I would add crown molding for a finished elegant look. White draperies would lighten up the room and should pull the upholstered chairs and the wall color together. I would centered both pieces on each wall. The upholstered chairs should be at each end. Traditional ideas are they are the King and Queen chairs and the King always sits at the head of the table. A beautiful mirror over the serving table or a painting that is soft in colors that has some shades of pull would soften the room If you purchase a rug same color scheme white with blues and a complimentary color. Love the chairs and the dining room set!!!!

You have a great foundation and start and now you just need the finishing touches. Look through some design magazines of dining rooms to get inspirations. Add some accessories on the furniture and find a great center piece, and some art work for the walls.

This Mirò:

See this site for royal blue dining rooms It may give you inspiration Good Luck!!

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/XG/hbx-makeover-diningroom-0208-xl.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/home-makeovers/cozy-fall-home-decor&h=460&w=360&sz=56&tbnid=SsQVYhQRPDx2iM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=70&zoom=1&usg=__A990hrIvYptS2bT6WjsTCCy6J7c=&docid=erymjLQmAlNrRM&sa=X&ei=-07GUYuvFsO1rgGHyoDQDg&ved=0CDEQ9QEwAQ&dur=337

your furniture leans towards rustic traditional - my daughter in law has dark green - similar in value - she has a mirror over the buffet and milk glass accessories on that wall. White crown molding would look very well. accent with white, blue and a bit of citron green.

would you consider a slightly less intense blue wall color, maybe something closer to the blue in the chairs?

Robin covers the upgrades I would have made. Your back wall is your focal wall, so have it make a big statement. If you lean towards contemporary feel, change out light fixture to a white drum shade with crystals. If more of a traditional look.go full fledge crystal.

A better Mirò to go with your gorgeous blue room. And a pendant to replace the flush mount light.

I'm a big blue fan and think this shade is perfect. Love the upholstered chairs though I would rotate them as robin suggested. Take the smaller storage piece and put it to the right of the archway from inside the room.

If you have more wood chairs, put them on the sides, or on the wall on either side of the larger sideboard. Art.com has great canvases - modern, fine art in a scale about as wide as the sideboard will do a lot. You might add floor lamps since the sideboard is not terribly wide - they could be striking tripod elements from RH. I think the blue wallls would be even better with a touch of blue in the rug on the bottom. I found http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Modern-Ikat-Grey-Wool-Rug/7504969/product.html
and also http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Marrakesh-Trellis-Wool-Rug-76-x-96/7277618/product.html
Otherwise, everyting white and silver / silvered to echo the mirrored cabinet would be terrific. Mercury glass . . .
I would not do crown because I think you want to flirt with traditional . .but keep an edge.

First I would add at least a 6" crown molding. Then rotate the upholstered chairs to the ends of the table. Add a chandelier according to what you like and make sure that there is 36" between the bottom of the light fixture and the table top. Add a Large piece Of art above the buffet on the full wall as your focal (this will introduce your 3rd color and I would suggest something with some yellow in it). Add tall accent lamps on each end of the buffet with a shorter but substantial accessory between the lamps and in front of the large artwork on the wall. Move the shorter piece of furniture onto the wall next to the archway. Add Panel window treatments on each side of the windows in a fabric that coordinates with the artwork. Add a spot of live greenery somewhere in the room. You can anchor the table and the room with a coordinating rug. Finish off with a couple of small monogramed pillows in the wooden side chairs. Finally add a dimmer switch to the chandelier and finish off with a couple of accessories but do NOT add too many. Keep it clean and simple and do not clutter.

I like a bit of flow in a house so, i might try to incorporate some of the color from your staircase carpet into the dining room and vice versa, some of the blue into your entry hall. Your dining set is adorable... Late 20's with a bit of art deco (those horizontal lines on the corners and stylized floral motif). Really an eclectic set that frees you to bring in other eclectic items...look how good those upholstered chairs look! Since the blue is strong, a bright accent on that far wall will make an important statement;Miro might be just the ticket since it will have the same deep value of the blue but still tie in to your yellow entry. A drum type shade could work for a chandelier to be cohesive with those rounded corners on your table. [be sure your overhead light has a dimmer switch - great for dinner parties/candle light]. Would steer clear of any crystals since Art Deco was not a frou-frou period. Yes, the two buffet/case pieces should be centered on the walls; each piece should have art to scale above it and colored vases or other objets d'arts on each side of the art tying the art work to the blue walls and chairs. The larger buffet could handle lamps (a matching pair) at each end, adding needed light; the smaller one, one small lamp or candelabra (yes, with real candles you can light during a party, along with candles on the dining table each side of your low flower arrangement). Come to think of it, if you take libradesigneye's idea and move the smaller piece to the right of the arch, a mirror above it could reflect the other art work and light from other lamps, adding color and light from that direction without any effort. Think your draperies should pick up the paler blue in your chairs (just IMO, white curtains with the white blinds might be inching too close to the 1980's). Yes, move upholstered chairs to ends and start looking for two more Art Deco chairs to add to the sides. A fun space... Lots of possibilities!

