because you are keeping your art and rug which add contrast and interest to the room.

Olive green as a paint color would not stand the test of time. I am a big fan of green but olive green I have found gets old quick. '16 color trends are the palette of your furniture so you would be right in style with a shade lighter or deeper than your furniture. Light shades open up the room. Dark colors seem to make the room look smaller. Your furniture are big pieces so the dark color walls will make the room seem heavy. If you want to add some wow to the room use art; e.g. Contemporary art or a sculpture but, I would keep the walls sift shades of white or light beige; otherwise, you will get tired of that color green and want to paint the walls again next year.

here is the frame next to furniture. I think it will work?? I am liking the idea of monochrome look light. the frame is not quite brushed silver more brushed something like gold....

Cosmopolitan

Yellow topaz Contrast with furniture and goes nicely with red and green in rug

I would consider wallpaper yes

and I am getting rid of the drape valance. can't do anything with that China cabinet tho. hopefully a lighter hue will give it a fresher cleaner look

Would you consider wallpaper :)

Yes i agree ...taking down valance and making walls lighter will really change the look of your dining room. I like your china cabinet :)

ok Nancy, now that we are friends, LOL, I am going to push you a bit. Why can't you lose the china cabinet? It dominates the room in a bad way, I dare say. Are you and your family willing to experiment, with a little bit of effort, to experiment? Meaning, I know you probably need it for storage,but try moving it to the garage? See if you can live with walking back and forth to the garage when you need to get a piece from it. Typically most of us use our formal dinnerware a few times a year. Is that worth forfeiting the pleasure of a more open space and a more pleasing decor in the dining room which you see every day? I know I am pushing you here, let me know your reaction. I appreciate how open you are to everyone's suggestions!

Lastly, thank you for the photo of the frames next to the furniture - however I still see silver in the frame more than gold!!!! You are seeing it in real life.

Ok I saw a photo with Benjamin Moore Victorian mauve, which is more gray, search for it on Houzz and you will see some gorgeous rooms, I think it will be THEE color for 2016.

yes visual that's a push! it's good China and good crystal that I've never actually used. my good Italian mother said I had to have this stuff and the bridal shower did the rest. 20 yrs later I take it out just to dust and clean. the silverware in the drawers I use as we have regular large family gatherings. I would not know where to put the fine China and crystal other than in storage. I thought everyone had China cabinets in their dining rooms. lol

Would you be willing to paint your chairs?

no

I love the color of your DR furniture and it gives you a lot of options for colors.

thank you Darla that makes me feel better because most of the pictures I see of dining room Furniture are of traditional wood hues

I would take down chair rail. Paint the room a few shades darker than the picture frame you were showing. That would give you a little contrast to your furniture.

One action that often helps make a new color decision easier is to prime over the dominant wall color with white primer. You'll have to prime anyway, might as well do it sooner rather than later.

I think what is limiting the color choices for this room is the rug. If you love, love, love it in this room, then keep it and go with a light golden tan or a light olive from its colors. But if you have another room for it, consider getting a new rug that picks up the colors from your two silver-framed art pieces.

I have both a small buffet and a smaller china cabinet in my DR area. Love them. Even tho I might only entertain for dinner 1 a month, I have several sets of china. (Actually sold 4 sets when I down sized a year ago). I also like the color of your set, very unique and pretty.

I like the darker colors in that area, gives it a warm cozy feeling. I would do a couple of things. Take down the small items on the wall and center your large pictures on that wall. Same with the wall right of the China. De-clutter your buffet. Really too busy. Take down the family picture and move to better area. Family room or bedroom. Perhaps invest in a new chandelier. Those small things will make a big difference in how the room looks. That lone plate on left of china, take it down. I like the paint color now, maybe after re-arranging the walls you might decide you are not tired of it after all.

I love a navy dining room with white wainscotting, I think they always look current yet classic.Navy dining room

Hi Nancy - well I hear you about our grandparents assuming we would love the family "heirlooms" - back in the day that was what was expected and done. I'd like to believe we have moved beyond that. We can honor our ancestors by pulling one or two pieces from the set, ones that actually give you JOY, and displaying them in a lovely, honoring manner. Consider using a serving platter from the set on occasion.

The problem I am having with this particular china cabinet is the scale. It is just too large and way too high for the room. It appears massive. You have not indicated that you actually NEED the function of a china cabinet. In my opinion, the benefits of removing it to get more space in your dining room, both visually and practically, far out weighs any functionality of this piece. It's been a trend for a while now to not have "sets" of furniture in any given room. More interesting to mix it up!

Really, don't decorate your dining area for what is the "trend". That will change in a couple of years. If you use the china, then keep the china.

How about a slate gray with blue undertones?

This would be stunning with your furniture IMHO.