The dining nook is nearly self-contained, in that the back wall ends at the kitchen and the left wall has a door in it - perhaps you could begin to give it more definition by painting those 2 walls a deeper shade of your wall color, an accent color, or wallpaper it. If you don't want a lot of contrast calling attention to the area above the door where there's no transition, then don't use an accent color, or, fill in above the archway with some moulding. Consider wallpaper available from several manufacturers that is patterned with the outline of trees. It would certain work with your light fixture and the deer/antler theme. You could even wrap the entire corner in a mural - gajillions to choose from online.

Re lorilori's post above, about wide stripes - you could paint the stripes around the entire dining corner (not sure if that's what she meant or not) but if you used 2 or 3 colors, but left one of the colors the current wall color, then you'd be able to leave the current wall color as the top stripe and not have a problem at the archway. I think the stripes would look great, and still allow for some carefully chosen artwork over time.

I'm having some trouble with your colors - it may be that my screen isn't showing your room accurately, but it looks like the walls and fireplace brick have some pink tones, as does the throw on the ottoman, whereas the rug and the brown of the sofa have golden undertones. That's a tough gap to bridge. There's a lot of talk about navy, but if you're keeping the brown sofa, I have to say, navy and brown just don't really like each other very much. I haven't read this whole thread, so if I'm missing something, please excuse. What about a cherry red? That can work with brown, and because it's a bluer red, it should look good with the greys in the brick and the pink undertones. You know, I had an upholstery fabric once that was so versatile - it worked in 3 different houses with different colors. It was an light (almost white) beige background with a wide golden beige stripe (like your sofa as it appears on my screen but much lighter) and a slightly narrower grey stripe. It also had a light blue stripe that was narrower still. Then it had a very narrow blood red stripe. It was a very loose, somewhat organic pattern, not regimental, exactly parallel stripes, and there was a lot of the background color showing. You mentioned your island color and I think it sounded like a lighter blue but I didn't see a pic of it. But I really think painting those colors on your dining nook walls, but letting the current wall color represent one of those colors (probably the gray) would tie everything together and then you could duplicate the colors in pillows on your sofa. What do you think?

You might check for art here: http://www.houzz.com/projects/1295077/art-original-abstract-paintings

Here are a few specific suggestions for the dining area. There are many more at the link above.

Wish I had done this! No way I'm going to be able to convince DH to take on any construction projects after literally just moving in. RATS!

PQ Arts, those are LOVELY! I wish you offered them in prints. I'm a cheapo when it comes to art. Shameful, I know.....

I love family heirlooms, so, of course, I would want you to keep your grandmother's buffet. You might dress it up with a navy scarf that would have the end corners folded to make a point at each end and have the ends drape over by about 10-12 inches. Then, you might want a matching tablecloth or runner for your dining table. However, for variety you might choose a navy-and-white star print. I also would suggest you make removable throw pillow covers in navy to tie the color scheme together. To make the dining nook stand out, you might add a white-painted chair rail around the room, paint the wall below the rail a neutral light blue and paint the wall above the rail navy. I agree with another poster that you might find two companion wall hangings or tapestries that have navy in them and display them on each wall of the dining nook. If you cannot find these, then large framed mirrors would look great on the upper walls. Your home has so much potential, and you have lovely furnishings already.

I'm surprised no one has suggested something as simple as painting your dining chairs. Such an easy infusion of color and I take it they weren't expensive. I'm going to assume their wood doesn't match the wood of the table so why not play with them?

To shiningautumn8, I almost spilled my coffee on myself when I read your comment about the cow pictures! That's hilarious and so true!

I think it needs a wood treatment to define the area. Some sort of wainscoting on those two walls. That, more than anything in my opinion, will make that area stand out.

Here is an example.....the walls are lighter but if you painted the walls darker than those in this picture the entire area would really stand out.....you could even incorporate a banquet, as I think someone else suggested.

Purchased a few pillows this weekend. Walmart had a surprisingly decent selection!

Will make or buy two or three plain navy pillows and a colorful throw.

As far as the dining nook wall, one of my gf's has used fabric stretched over canvas as "art." It looked fantastic in her home. Considering doing the same with this print.

It's a rather large repeat (18" horizontal, 25" vertical). Would look something similar to this, but you can bet I'd be matching the print much better than they did..... YIKES.

Thoughts??

ETA I like this one also:

Not keen on painting the walls or adding wood treatments at this time, though I really do love the idea of both. Like I mentioned, just finished construction, and we're not looking to do anything major at this point.

I'll keep my eyes open for a banquette/bench but prefer the ease of chairs to another big piece of furniture. Funny that you mentioned painting the chairs @blss! When I bought them from the seller, she almost stroked out when I told her I might paint them. "But these are quartersawn oak!!?" Won't lie, recovering the seats was enough work for me! HA

I could always repaint the buffet to something that POPS more. Hmm.....

I am so over benches at an eating table. No back support. If there are 3 people sitting on the bench, I feel sorry for the middle one that may have to leave the table. Everyone is disrupted. Meal time should also be relaxing not constantly adjusting yourself to be comfortable. Thanks, I have wanted to say this for a long time.