I would move the 2 new chairs to the ends of the table, Go on line to Boscov's and they have blue/grey/white Ikat Georgette sheers on sale for $9 a pane[ which would look good or get some heavy brocaded curtains,please take down the white mini blinds. Check O.com for sale carpets to put under the table( make sure it is large enough to accommodate the table with the chairs pulled out to a seating position). A very large mirror on the wall across from the arch way with the large buffet under it or place a big floor mirror on the same wall as the small buffet, turn the small buffet so it sets diagonal the corner and place wine rack and some wine glasses on a silver tray (or glass whiskey bottle, glasses and ice bucket). Leave the large buffet where it is and pick up a very large piece of art ( can be something besides canvas, like an old metal gate) look in a Hobby Lobby or Home goods if you are near one. Bed Bath and Beyond has sets of long stemmed glass candle holders. I would get rid of the lighted corner cabinet ( it seems out of place with all other furniture) and place a pedestal( even the plaster ones can be painted Gold/silver, stone spray paint), but the white would look good on each side of the windows and place earns with large floral arrangements ( may be hydrangeas) or better yet live plants on each.I say this because the room seems to need more furniture to make it feel inviting and cozy. The table should have a runner length wise with a long wooden/ metal tray lined with pillar candles and then set the table ( even if you have to buy a cheap set of dishes). All of these ideas have to be tweaked as far as #1 if this is an everyday dining area I would go with light and airy curtain panels, a plainer type carpet, white pedestals w/ greenery or sun flowers, place mats , some fun art,pillar candles,( You could then go eclectic in your decor.) or #2 if this is going to be a formal room I would get brocade or other heavier draperies ( I would be careful with silk if this is a southern exposure window), metallic gold candle holders and accessories, a landscape painting or an old one from a thrift store, tall taper candles, table runner, cloth napkins, table set w/ silver ware, wooden pedestals w/ formal floral arrangement & carpet . Your lighting will also reflect the direction you wish to go IE a chandelier or pendent.light that is plain or even stain glass looking. Enjoy the process and don't sweat the small stuff, it will all come together.

Thanks everyone. The suggestions are all great and so exciting because they are bringing in a direction that is not typical for me. I did not think of this room as Art deco, but several of you mentioned that. I am more of a traditional girl but am excited about something new. I will be using the new dining room decor as a starting point to update the rest of the house so this could be great. Now I have a few questions...

Groveaxle: I am really intriqued by the Miro prints you posted. They seem so modern though...a litle scary for me but I am definitely going to consider them. I also love the pendant drum idea that you and jwinteriors suggested. What program are you using to create the example of my room with accessories? That is amazing.

I just realized no one has mentioned wainscotting. Not a good addition to this room?

You could introduce some wallpaper into the room

I love idea of a drum pendant...maybe even with crystals. That's probably the traditional part of me coming out! Would something like this look good, or should I stay away from crystals like the sample groveraxle posted...which I also really like.

I *love* your blue chairs and your dining set! I'm going to assume that you like the Loyal Blue paint (since you picked it), but I prefer complementary paint to matching paint, so I'd go with either a pale coral or a pale mossy-green walls (like, the 2nd or 3rd shade on the paint chip, not the 1st). That would give you the cheeriness you're lacking. The other thing you could do if you're set on blue walls is to paint only ONE of the walls in a dark blue (I'd go darker than the blue you used, more of a navy than a royal blue), and painting the other three walls a pale (think "cornflower") blue. The Loyal Blue paint is sucking all of the light out of the room.

I also like your idea about wainscoting and/or chair rail. If you like the look of wainscot, you could add white wainscot below the chair rail, and paint the walls a nice navy blue above the wainscot. Alternatively, you could paint the chair rail and the wall below the chair rail navy, and paint the walls above the chair rail a warm off-white, and put up some beautiful art like the Miró shown above. (Miró is technically "modern" art but it's "modern" art from the 1920s, so it totally goes with your house in terms of period.)

@dlghome, I'm using Photoshop Elements to transform your room. It does lots of things, but the one thing it's not good for is moving furniture around, which is why I didn't move your upholstered chairs to the ends though I agree with that suggestion.

