I like your chairs. If you lift up the carpet and put down hardwood, is that area rug that we see in picture one, big enough to put under the table? it may not work but it's worth trying.

Are the drapes in the two rooms new or are they to be replaced as well.

The drapes in the DR need to go if I keep the chairs; they don't go at all. Would love suggestions! The red drapes in the LR I'm planning to keep for now. The area rug in the foyer I'd like to keep where it is, it's only 5x8 and not big enough to go under the DR table. I should have said, I'm a pretty big fan of that rug. The colors for the chairs and the family room were pulled from it. Thanks!

I also have a question for you-what definitely stays, besides the chairs? What definitely goes, besides the light and the carpet? What are you on a fence with?

What style of lighting you tend to like when you see it? You'll be limited in height and diameter of the fixture you'll pick of course..but other than that, there are many styles..I know because I loved so many of them it took me several months to decide what I just appreciate, and what I love to the point of commitment. Took me time even to decide whether I go with something more modern or more traditional. The choice is pretty amazing out there. Even when you're strongly limited by size, budget, etc.

Do you like color blocks or solids or patterns? Judging by the rest of furnishings, solid..but your rug throws me off a bit:)

If you like pattern -are you leaning more graphic? more fluid or floral?

(Oh, you started answering while I was writing..:)

Does the dining table stay?

I like the chairs and yes, that floral rug is throwing me off a bit too.

I'd like to keep the dining table, but I'm open to refinishing it in a different shade if that makes sense. I think I've been leaning towards solids with everything else because i don't know how to pick a pattern that goes with the floral rug.

For lights, I think I've been leaning towards a black/dark bronze light fixture that would go with the sconces you can see in the family room photo. Here are the sconces I already have: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/minka-knotted-iron-18-and-one-half-inch-high-wall-sconce__16845.html

And here's a light fixture I've been pondering:

http://www.lampsplus.com/products/airington-23-inch-wide-indian-scavo-glass-chandelier__3c046.html

But I don't know what kind of foyer light would also coordinate?

I didn't go too far..stayed on lampsplus site and went to check entryway light..

http://www.lampsplus.com/products/franklin-iron-works-alder-15-and-one-half-inch-wide-bronze-pendant-light__y2324.html

?

OK the table stays..do the buffet and the hutch?

(as for the pattern. as long as you keep to the same/similar colors-you can get away with amazing amount of different patterns. You don't have to. Not at all. It's a personal preference. But you can. Easily.)

The buffet is a good size and provides lots of needed storage. I'm not in love with it though, it could stay or go. The hutch I have been thinking about replacing with a built-in corner cabinet in that corner since there is not a lot of clearance around the table with the hutch there. Something like this maybe? (Not both, just one corner cabinet)

Built-Ins · More Info

I think your chandy selection and the foyer selection that aprilneverends showed are both very attractive and would work nicely in those areas.

Thanks! aprilneverends I really like that foyer light! My photoshop attempt:

Can you get another set of the red drapes for the dining room? It is hard to tell how the reds (curtains and chair) would match up, but it's something to consider.

The metal of those lights tie in with the small table in your living room and looks like also the curtain rods. If you can use the same curtains you would have a nice cohesive space.

For now just swap the green/red drapes. The art over the buffet needs something more. Possibly something tall on it. The style of the china cabinet doesn't work for me. It is too country and everything else has clean lines. I too like your chairs. The color pop is very warm and fun.

I like the idea of a corner cabinet, a lot. I must say I have nothing against the hutch too:) It just helps to understand the direction you'd rather take. I agree with arcy_gw..it is different in style from most of other furnishings..but then a rug can be interpreted in many ways, and the table works with it too, so..

OK..so the buffet..let's say it stays..at least until you see something else that you truly love..

I feel like it could benefit from bigger art, above it. As was suggested already I think. Something higher. And-you can put staff on it. You're much more "clean" type of person than me probably-I'd clutter 2/3 of the surfaces if not more with plants, books, ceramics, and whatnot. Not everybody would be happy with it. But you can put something outstanding, like, say, a lamp (useful too)..or a vase..or a flower pot with a flower..and it would be just this one or two things, but you-hopefully-would really like them, and the buffet would be happy with them too.

Or: you can put a tray on it, with some lovely dining-related thing.

I confess that I have a teapot on my coffee table just because I like it. Sometimes I put hydrangeas in it. When they're in bloom. Lol.

