You have created a lovely space. I like the openness.

I think that your painting would be enough for the dining area, but am interested to hear what others think.

I love what you've done! So chic and pretty. Although I like the painting, I wonder if it might be a little small. How about a large mirror instead?

Have you thought about adding a frame around the painting? It will give the painting more volume/size and provide some contrast between the painting and the wall. Alternatively, given the size of the wall, I do think the painting is a bit small for the space. Is there a complementary painting that you can put on the wall next to it?

What a tasteful and immaculately organized space! I think your canvas is perfect. I love how it repeats the color of your turquoise lamp to tie the living and dining areas together.

I like the mirror idea, and was going to do that but haven't found any i like. Was thinking something with some sparkle to glam it up a bit. Also that little white unit is smaller than the length of most mirrors and i dont think mirrors should overhang the unit, no? it is a sofa table so what should i expect, lol. It's just "there" now...not sure what else to put there given the narrow space. Grand plans were some sort of built in look, but not in the cards right now.

Anyway, i bought the picture knowing it was too small and considered returning it or putting it in my hallway. I was hoping for suggestions on what i could perhaps put next to it? Would i put more canvas art, like 2 6x8 or similiar? how matchy matchy should it be?
Alternately, if i put the picture above the white sofa table, what can i hang to the left of it (over dog bowl area)? Photo frames, canvas, a mirror grouping?? thx!

also, thank you for all the wonderful comments. it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy :-)

You could re-purpose the wall as suggested in the inspiration photo and still keep your art by positioning to the left. Hope this can give you some ideas.

i can do a custom painting or art set for you with specific colors and within your budget. As an artist i always tell my clients it does not have to match exactly, but to accent. I specialize in contemporary and abstracts, here's some ideas if you have time to look:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/holly-anderson.html

Great space! I love the cozzy feel of the living room. I agree with tennisanyone's comment about the length of the console in the dining room and the other comments about getting a mirror instead of the canvas. I think you are going with the canvas to tie in the aqua? If so, you can do that with aqua placemats or vases either on the dining table or longer console. I have a similar open space (and color palatte) and I have FLOR tile squares as a rug under my dining room table to tie in the aqua (great for babies and messes since you can replace individual tiles). This is the color, which is darker in person. http://www.flor.com/made-you-look-light-blue.html

Thanks for the suggestions! anne dee, i have seen that idea before and thought of shelving prior to the canvas purchase. could use both and store extra barware, which would be helpful! (if hubby goes for exposed dishware/"clutter").

acharney, i bought the pic because i liked it. i am drawn to aqua and pink for whatever reason, if it's not obvious, and felt the urge to buy :-) As long as things look like they belong i'm not too fussy about the blue. it just tends to end up that way :-)

2 questions based on suggestions - what size mirror? the length of the kitchen table? (which would then mean a new sideboard/console) . Even if this happened, and i had let's say 3x6 mirror there, there is still so much space to the left and right (b/w dining/living). Do you think that would look too empty still?

I know this isn't helping with your question but I love that gray? Can you tell me the color?

haha, it is Behr Ashes. It was my 12th sample! thank god that agony is over!

You can always move the console from the LR into the DR just trying it for size and then painting it a fun aqua color for either space.

It's awful I hate choosing colors I'm at 6 sample colors so far.... Thank you! You probably just saved me 6 other sample colors!

i had the console originally behind the couch in LR and the expedit in the dining room. I recently switched them to accomadate the # of toys that landed upstairs and hide them behind the couch instead of in the DR. May just have to get a new unit...eventually.

I like tennisanyone's idea. The credenza/console in the dining room painted blue, or silver, could handle things. Add a couple of lamps as cool as the blue one to fill the wall space visually.

Great job with your art work girl! The dining room is crying for the credenza and the living room suffers from overload. Lose the coffee table and flank the sofa with two chairs facing each other on each end of the sofa. Then you have a conversation group and the focal remains the wall with the art and carefully placed TV. As for dining: Put a larger top on your double pedestal bases which allow for more chairs and the empty wall will benefit from mirror if it reflects something pleasing. Since the kitchen would not be the reflection of choice I would go for a mirror with mercury glass or some texture which somewhat muddles the reflection. We also suggest a trip tick which is a large piece of art separated into three sections framed individually. It will not mimic the collage wall in the living room even though it has multiple parts because it is one image. Good luck from The Silky Way, Cincinnati, Ohio

If you really want to use the painting, just add to it since it is rather small for that space. I like the idea of shelves. stager them on both sides.

oh you were saying move the console under the tv into the dining, i thought you were talking about the current expedit shelving behind the couch. i couldn't bring myself to paint that - it's teak. there's no way i'm going to possibly ruin it - plus its actually a dresser and dont think it would work in the dining room. We need something under the tv to handle the tv accessories.

the coffee table is too big i know- i sent my hubby to ikea based on pic and he didnt want to drive back after we put it together. so - it is there for now. i want a lucite waterfall table or possibly a set of 3 small tables but havent found anything yet in my price range that works. i dont see how the room could handle MORE chairs though, unless i'm missing something. I like this from eq3, but its too much right now: http://www.eq3.com/ca/en/p27036/scout-functional-coffee-table

i have also seen some sideboards that are white with mirror reflective doors/drawers - do you think that would work?

