Love your subject! Got my attention!

I think the paint job looks really nice.

Do you have any artwork you can move into the dining room to give it a little more life?

I actually love the color. I'd brighten with paintings or a tapestry, and change the white lace tablecloth for either nothing or a runner with color.

I personally like it a lot and think it looks amazing with your molding. I notice the dark mirror and the dark art on the wall...what if you lighten it up a bit?

I have white drapes and a white/grey canvas on the window wall. The chandelier is new and I was trying to lighten the look even though it's quite "bling y" . Can you see the white French doors?

It's almost like a different world in there. More formal. It was my Victoriana room (hence the former dusty rose paint job) but now I think it should flow better with the country casual rustic farmhouse costal transitional I have no clue what I'm doing style of the house. :)

Melissa, I took off the tablecloth just for you but feel that it helps lighten the room (and covers the true to life distressed finish of this family table!)

I love the apt usage of 'hysterical'. I like the details of the table. How about a light color runner instead of full tablecloth? The paint is pretty, but feels a little cool compared to the rest of the home (could be a difference in lighting). If you want to keep to grey, perhaps SW Agreeable Grey is a bit warmer.

Yes it is definitely cooler than the open great room beside it and this makes it look gloomy I think.

I like it without the runner! Thank you!

Think about changing out the chairs, removing the tablecloth and adding a nice rug which brings in the colors from the other rooms. I would also add some artwork with color and bring in a bigger and lighter colored mirror.

Peggy, those chairs were an attempt to modernize the look. Before that I had country style press backs in the same tone as the table. I think I made a mistake but what do you suggest?

Maureen, what happened to your comment? I received a notification and would like to see the whole thing.

My decor style has always been a country style - lots of pine furniture. White beadboard. Wood floors. A bit of Victoriana. Candles and wreaths. I've been decorating my own spaces since the 80s! My favourite magazines were Country Living, Victoria and Century Home.

I am trying to update the look without painting all my furniture. Especially since I stripped some of it when the last painted furniture trend disappeared.

I dont have any geese accessories or dried flowers

I'm off topic from the grey dining room but just wanted to explain why I'm struggling a bit in decor land. There are a lot of looks that I like. I guess I'm eclectic.

I deleted my original comments, as I edited them and wanted you to see the additions. Hope you got a second entry, as I really think the ideas may work for you.

I'm not seeing an edited comment either.

Trying again.

Before considering repainting again...I would keep the paint color, remove the tablecloth and add a lovely centerpiece. Remove frames from sideboard and add candlesticks, a tray, etc. Reconsider your wall pieces, adding larger and style appropriate items. You could slipcover your chairs (could add a sisal rug) and you'll end up with an elegant farmhouse feel. Look at lots of inspiration pictures to get a feel re: accessorizing - Pinterest is a great resource.

I have a country / vintage feel to my colonial home and like creams or creams with a touch of beige - just enough to set off my white trim. If you want something that leans a bit gray, BM Maritime White has a touch of gray in this pic - at least on my computer monitor - and monitors are poor at reproducing color.

I think it looks pretty with the warm wood tones, and usually gray does not work well with warm wood - especially cool grays.

In my own home I have Valspar Savory Beige.

Here it is in the kitchen and you can see a bit of the dining room.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784291

Looking into the family room - same color:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~93784236

Thanks for the recommendation. I do like highlighting the crisp white trim.

i wonder if Just painting the room mocha cream will give it contrast due to the different natural light in the room?

I would go with a painted finish on the chairs--white or cream --with a fabric covered seat. The end chairs can be different from the side chairs

Could you post an example?

I have these chairs and have thought about painting them.

Or of doing slipcovers for the black chairs.

This is a pretty room

Consider a pale yellow for paint color in your dining room.

Why yellow?

Nan-nan, I love the colour in your inspiration "pretty room". It's fresh and pretty. I'm not a fan of the current grey.

When I saw your mirror, I thought of this dining room:

The color here is SW Sea Salt which reads blue or green or gray depending on the lighting. The wainscot in this dining room helps it stay light despite a wall color that can read gray. I am not fond of gray myself, but find that when it works for me, it is combined with a lot of white. This color may be a warmer color then the present gray and reminds me of your pic above.

The BM Mocha Cream is also pretty and definitely warm. On my computer it looks a tad darker than mine which changes from light to dark as they day goes by.

I also like the plates around the mirror in this pic.

If you want to paint your chairs, consider black. The wood table with black chairs is a classic look and I've never seen it go "out of style".

Black also works with warm wood tones.

My kitchen has some similarities to yours. There are more pics in my "my pics" idea books - it can be hard to find pics of refreshed older cabinets if you have any plans for the space - I'm not saying you need to do anything. All looks fine! I replaced my similar hood with a wood hood and converted my microwave shelf to a plate rail - I'm short and the microwave was too high:)

Cute doll house:)

Thanks! I just gave the dollhouse a white and black farmhouse makeover lol.

I have used that soft blue green recently in a bedroom makeover and it is lovely.

