I definitely think that painting the furniture will help a lot. Painting the picture frame can help too

A window treatment to add color and pattern might liven things up!

Mirrors aren't that nice above mantlepieces, as they're so high they just reflect the ceiling (or, in my case, the cobwebs on the ceiling, ugh).

Try putting the mirror over the buffet, and no art above the fireplace, just a simple grouping of similar vases, or some other nice artistic thingy, on the mantle.

I like the painting, could it go somewhere else in your house? It doesn't really go with the rest of the style of your room, I feel. There is other red - the brick in the fireplace, but it's nqr with the painting, imo.

Don't paint the table and chairs! They fit with the style of the room, and that's a ton of endlessly monotonous and fiddly work.

Start by finding a new piece of art. The neutral buffet doesn't bother me. It just needs to be accessorized. You need to add some greenery. The buffet lamps are also night stand or end table lamps. Look for taller lamps with narrower shades. Consider adding fabric panels at each side of the window to bring in some softness. The photo of the red buffet is very nice. Buy window fabric and new art before re-painting the buffet.

I agree with Summery, the buffet is the perfect place for a large mirror. Try switching the art with the mirror over the mantle.

I forgot to say - putting the mirror over the buffet will reflect natural light more easily than having it over the fireplace, as well. Add some cheerful drapes (tricky, as it looks like you've got baseboard heaters?) in tones that become lively at night, and a bold tablecloth, and you'll be all set!

It looks as though you have been very thoughtful in your choices of furnishing in this lovely room. Since the buffet has already been painted, no harm, no foul in painting it again. I do love painted furniture (if it not a valuable antique.)

I think you do need to find a better place for the mirror and the art is not really the special piece that one would want in such a large dining room. Do try switching your art with the mirror to see if that helps any. I agree on going with taller thinner lamps instead of the ones you have now.

Can you install a drapery with your baseboard heat? If so, that will be a great addition to the room. Do you have an original piece of art that you would want to hang in this room? Also dressing this very large table with a long table runner with low floral arrangements will also add the newness you need.

You do not need a mirror above the buffet. You already have one above FP. An area rug and curtains will totally change the room. I would not paint the buffet unless you are confident, that is a nice piece and it is not bad enough to screw it up.

A new piece of art above it and some add'l color will help.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Patina-Light-Grey-Ivory-Cotton-Rug-10-x-14/9942376/product.html?TID=QV2:VIEWALLDETAILS

Bring in some pale blue for the curtains

Get a large decorative bowl for table center and 2 candleholders for each side, in Gray or blue and mercury glass then fill it with silver or blue spheres. You have a long table so 3 items down the center.

Are your chairs blue and white? They look gray and white to me. If they are gray, I would not paint the room white but maybe a color like Ben Moore Revere Pewter. It's a warm, beige you gray, and really looks pretty with a lot of different things. I would also do a chrome rod with charcoal gray drapery panels. Ditch the painting -- the colors are too strong -- neutralize the colors in the painting. Change the mirror to a chrome or mirrored frame to add a little more glam (like your chandelier) and ditch the lanterns for something lighter -- maybe white architectural finials - various sizes. For a table centerpiece, I'd do a large white, orchid -- simple but elegant! (Would love to see new flooring -- maybe a natural or frayed wood, with a large area rug under the table and chairs - don't skimp on the rug -- do one large enough to allow your dinner guests to back away from the table and stay on the rug. If flooring isn't an option, try a sea grass rug under the table to add texture. Hope this helps! Cathy Appleton, Appleton Interiors

BTW, you might want to consider refacing, painting, or white washing the brick on the fireplace, too! Cathy

Didn't realize until after my comment that your chandelier is bronze -- do a bronze rod instead to chrome. (Would have liked to have seen chrome fixtures -- they reflect light and brighten a room).

Thank you all for your comments! As for the buffet, I painted it, so not afraid to repaint if a lighter color would add more interest and lighten the room. Definitely would like a new picture, I just need help figuring out what colors would work in this space, since the colors in current picture don't seem to work. Have also thought about drapes, but wasn't sure what color, or if they should be solid or patterned. I've struggled with the rug dilemma. My table is quite large normally and extends another couple feet with the leaves. I don't think I could find a rug large enough to accommodate the table size.