You can get large sideboards like the blue one previously posted by Decoenthusiaste very inexpensively on Ebay if you're willing to paint them. There's one very similar in size and pattern to the blue one right now which is gold (I know, wrong color) that is only about $700. Just google credenza or sideboard on Ebay and see what you come up with.

I also think a mirrored sideboard would be great and would add some bling to the dining area. Agree with everybody else that the current table is way too small and that the art, which I like a lot, is also too small for the space.

OK if you don't want to paint it because it is teak, take the measurement and use that measurement for the dining room just holding the tape measure and you will notice that the white piece is too small. I would not do open shelves in your dining room. It will look too busy. Stick with something closed like deco's picture. That is what I had in mind or something taller to fill the space. I don't think I would hang a mirror in the DR either. What would it reflect, the kitchen, not my first choice.

i guess that's why sofa tables don't belong in dining rooms :-P yeah i knew it was small and my coffee table too big - *sigh*. i was hoping there was a cheap solution, lol. We're doing a lot of exterior work this year and dont have a lot of cash for more furniture. i'll keep my eye on Kijiji and thrift markets and see if anything works. Do you think if it was the same width/height as the coffee table but with doors it would look substantial enough or would you go low and lean like the credenza under tv?

I love what you have done with the living room. The frame collection over and around the tv is great. A few suggestions in response to your query. Would you consider a tall plant (if the light is not good enought perhaps an artificial one) in between both rooms. It will help with balancing the height of the frame arrangement. The painting in the dining room is lovely. You've bridged the colours well but it is too small. If you wish to keep the painting consider setting is on top of a larger coloured board. Hope I can explain this so it makes sense. There are many ways to do this. Here is one example. Figure out how much space you wish the painting to take up on the wall. Purchase a thin canvas or board that is this size and paint it in a colour that compliements the painting (maybe pull the pink in) then hang the painting on top of the coloured board/canvas. The larger coloured background, when you chose the right colour, will make the painting pop, and you can size the board so that the scale of both pieces is in better proportion with the wall and what you have done in the living room. You can also paint a square directly on the wall in this background colour. Exact dimensions are hard for me to determine from the photo but you can play around with sizes by using painters tape.

Dressers are often substituted for credenzas, so hit yard sales and 2nd hand shops. You can always add your own legs to raise on up to the level you need. You can paint it without remorse.

I have seen a few dressers i like that i could use. Alternately, what you guys think of 3 of these in a row? They are only 11" deep so work well for the narrow space. 3 across would extend about a foot on either side of the kitchen table.

http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/S29885368/#/S69885366

I would go with something like the picture that is tall rather then lower now that I see the LR console again. Measure three out with painters tape first and then take a picture. Odd numbers look better. What started out as a picture question is now turning into buying new furniture but I think in the long run, you will be happier because you will pick up more storage.

thanks tennisanyone. i was thinking of doing something like this before anyway and i think it may look better than 2 varying height consoles. we also have a white shaker kitchen, so it should tie in nicely i hope...and there is nothing better than more storage :-)

if you are thinking of a new piece of furniture on that wall be careful you don't wind up with a 20-22" deep dresser to repurpose. You don't have room for something that deep. The 11" deep cabinets are in proportion but will wind up with another collection inside which might get too busy. Also you don't want to look for a piece coffee table height which is 18-19" but rather something sofa table height or more. We carry a number of shallow consoles in our store. They are becoming more popular as people downsize. I have a "buffet 13" deep and 67" long with three doors and 3 drawers and if I knew how to post photos I would SilkySally Cincinnati, Ohio

yeah, i wouldnt do more than 16-17" which is what i currently have or else there isn't enough space for the chair - same reason i can't extend to a larger table - can't open the french door as it comes in to the house. I like the idea of the bookcases. i have enough white dishes and glassware that i could move in which would keep it clean. The organized clutter can than be stored below and i have open shelves in the kitchen for more food or small appliances. blah blah, anyway, thanks again everyone!

Sometimes what you think the problem is, IS NOT the problem. Glad we solved it. More storage in your place will be a good thing overall and then we will help you find a place for that nice piece of art. :) Good Luck. Keep us posted.