EBKGROUPLTD.com

Simply turn the table so that it is perpendicular & touches the wall so that all seating is accessible with scaled black mirror to suite and an interesting wall décor arrangement for the second wall. Don't forget the nice centerpiece!

The light fixture is a problem. Use it elsewhere. Add color, get a rug, artwork, then find a fixture that is lighter and makes a statement. Enjoy your new home!

Check out Ballard Designs' Coventry sectional banquette. It's available in several configurations and multiple fabric choices including Sunbrella fabrics which would be great for an eating area. This might offer you the look you are going for without installing a built-in corner banquette in your eating nook.

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/coventry-sectional-3a-corner-bench-2c-48-22-storage-bench-and-36-22-storage-bench/furniture/custom-upholstery/banquettes/238699

Hope you'll post photos as you go. I'd love to see both the "in progress" photos & the finished product!

Your living room and the furniture are enormous. It looks like you could push your couch in a little further towards the fireplace to free up a slightly larger walkway between the couch and dining area. The dining area needs to be a little bit bigger footprint just to match the massiveness of the living room space, so pulling the table out a bit my help. As already mentioned, a nice rug to define the space would be great and one large or two medium pictures on the larger dining room wall. also using a centerpiece with color that tie the living room and kitchen together, along with the paintings.

Haven't read all of the comments but I'd actually wallpaper the two walls. Maybe in a colours/pattern to complement the rug?

Might make the pendant light look less big..

I am in So. Ca. from a quick glance here is my two cents. The neutral colors with white accents are nice. They give a somewhat warm and formal feeling. I usually tell my clients when it comes to picking the finishes you can one of two basic ways.

If you go neutral you will need colorful accent pieces whether it be furniture or wall accents like paintings and other accent pieces. If you go down the color road ie; paint , tile, accent tiles etc. you can then tone down your color selections of paint, floor covering and furniture. You don't want everything competing with everything or it melds and nothing really becomes a focus.

I would get rid of the sectional with you walls and existing colors it just melds with the neutral earth tones you have. A perfect example of if your going neutral the furnishings should give the color.

I don't think florals are the right colors as some have suggested in this thread as that gives off a very feminine feeling , which is fine if that is what you are after. That said I feel it usually looks better to have a mix of masculine as well as feminine mixed in . Good luck you have an easy fix as many others have suggested .

It seems that the table is too tight to the corner/walls. I would pull it out, until it is 30" to 36" from the wall. You can relocate your light fixture quite easily with a hook installed in the ceiling over the new centre of the table (be sure to use a hollow wall hanger, or it could come crashing down).

Consider using an area rug beneath, but certainly add some bold art on at least the longer wall, and tie it together with a long table runner.

The dining area is begging for a couple of pieces of art (36"x36" or larger) or a large piece on one wall and a grouping of smaller pieces on the other wall. Pick a textured colour that works with the rug and put LINED floor-to-ceiling drapes on the window wall.

Start with a really cool chandelier and one oversize piece of art really large would you ever consider painting those chairs white would look good with the fabric you have on and I like the mixture of the wood table in the white chairs

Surprisingly, no one mentioned the very bad chi (energy) created by the direct line from the front door to the dining area. There either needs to be some nature of an energy 'stop' (a plant, an open freestanding shelf unit) so the front door energy is dissipated before smacks into your dinner guests. At the very least, no one should sit at the table with their back facing the home's front door. Otherwise love al the suggestions.

A chair rail/ picture ledge in the dining nook with a slightly deeper toned paint below would create a visually separate room. Placing interesting things on the ledges, alongside some taller artwork adds the cosy feel of a separate ding space as well.

You've got the dining table lined up with the longest part of the wall and it makes the space look cramped and smaller. Just because the wall is longer there doesn't mean you have to run the length of your table there. You could turn it so the long part is butted up to the longer wall like you have on the short wall so there is room to put a narrow console table on the short wall and hang a pretty mirror and sconces for soft lighting and to decorate with and also be used for serving at a dinner party. Then you could put a nice large or 2 large pics on the wall that's long and even your pretty fig leaf tree at the end of the wall. I would also consider replacing the light fixture. From the looks of the pics, you have a more rustic mountain lodge type of feel and not industrial. Are you trying to go more industrial or rustic? Pottery Barn style? I picture a pretty candelabra type fixture on the rustic side or more traditional. Either way they would look softer and a little more sophisticated.

You could also incorporate more softer colors besides navy. Like rusty reds or light blues or even some gold and green. Pull the colors from your rug in the living room. Pillow covers can be used in place of your sofa pillows to bring more color in the living room. You might also consider making your entryway wall a gallery wall with some darker colors to warm it up.

Natural wood tones and black frames (you can paint the white ones) and not just pictures but 3d art as well like plates, sculptures, small mirrors and metal letters would all look fantastic above the buffet which you can put a pretty runner on and add color there as well. I don't know if you like burlap but i could see a burlap and lace or ribbon runner on top of that stark white. : ) Family pictures can go down a hall wall and you can add little mirrors like self portraits when people walk down and gaze at pics...(do you get that?) It will mimic in a similar way the entry wall. I can go on and on : P but those are a few cheap ideas to start with that might make your home look a little more warm and inviting. Good luck and God Bless

Just need to define the space a bit. Rug is a must. Also wall coverings. Be it paintings photos or a collection of clocks etc define the room. I would avoid skulls bcz of the inference of knowing who ur eating lol.