The collages that are above the buffet right now, will actually look great on the wall where the clock is now. It should be easy to find another spot for the clock-clocks are great in that regard:)

Curtains. Since it looks like you have your inspiration pattern already-the rug-you can start building upon it.

Or you can wait until the new flooring go in-and then decide.

I love fabrics, so I'm afraid to start giving suggestions too soon..:) It's easy to get carried away. I like your colors, it's fun and challenge to bring it all together, and curtains can become a huge opportunity not to be missed.

I've just only now spotted your cute dog, in one of the pics:)

Once you've replaced the carpet with hardwoods and selected a rug, I'd change out the draperies in both rooms and match the panels to a neutral (tan or sand color) in a new rug. Have you thought about putting bamboo shades on the DR windows instead of the sheers? It's something you could do now for a new look without breaking the bank.

I like the idea of a corner cabinet instead of the tall hutch. The existing hutch is the only big thing that seems off to me in the current room. And yes, I also agree with replacing the art over the buffet with a large piece of art instead of the 2 smaller pieces. You could put a couple of tall, slender buffet lamps on each end or use a some large pieces of pottery; maybe existing pitchers , vases, candlesticks that you already have. Or a long wooden bread bowl in the center. Anything that suits your taste could go there. A long runner on the table with a seasonal centerpiece of some sort would be fun. I think your table and chairs are very nice and your room will look great once you get started. Have fun with it and post your progress.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! One of the things I've been wanting to do to bring the house overall into this century is paint all of the trim white. What do you all think about painting the sideboard the sideboard white as well? As for the top of it, maybe a mirror like this? Or would that not go?

from this site: http://www.thecreativityexchange.com/2015/10/getting-creative-with-oversized-mirrors-and-diy-framework.html 

I worry with it being white, it's too different from other pieces in the room, yet still too popular a color to become this a bit outstanding, painted piece...

I think it would look great painted; but I wouldn't pick white. I'd pick a version of one of the primary colors, as in your rug/your chairs..

It can look smashing.

With white, I'm afraid there's more chance you'll have to refinish something else..like the table..and the table's got quite a character..do you want to refinish it? I'd be a bit protective over that table..

Or-the chairs' legs..but I feel they work well as they are now..

Would love to hear what others think too

Mirror-actually, mirror is always a great idea. As long as you like/don't mind whatever it reflects-a mirror would be pretty amazing there.

DR mirrors have been discussed here before. Most agree that a guest at the table doesn't like to look at themselves in a mirror while eating. I'd save a big mirror for your foyer. Or somewhere else in the DR where it doesn't reflect guests at the table.

I can see your point there. Maybe 3-4 of these instead? http://www.ballarddesigns.com/garden-district-mirrors/336689

I would choose a light weight, linen type fabric, in a simple print like blue on linen, not bold just simple. Then I would paint the buffet a blue or red that compliments your chairs and the beautiful blue rug. I would also be curious to see if that hutch can fit beside the doorway on the left. Part of the existing problem is that every piece is set at the same linear direction in the room.

Hi everyone, I thought you might like to see the (almost) end result! I still need to get the doors for the top of the corner cabinet made (or make them myself if Santa brings me a router!) but I am thrilled with the end result!

oh wow. wood floors! corner hutch!

did you dress the chairs for the holiday only, or is it new look?

The floors look GREAT! I really like the corner cabinet. Depending on what you will display in there, painting the inside the wall color or another accent color might work. And I'm also wondering, like April, whether or not those are the same chairs.

After I painted i realized that the yellow paint and my yellow-green chairs totally clashed. Then I wasn't sure I could duplicate the dye color of the blue chairs, and I had to have people sitting on something for Thanksgiving, so I went with the red. :-) Since they are just slipcovers at $9/chair from IKEA, I might change them out for something lighter in the spring and summer.

LOVE it! I'm a messy eater and not a fan of rugs under dining room tables. Why take out carpet and replace with a rug, that still has all the cleaning issues of carpet. I think the solid hardwood floor makes both your rug in the foyer pop and the cool table and chairs, and everything else! LOVE the hutch too! Also love the new light fixture, that was the direction I would have gone. Fab!

Right?? I have two little kids and we eat in this dining room quite a bit, so the rug was becoming a disaster. I am loving the wood floor!