Coincidentally, I did a room several years ago for a friend whose favorite color is blue. Her room had a chair rail, so we painted the lower part the same blue as yours, and the upper part a crisp white. Her dining furniture was antique, similar to yours, and I just happened to have a blue Mirò lying around that was perfect for the room. That's why I thought of the Mirò.

I tried a mirror and some silver accents and some darker, more formal rugs in your virtual room, but my sense is that it needs some pop which is why I went with the canvas above (silly, I know) and the yellow accents. The blue is quite modern, so I think you're heading to a more eclectic look.

Is Photoshop included in the Window package or is it something that you bought separately?
I love what you are doing groveraxie

Here's a bit more of a traditional look using the chandelier you posted above:

Genevieve, Photoshop Elements is a smaller, simpler (and cheaper) version of Photoshop and it's a standalone program. About $100, I think.

I like the chandelier and rug but not the grid picture

groveraxle, that is gorgeous!! love it!

Thank you for the reply groveraxie:) I love it!
it sure does makes things easier to visualize.

Genevieve, that's not a "grid picture." It's actually 100 tiny mirrors.

What about one of our vintage handmade kilims, it will be an eyecather in your home!

If you wish to have a more traditional room (and I don't see art deco except in your arched entry - which can be a thousand other architectural expressions too) then add impressionist art.

I like the range of options at art.com but there are many online art retailers now - perhaps add some Monet or look also at joaquin sorolla y bastida - you can get giclee prints mounted in large sizes in a way that won't hit the pocket book. Add art that moves you - http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a43/claude-monet-posters.htm?ui=DECDD8FC3C254F4E9F39E9CED2F53DF3
though check out the tulips - a bit of red in the art will pull in the runner on the stair beautifully for flow.
http://www.art.com/asp/mountshop/default.asp/_/mt--1/pd--14500660660/sp--a/posters.htm?PODConfigID=8880734&ui=DECDD8FC3C254F4E9F39E9CED2F53DF3
Sorolla y Bastida
http://www.art.com/gallery/id--a4429/joaquin-sorolla-y-bastida-posters.htm?ui=DECDD8FC3C254F4E9F39E9CED2F53DF3
I do think you might like to explore more modern art in here, it can still be turn of the century. Perhaps one of Canada's Group of Seven - Lawren Harris' has some amazing white and blue that would repeat the color story
Oversize your art to help balance the blue walls. You can mat and frame it even larger -

Here's a more traditional floor lamp option - comes with a white shade alternative. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/brentwood-floor-lamp-base/?pkey=cfloor-lamps&

I love the color! Very bold and yet it has a serenity to it. You have a potential for beautiful simplicity here. I'd be careful with too many knickknacks, and they might detract and not add to the gorgeous detail in your dining set. Take down the blinds, get some quality Voile, which will add a softness to the natural light in the room, almost a glow. Which I think will make the room a bit more inviting. It really depends on what particular style you're going for. Though I wouldn't get too modern unless you're really going for something funky or eclectic. I would keep things special and deliberate. A french landscape above the buffet would really be stunning. Yes, this room begs for crown molding. And a soft light diffusing chandelier. Keep things unique and most definitely inviting. I also agree with Iwfoisy, swap the chairs. Also, a simple green plant or vase of flowers on either buffet would bring this room to life - literally. For an area rug, I would let the texture of the rug guide you. Something comfy.

This rug is nice:
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I like the vase in this photo:
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This Chandelier would add a slightly feminine touch:
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That blue is too dark.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful comments. I have been doing a lot of thinking and investigating, as well as a little re-arranging based on your input. I moved the chairs and the small buffet. I love the idea of big artwork but that will take me some time to find what I like. In the meantime, we are having a party on Sunday and I wanted to have a little more in the room. We had this mirror and vase. What do you think of those? At least until I have more time. The mirror is pure white and the vase is a soft, egg shell white. I mention this because I realized my next delima is about which white is best.

As I was looking at panels and lighting I realized I had a few things to consider and could use your help. How white should they be? The white in the chair is not exaclty white...more of a natural. I have attached a close up of the chair. I defintley want to put up a drum chandalier but should the drum be bright white or cream, eggshell and what should the hardward be: chrome, brush nickel, dark brown? What about the panels; should they be pure white, or something softer. And the panel hardware, should that be dark brown, or chrome/silver?

This is my first discussion and I think I might have posted these comments as a new discussion. Sorry about that. I will try to delete that other discussion.