Get rid of the stripe rug. The dining room needs a large, bright rug with coordinating table runner, large mirror(s) on the wall(s), and either re-upholster the chairs or get fabric chair covers in a bright color. The sofa needs bright pillows and lots of them, plus a bright throw or two to help brighten up the brown. Not a fan of the rug under the sofa - too big and dark - but if you get enough color and reflection into the room, it may even look great!

Thanks everyone! I purchased pillows, a new throw, and some plants. Haven't found anything for the walls yet unfortunately. I'll share a picture soon.

I'd like a rug for under the table, but I'm not sure a standard sized one will fit properly in the space. The "nook" is 8'1" by 6'4" and the table (without chairs) is 5' by 3'2". Seems like 5x8 rug would be the most appropriate but really too long and not wide enough.

I'd love to replace the sectional with a gray one. Alas, I don't have a money tree in the back yard. If only! Looking for small, inexpensive changes at this point.

EBK, I'll post a picture tonight after turning the table and pushing it against the long wall.

For a table that size, you really need a rug that's at least 7 x 9' which wouldn't fit in the nook. How about a table runner--sort of a rug on TOP of the table-- instead?

A rug that adds lots of color would make a big difference maybe start with that. Have you consider painting the one wall behind the table a color? I have not read all the posts to know what everyone has suggested.

I agree no rug, and yes a table runner could add some softness to the area. Another possibility would be to swap out two of the chairs for slipcovered chairs?

lots more bigger and more colorful art and pillows. possible a rug under dining room table. animal heads? really?

great inexpensive large rugs online at overstock.com.

I agree with karemore in that it sounds like you are reaching for too many different ideas in your art work. The taxidermy exists strongly here so tie it with perhaps natural art and or art that evokes ideas of streams, trees etc. Always give Etsy a try for such things also. Have fun!

I realize it's not much, but I like to think the pillows and plant add a lil' something! It's a slow process.....

Turned the table and appreciate how it feels less crowded. Seat backs to the door looks odd in pictures, but again, no one uses the front door. So I don't think it's as awful as some of you might think.

Abb, you and I are on the same wavelength as far as art themes. I've been looking at botanicals, trees, etc. Etsy is a time-suck, but a good one! Kinda like Houzz, huh? ;)

One more suggestion: A wide piece of art or collection of smaller

pieces above the living room window would really add some punch to that wall.

Some ideas.

I'm sure I'm not the only one to suggest this so I apologize in advance. But a beautiful but modern chandelier would be a great change for your dining nook, and some wall art or a tapestry. Best wishes to you!

Ha! Hadn't looked at transformation. Looks much better with table turned. The pillows and plant are nice color additions. Plants add a warmth to every room. Even if they are fake..They bring that natural positive presence to the room, even bathrooms lol The large gray dining light seems so cold. I like the table runner idea. A simple vase of flowers maybe to soften the lighting up maybe?

A little update :) Framed 3 prints of towns that mean something to us (Saratoga Springs, Annapolis, Estes Park). I think I'll look for some type of shelving for the other wall.

Pulled the rug out some more and relocated a step stool (that I will probably paint). Propped up a welcome sign I had... Jury's still out on whether it stays.

Looks dwarfed in these pictures, but I'm happy with the size

Looks really good - I don't think you need a shelf on the other wall. This corner has come together perfectly!

I'm not loving the Welcome sign in that spot, though...what about above the 3 pics that are above your sideboard by the front door? Not too high - maybe 10 - 12" above the photos?

Actually, maybe only 6" above...I'd have to be in the room to figure it out lol. But, if you think of it as a collage with the entire grouping reading as one from a distance, maybe that will help?

That's a thought Karemore! If I'm honest, I'm not a huge fan of the welcome sign in general. Feels pretty blah. I think I'll look around for something similarly shaped to put over the family pics or over the windows.

Love the table now turned!

Lol ascorsonelli - well, I'm not a big fan of them either, but there's a fine line between imposing your own tastes on someone, and pointing out form/function issues!

Your table looks great the way you've turned it in the corner. The light and the white framed photos all make sense. What about one more white framed photo on the wall where the table ends (instead of a shelf)? It would tie with the other walls. Your space is looking great!

ascorsonelli, the place is looking great. I really like the two groups of three white framed photos in the entry and the dining area. Please don't hang anything above the photos in the entry; that space is perfect as it is. Don't hang anything above the windows either. No need to take the eye up there. You can safely consign the Welcome sign to wherever it is you send mistakes to die. ;-)

You really don't need a rug in the dining area and one won't fit anyway. Maybe a blue centerpiece to echo the photos on the wall?

Love the gray walls, looking for a gray paint like this...color please?

Mimi, it's Sherwin Williams Crushed Ice. I've been happy with it (until someone pointed out the pink undertones. Now that's all I can see sometimes....)