Maureen, your comment just showed up for me now. Thanks for resending it. So many lovely rooms for inspiration!

I shopped my house for a few accessory ideas to lighten up the look.

I see the runner is off centre, oops.

Its not there yet but I think that glitzy farmhouse is probably the look to head for lol.

I discovered there IS such a thing as glam farmhouse!

i remembered that I have these old sewing drawers and just tried out what they would look like with flowers. Maybe mason jars first? They aren't rustic but more Victoriana.

I also tried out this wreath of eucalyptus and roses

Thoughts?

We all have different tastes - I love greys and the muted colors and really dislike pastels in my house. But I have a really good friend who decorated in yellow and blues and it fits her perfectly!

I used a pillowcase to see what it might look like to have those parson chairs a different color. Has anyone ever painted their chairs? These are Vinyl.

I much prefer the chairs white.

You can buy vinyl paint, but to lighten that dark color enough probably would require a zillion coats and I'm not sure it would hold up.

I'm wondering if the ikea chair covers would fit as they're only 9 dollars each...Check the Henriksdal chair on the off chance it's the same dimensions as yours (would be amazing if it was)...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69100163/

Not sure about the unframed canvas in there...can it be relocated? I feel as if it's too modern for your space.

Lets add another set of drapery panels for a lush, full look...? And can you extend the rod a little?

I also love the plates around the mirror....local thrift shop may have some with a relief design...if they're not white, you can spray paint them (I did this and it was surpristingly successful!)

Thank you Penny for your ideas. Have you read my post on the minimalism thread? I am supposed to stay out of thrift stores LOL!

The canvas art I put it here because of the colours and I agree the style is quite different. It could go in my bedroom. I have a lot of arts and I am sure I could find something different.

This has been a fun thread for me during a time of sickness that has been asleep on the couch coughing and blowing.

I have appreciated everybody's ideas as always. I am someone that needs to think about something for a long time before I make a change. And even though I am a creative person ( this room is also my music room and I have not shown you the other side which right now is piled high with music as I prepare for a concert!) my creativity is stirred by other peoples ideas. Or maybe I am just kidding myself. Maybe in the decor world I actually stink at being creative!

Jh Marie, I dragged outs my thanksgiving decor and have been playing with the things I already have. I really like where this is headed and thank you so much for that great idea with The centrepiece boxes.

Many years ago a decorator and color expert told me that apricot/peach tones are the best colors for a dining room. Somehow they make people feel good and, I can't remember how she phrased it, and make your digestive system harmonious or some such LOL.

She must have tasted my cooking! lol

I have grown to like soft grey as backdrop for warm wood [not dark wood]. Is there a little more of that to add? and art, and other touches...

I was agreeing with white chairs, with chandelier then coming more into focus? In other words, seems the dark chairs dominate the room....? Maybe 2 for $42:

Oh so pretty, everdebz. I had set up this room as the Victorian room with all the darker furniture except for the table and buffet. You have raised an interesting point. Maybe this was the wrong approach. Maybe I should mix it up more. It makes perfect sense that that could create a better flow. I have not shown you the other end of the room that contains a walnut corner cupboard, Walnut parlour table Walnut piano and TWO MORE antique mirrors that are also dark! I have been holding off on those pictures because I am preparing for a concert and have stacks of music in that section of the room.

In my other rooms I have a mixture of lighter and darker wood furniture/antiques. I will need to think about if there are any pieces to switch out. Sometimes you get so used to things being in a certain place that it's hard to think outside the box again!

Do you have any room photos to share for inspiration?

oh...nan-nan, just saw your post... and it's that way isn't it? We have to see anew.... maybe was said, that your chairs aren't country coastal.... [I haven't painted... but I think chair covers could be found]...

I think your chairs aren't helping the room, as they're simple, contemporary. If comfy, I'd cover, even with a softly muted blue/teal/aqua... maybe inspired from art somewhere.

houzz article: "Layer superpale shades. At the lightest end of the palette, colors become less distinct, so very light gray looks almost the same as pale duck-egg blue. This opens up lots of layering possibilities. The pale gray furniture and furnishings in this bedroom work beautifully with the wallpaper, which adds warmth to the scheme while still looking harmonious."

So chair covers could be a variation of light neutral...like these walls: robin's egg blue.

Your Family piece, could be vintage... nice color like this? for part of the chair, or just the hostess chairs....?

"Gabrielson brought in more robin’s-egg blue by painting her clients’ dresser. 'Without that change it would have felt too heavy and formal,' she explains."

Yellow same pattern as above. Could see a change in mirror frame, etc. [to a soft amber, whatever looks good against grey], and same sort of hue in these yellow covers. Might be nice if furniture in LR is green-is [good with yellow/gold].

https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Damask-Print-Ruffled-Dining-Chair-Slipcovers-Set-of-2/8830367/product.html?recset=410d762a-8c79-4e88-a6a8-bb0ecae8a07d&refccid=GY6BER6RBDBI4ASEKGGA5BRERQ&recalg=872%2C873%2C839&recidx=0&refinement=color:Grey%7C