Looking at your gorgeous room I see that there isn't a lot of contrast.

This is just an ideas but if I were you I would trying removing all items from the sideboard and then accessorizing it only with silver or all mercury glass. A silver framed traditional picture, possibly Andrew Wyeth nature scene in neutrals, white tall lamps with white shades, and a large silver or zinc bowl, soup tureen, etc, but big on the very large sideboard. If you like this neutral monochromatic scheme then move onto other areas of the room.....if not it is just a suggestion. I feel you are half way there with the charcoal, brown, cream scheme, but you need more of it and lots of sparkle; it is a really large room.

Bring in two large green plants in cream or zinc ceramic pots for either side of the sideboard. Or try silver/mercury glass. I suggest these two colors because that is what you have in the dining chairs.

If you like the look of silver zinc as an accent colors, then add more on to the fireplace area for accessories doing very large candle sticks, glass cyliners, etc

Hang stationary white heavy linen, or textured stationary panels outside of the baseboard heaters on a long black thick rod. Undersheers in a slight texture across the whole window could add softness.

Try a mirror as backing on the corner hutch and then just have one single large item on each shelf or fill wiht silver items for bling.

I would also consider a mini silvery, sparkle tile over the brick fireplace to modernize it.

This is gold but all shades of gold. Looks alot like you room

Possible table scape but again neutral and monochromatic but contrast

Perfect example of art with light background bringing light in room....if you cannot find large art use pairs or a trio or four in a grouping.

Again all the elements your room can hangle but large scale. I love your sideboard lamps in clear crystal but taller as shown in this picture or at least something taller that suggests crystal.

See above! This room has mirror framed like sideboard to make the piece seem all in one with larger art work in a pair on other wall.....you are looking for drama and contrast and WOW in the room I think?

Your room is beautiful and you have put in some lovely things! Keep going; again just an opinion. Try some ideas in small area like sideboard and see what you think?

Hi Carolins! LIke your ideas.

Red tends to fade to black in dark rooms. Try yellow.

I painted the sideboard and whitewashed the brick.

I love your room. Red drapes, yellow, green or blue will lighten & bright the room.

For your table size, you will most definitely have to have one custom made. If you're on a budget you can have carpet cut and bound to the size you need or you can have a rug custom made in hand knotted wool. Do you like traditional style rugs or more modern rugs?

Your art on above the buffet should not be as wide as the current image. I might consider a color instead of white for the buffet.

Wow. Thank you all for all your help! I really like the way the buffet looks painted in both pictures. How do you do that? What website are you using? BeverlyFLADeziner, I'm attaching another picture of my family room which can be seen from my dining room. The colors in there are green and navy, with a little bit of coral. Also has a lot of brick that matches the fireplace in the dining room. I have two end tables that are green. Knowing that, would you still choose green for the buffet or a different color. Maybe too much green?

I also really like that picture. Where is that from?

Here are three sources for the Monet image. Just depends on the size you require. I selected the green because I thought it complemented the art and green is pretty neutral. Don't be afraid to repeat a color in a room.

I just use Microsoft 'Paint' to make adjustments to the pictures.

[https://www.houzz.com/products/landscape-vetheuil-1879-canvas-art-by-claude-monet-prvw-vr~36256896[(https://www.houzz.com/products/landscape-vetheuil-1879-canvas-art-by-claude-monet-prvw-vr~36256896)

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Claude-Monet-Landscape-Vetheuil-1879-Canvas-Art/8002643/product.html?recset=c2bf7e41-06f8-4901-9851-9777604e914b&refccid=QGWHQO4BBWLJ3T2O3L3I7ZYHPM&recalg=828,512&recidx=2

http://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/landscape-vetheuil-1879-oil-on-canvas,bal177821/?s=YrJHbYd6k7zDSKhgpPME0Il06X8XoIi3gejPSJlmWTpsD2H42kWicwsZOKcaFF

If you paint the sideboard, the finish might be more interesting if it's heavily distressed. Here is the same art with two different color sideboards.

I was going to suggest adding some coral accents to your dining room even before I read that you have it in your living room. Coral is a happy color! I suggest a new piece of art with a light background and coral plus other colors in it (perhaps a bit of turquoise like in the last buffet above.) Then pull the coral and another color into your accessories. Nice work you've done thus far!