The lighting must not be good, because the room is actually a warm gray! Thank you so much for the comments. Very helpful. I never even thought about the curtains, but I think you're right about those too. I sew and can make new curtains. Would you recommend something in a woven linen type fabric for these? Thanks, Fairway Style Living!

Buffet is small, so one lamp there may be all I can do. I did turn on the china cabinet lights in the below photos. Also, took out the leaf and added the only tureen that I own! I don't have a lid for this one. Too small? Thank you!

Better already. For a dining space, I love a drape to have a luxurious feel, so whatever you select, I'd recommend a robust lining so it has nice, full body in the folds that stack fully off the window opening, especially since it has a great arch detail at the top to show off.

Since there isn't other red in the space (at least that I see), I'd think about a white cylinder shade for your buffet lamp for a cleaner line and a bit more brightness there.

I do like the small art pieces, would perhaps group two in the space over the buffet and send the third to the other side of the door opening, possibly. I'd also consider something along a similar line to flank your cabinet - if that were a four-unit series, I'd flip them over across the room and do two on either side of the china cabinet.

I have a rod and rings I can use that mirror the living room that is on the opposite side of my front door. Already have that rod in the location you suggest. Same arched windows as the dining room. Thanks so much!

Do you have any lead crystal pieces. I think sparkling lead crystal bowl or vase and/or candle sticks would look nice on your table. I think a low luster satin or faux satin material for the drapes would look nice. I personally like to change out drapes from summer to winter. Maybe light shier drapes in the summer and lined drapes for the winter. Yes, to at replacing the red lampshade.

The chairs on either side of the China cab look like they’re scared of something and clinging close for protection move them further towards their respective corners and angle them a bit to look more welcoming and less frightened.

in addition, the buffet, although it is not large, is crammed into the corner. It would look better, not to mention be so hidden behind the drapes, if it were nudged a drop towards the doorway. Even an inch or two would make a difference.

I need all the help I can get! I follow directions well, but some of this stuff just never occurred to me. Moving my chairs and buffet to see how they look. Thanks, blubird, functionthenlook and Fairway for all your comments!

Experimenting with the curtains and the rug. Take up the rug? If I do that, the floor is a bit faded by the window. Replace? Trying linen curtains and thought I'd love them. Not sure. I do like the rod idea and can pleat these curtains if I decide I like them. Trying to simplify, but can't decide which element isn't working.

Distract the eye from the faded floor with a pair of great plants in cache-pots by the windows. Something Asian would do the trick and fit right in with your classic look.

Thanks, decoenthusiaste! So you'd take up the rug?

I like the rug!! I think it grounds the room.

I might add a placemat under the tureen and add some greenery in the tureen. An orchid would be nice.

Agree that I'd keep the rug. Looking better already by the windows, too. Not sure it needs pleats, but is there a lining in those drape panels? Also think a neutral silk might be a little more right-looking in there, texture-wise. The linen seems a little bit skimpy visually to my eye.

Kicking myself for getting rid of silk panels from another room that may have been perfect here. They were lined and interlined. These do have a lining, but the panels are thin even so. I have them clipped to the rings but could modify anything about them if it would make them better. I've never seen linen panels with interlining, but could do that too. I'm trying the ready mades to see if they can work before investing time and $$ into buying fabric and making them. Also trying a white lamp shade. Now you can see where my rust came from in my entry rug and living room panels! I've also thought of changing the chair covers if that makes sense.

This shows the metal art on the back wall.

Gorgeous to see the other perspective and the cross hall and beyond in here. Definitely a beautiful space. If you're looking for ready-made panels, these might be perfect - take a look (and available with blackout lining for volume):

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/dupioni-silk-pole-pocket-drape-porcelain-blue/?catalogId=80&sku=4386678&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Windows%20%3E%20Curtains%20%26%20Drapes%20%3E%20Solid

Think Sahara could be a great complimentary warm tone to walls and rug, but they have white and other neutrals available, too. Love the hardware you've got going on in there now, also.

Yes, thanks to you Fairway Style Living!

Grabbed some panels to try for color. Pottery Barn had a porcelain blue and a dark porcelain blue. I have their chevron rug in the porcelain blue in my family room.

I put the linen panels behind these to block some light to tell the colors better.

I'm leaning to the lighter color of the porcelain blue.

It's a little hard to say (since originally I thought the walls were green!), but I wonder if a more neutral fit would align better with your trim color. Also, buffet lamp looking much better with the updated shade!

It might just be a touch difficult to see from these images (I once thought the walls in here were green!), but does the blue tie into the color elsewhere in the room? Can't help thinking that a more neutral tone (white, even) would compliment your white trim better. Do like the sheen and texture of the fabric in the space, and agree that the lining touch adds much needed body and structure to the drapery.

Buffet lamp looking 100% better with the refreshed shade, too!

Walls are Sherwin Williams Intellectual Gray, a very warm gray. The only color in the room is in the rug and the gold fabric on the chairs that I often think about changing. Maybe that’s why I had white before in the drapes! I do like the rod and rings for panels as a better option here.

Definitely think a true neutral like white or a sandy tone like Sahara for drapery is ideal with the warm neutrals you've already got going on in here (especially the warmth of the chandelier/lamp metal and inlay panels, and the slipcovered chairbacks). And for sure to rod and rings.

Judging by your previous window treatment, I am assuming you don't need drapery for privacy. Would you consider leaving the windows without window treatments? I usually like the addition of drapery for softness, but your windows and casing are to die for! I am w-a-a-y jealous!

Just my 2 cents, but I also like the no drapery look for these beautiful windows, especially since the room seems a bit dark.

This room has been difficult to photograph with the window lighting. It generally doesn't feel dark, but these pics sure make it seem like it is. If I do panels, they need to be light and still show off the windows themselves. I mostly want this to look simplified and updated!

So a couple friends came over and rearranged my china cabinet. Is this better than the very semetrical arrangement of china? They used a lot of crystal bowls. Thank you!

I like it better. But the key is whether YOU like it better and whether it serves the function you need.

I do like it, but just haven't looked at enough china cabinets to have thought of this option!