I haven't chimed inhere yet, so here goes. Wood trimmed items, like the mirror might be better if they matched the color of your window trim and baseboards. Panels I would match to the natural of the chair. You can't get obsessed with this, and when you see something you like you don't want to be conflicted about it because "it doesn't quite match." Mix the two together and forget about it - woods in white and fabrics in neutral will be a lot easier to find I'm sure, so don't hesitate or worry too much about it. The room will be beautiful!

I believe your set is Art Deco. Hard to see it all the back of your chairs has that fan effect and the legs of the table are also of that style.

Before you move on, buy a rug in that 1930's look. Then a chandy and a mirror.

Move the upholstered chair to the host and hostess position. Don't use any more blue in the room.

Funny...with the detail photo of your chair, I realize I just saw it today in a store!
Ok, so you have a party this week-end. Let's keep it simple so you can concentrate on your menu and shopping for that.
Hang the white mirror over the larger buffet... The edge sort of echoes your table's carved skirt.
[i wouldn't use the off white vase on the large buffet next to the white mirror...don't like the competition between cream and white right next to each other... Use it in your front entry, assuming you have a small table there.]

If it's a sit down dinner, get some brightly colored place mats; then add bright flowers pulling colors from the place mats. If you can, mix into the bright bouquet some white flowers and something dark blue to pull in the color of your walls (dark Delphinium?) I know your style is traditional but it's summertime and you want people to walk in and go, "oh, wow!" The bright colors would really pop against the dark blue. [note:don't use heavily fragranced flowers near where people will eat]. Put a tall vase Of flowers on one end of the buffet and a low one on the dining table. If you don't have a silver or silver plate pitcher or large serving piece, borrow one from a relative or neighbor. Put it on the opposite end of the buffet with a couple silver candlesticks (trying to tie in your mirrored cabinet in the corner). Put one of the candlesticks on something - a little book or something to just raise it up to a different height. add candles in a color from the bouquet.

If you're doing a buffet with people sitting all over the house, use a bright runner down the space where you'll serve food ( Pier One has some inexpensive ones) and add a bouquet there, too, to tie in the dining room where some people will prefer to sit rather than doing the food balancing act on their lap in the family room, etc.

Doubt you'll have time to address an overhead chandelier before the party... suggest you'll get more mileage out of an off white shade when you do get one; the warmer light cast by the off white shade is a bit more intimate. If it has metal accents on it and you are really attached to your mirrored display case in the corner, get polished chrome on the chandelier. Bringing diverse elements into a space can work but you've got tie them in somewhere else in the room...otherwise disparate items brought together will just look like a jumble.

Not sure what "panels" you are talking about....window panels? Wonder if the store where you bought your chairs has any in a matching pattern? If not, white voile (as previously suggested) to match your trim would work (just IMO).

I actually would use tiny dashes of blue - not avoid using more of it - either in place mats or buffet accessories so there is a connection between the items in the room and the walls

Also, time to toss the artificial ivy on top of your mirrored cabinet. It's too dark in that corner plus is from another era.

Have a fun party!

I like this sisal rug to 'frame' the table. Pier 1 has these curtains. http://www.pier1.com/Azure-Embroidered-Panel---84%22/2534159,default,pd.html?cgid=curtains http://www.pier1.com/Gleeful-Flowers-Window-Panel/2649517,default,pd.html?cgid=curtains

I would replace the blinds with a silhouette blind. I would also recommend adding drapery panels to brighten up the space.

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/blinds-toronto/hunter-douglas/silhouette-toronto.html

We are focusing on the dining room again! I have a few lighting options and I'd love get your perspective. I've mocked up one of my pictures with the lights I think might work...please ignore the blue block in the background, I am covering up something that was sitting on the buffet so it would'n't distract from the light. Please let me know which of the styles of these lights works best. I am also wondering about size. My table is 36" wide. These lights tend to be 20-24: wide. Is that the right size? And color of the shade. Should it be white or cream. The background of the chairs are not white, they are a funny off white color. Any time I put something up to them the color tends go greenish/cream. Definitely not the yellow tones of cream/beige.

I like the first one best.

top left or bottom right, I think. Something about proportions not quite right on the other two.

I vote for the first light also.

1 or 4

Bottom left.

Ok you have touched me with the blue and white dining room. Love it. Have you thought of using blue and white china such as willow arranged above the buffet? You could add a white lamp on one end of the buffet worked into the arrangement. I have a great blue and white rug in my dining room. Add light cushions to wooden chair seats. Try 2 chairs on sides of table and plants or large vase beside buffet.

some lighting ideas by Galilee Lighting

I haven't read through all the comments but I like that you put the upholstered chairs on the ends of the table - that was my immediate thought. I also liked the white background rugs grover put in the room early on. Those were great, even if the chairs have an off white.