The room is currently
a hodge-podge room:

- kids’
TV room

- DH’s
computer (he likes to use the desktop while watching late night TV)

- Breakfast
table (where we eat all meals; we don’t have another space for eating, except
for a 2-seat peninsula in the kitchen)

- Dog’s
playroom

We have a separate
family/TV room that also has the Mac desktop, and dog’s bed/crate.

This Thanksgiving, we
had 4 people over, and we ate at a fold-up table, when I have this great large
space for a dining room.

So I’m taking it
back!!!

The house is a 4 room colonial, with an attached family room, and attached garage. All 4 rooms are separated, so I don’t really have to worry about the flow/color from other rooms.

The intended dining room is 12’x22’.

The foyer in front of the stairs (going up) is 4.5’x6’.

I already own and plan
to use:

- Crystal/gold
chandelier

- Large gold
mirror (may stand it up or hang sideways)

- Large
old wooden table, extends up to 12’; will use white tablecloth

- 6 plain cherry
chairs (will re-upholster the seats once I choose a color/pattern)

- would
like to use my silk goldish/khaki drapes with cherry curtain rods, but my
friend thinks it doesn’t fit. Problem is: that’s another thing I need to
choose

The room is
North-facing, so it’s currently feeling dark and dingy.

So my inspiration
pictures are all fresh and crisp and airy.

A gold version of
this:

http://kelleynan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Formal-Dining-Room-with-Ikea-Ritva-Curtains-and-Crystal-Chandelier.jpg

Problem is that I
don’t have high ceiling nor all that molding; I just have a chair rail.

http://www.freshdesignpedia.com/wp-content/uploads/45-stunning-french-dining-room-designs/french-dining-room-design-original-mirror-large.jpg

Here’s my poor mock-up:

Better view of the rug:

http://centsationalgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/blue-and-white-living-room.jpg

Captains chairs I’m
planning on getting (great deal from neighbor)

https://secure.img.wfcdn.com/lf/49/hash/15749/17316185/1/Orient-Express-Furniture-Villa-Avenue-Side-Chair.jpg

What I own:

My crystal gold
chandelier:

I also like the gray
wall color.

https://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/15782136_699998230177802_1235874421_n.jpg?oh=c5df084ed2932cb9be9d80bebf2c9ff2&oe=586A9FE8

My 6 generic cherry chairs:

http://www.z-furniture.com/uploads/2/5/0/9/25095457/5951775_orig.jpg

Once we settle on the dinginroom, I'll focus on the adjoining foyer.

Thank you very much for all inputs.

(Houzz wouldn't let me fit it all into 1 post, so I had to break it up).

Amanda (huango)

When you said "captain's chairs", I was picturing this

Then I saw your picture and I think they are lovely and will work well. I can't imagine why they are being called "captain's chairs" as they bear ZERO resemblance to what one thinks of when using this term.

That is what I thought were true Captains Chairs, too. Not sure why OP called hers captains chairs.

I love your selections. The thing that throws me is the rug. It is lovely on its own, but that looks like a lot of blue with no contrast. Maybe something with some beige in it?

I thought dining room captains chairs were end chairs that were different from the rest of the DR chairs.

Sorry to confuse everyone.

--

I want distinguished end chairs to function as strong accessories, since my room is rather plain.

author loves her captains chairs

aktillery9: what do you think of this rug?

Also helpful in hiding any stains (since it is a DR).

---

I had chosen this rug before, but I just wasn't loving it.

But it looks pretty good in the blog above (see link in my above post).

I think the end chairs are often called "hosts" chairs as that is where the man and wife typically sit at a table.

I like the second rug. I liked the first one but really like the second.

I definitely prefer the second to the first rug. I really like the rug local eater posted too. I think you might like to have at least a third color to give the room something that has a little contrast. This photo from Houzz is not exact by any means but it does remind me of your dining room. They have a colorful rug. It might be a little too colorful for your room, but this is what I meant. I think the rug above would do something similar for your room but would look even better than the one is this photo. Also, I like your captain chairs much more than the plain white ones in the photo.

Buckhead · More Info

Thank you so much! All your inputs are making me push beyond my (plain) comfort zone.

--

So I'm loving blog Sugarplum's BRIGHT dining room and living room.

Since I'm too chicken to put bold wall paper up, what about a colorful rug?

From there, I can pull out coordinating colors, for my upholstered seats, etc.

--

Inspiration Sugarplum DR: I mean the feeling, not the exact items:

Updated mock-up w/ colorful rug:

What do you think of this scheme?

I'm loving all the color.

(But I feel like I'm moving too far from the starting inspiration).

I'm thinking of getting those same blue chairs:

And I already own similar blue drapes that I can use

(was in my familyroom, before we adopted our dog, but this is where she sticks her messy nose to look out the 3-glass doors/slider to backyard, so I removed the drapes).

--

While the DR aktillery9 posted is beautiful, I feel like it's is unfinished, lacking personality.

That's what I'm concerned about my DR, once I'm "done".

Thanks,

Amanda

localeater, can you link to the rug you posted? :)

Linelle,

This is the rug I posted http://www.rugs-direct.com/Details/Origins-Sheridan-Hendry/122801/197469 

It's about $100 more today, than it was yesterday.

huango, maybe there is a compromise between more color and your original clean, light inspiration.

Perhaps a rug with color and a light background, like this

I also think that if you want to keep it light, the blue drapes might be too dark

I love the more colorful rug and navy chairs and curtains!

If you want the "feel" of your second inspiration photo, go with the gold curtains, navy end chairs and maybe punch up the wall color.

Localeater: I like that blue rug.

But sadly, it and Many rugs are not made larger than 8x10.