I recommend you change your Parsons chairs for chairs that are mcm ; remove the sideboard from this room. It is not at all the look you want. Consider if a table with taller stools would be more compatible with how you live. Why do you have sheers only on the sliding doors? If you don't need them ,remove them also. You don't seem to have curtains on any other windows in this area of your home. These changes are easy to do. After you have lived with them for awhile consider opening up this room to the kitchen as suggested above. In any case keep the lovely hanging modern piece in this room.

I am not a pro but love mcm and Scandinavian design.
That is a gorgeous room and I can see why you would want to spend more time there.
The table, chair and ceiling lamp are problematic if you want to go mcm. Have you considered a George Nelson saucer bubble lamp? A round mcm table and chairs that don’t dominate the room (see Westelm or Rove Concepts or go vintage Danish teak with cool chairs) would be nice. Is there room for an iconic lounge chair where you could read and enjoy your morning coffee? Womb chair, Eames chair ...
I think the furniture under the window doesn’t fit with mcm and makes the room crowded. But I love that floating credenza!
To go totally crazy, could you switch out your counter stools for something more mcm and get something similar for this room around your table?
So many ideas ... I may have just muddied the waters. This is such a gorgeous room ... I think you could do something really beautiful here.

Love that staircase!!!

I would highly recommend you remove as much of the wall ( between kitchen and dining) that you are able to and can afford to. That would be a game changer!

The reason people sit in the kitchen is that's how we live today. People don't want to be in an isolated room.

It appears to be a load-bearing wall, but you might be able to have a final product of leaving the header and 2 columns at either end.

Otherwise, if possible, I would remove both floating buffets and the free-standing buffet. You might consider a counter-height table for the dining room.

Choose new chairs with wood seats or leather seats instead of fabric seats to minimize the cat hair problem. The leather-look vinyls for upholstered seats are good, too, and they wipe clean in a jiffy.

To train yourselves to use the room more, use the room for coffee every morning or wine in the evening every day for a week.

OK yes, I can leave the existing table and change out the chairs first and remove the sideboard near the windows. Or I was wondering if I should go all the way crazy and get a white round table / silver metal to match the window wrap or stick with wood? Would white be too much for all the wood in the space?

I think I have to leave the passthrough. It was original to the space so we wanted to leave it like that but I can see now how that would really be nice to open it up more. The edge of the wall to the open space needs to stay as it connects to an original folding oak wood slider so the kitchen can be closed off (that's an amazing piece that we kept as well). Also original to the house.

Also, the top of the floating credenza has the original glass on it from the one we replaced. I always thought of putting something under it to lighten up the space as well.

I like the idea of being able to have the wine in the room every night! :-)

Wow, what an amazing home you have! I would definitely clean that room up by removing a lot of the items to get that MCM feel back. I would remove everything but the dining table. Get new rug, chairs, and accent pieces. Doesn't seem like you would need to do much to get that room to the style you're wanting. I think once you feel inspired by the space you will naturally want to be in there.

No to a white table. Really, if you just remove as much as you can, that would solve most of the issues.

First I'd remove all the decor,including the rug and art. Sell/donate/remove the standing buffet and the parsons chairs. I can't quite see the lines on the curio cab or table so hard to tell if they can be part of your vision for the space. As others have mentioned, just doing these things will get you closer because the space itself is so fab. Now my question? Do you want the space to lean more toward a dedicated dining area or more toward a sitting area? If the former, the table and chairs are key,if the latter then fabric and comfort play the bigger role. In either case,an MCM sensibility can be achieved. Also,do you have any other functions,like storage or display for art/collectibles that the space needs to fulfill?

De-clutter, new chairs, new rug. Great house! I love the railing, both aesthetically and as the perfect window for the cat to view the world.

That pass through really doesn't provide any useful purpose so I would eliminate it and give yourself a wall for art. MCM is a minimalist style and this room has too much stuff and it's too fussy. Sideboard, table, chairs and rug have to

I'd look for a very simple, modern table with chairs that had more wood detail to make things more interesting and not rely on a patterned fabric for interest.

What a great house! I can see why you want to use the room more. Beautiful view with all that glass, and cool staircase .
I would look for a vintage MCM Danish table and chairs more on keeping with the cabinetry and railings. The smaller scale would look really nice in your room. Your chairs existing chairs are lovely, but don't really have that mcm vibe.

following

This idea--very simple but with a round table in a wood finish that harmonizes with the MCM style piece you now have against the wall on the kitchen side. Upholstered chairs like those below in MCM colors--lime, orange, turquoise would add to the MCM vibe as well as the relaxed feeling you want to have. Choose legs in the same finish as whatever wood table you get. Wood is the best choice in your case since you have a woodsy setting outside the windows. Can you go without curtains? Great house!

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We love your room! If you are looking for a modern look, we do offer both modern and industrial wall panel designs that would look great in your dining area. Feel free to check out our Waves pattern on our website here: https://www.houzz.com/pro/diydecorstore/. Otherwise we have many other designs to choose from!

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Thank you so much for the great ideas so far! I'm going to get rid of the stuff in the curio cabinet and put it in the mancave so he can use it for his collectibles. It doesn't belong in this room anymore. As the recent saying goes, it does not bring me joy!

For the passthrough the only ones using it are the cats as they pass through (LOL!). I will explore the option of closing it up because 1) it would also solve my art dilemma on the kitchen side of the wall and give me room on both sides for a couple large art prints I have (I will post pics of the prints I have and the other side of the wall) and 2) it would be much less expensive and easier than opening the wall.

I like the idea of a modern table with wood chairs with some design to them or the chairs with color that pop. The fireplace facade is a gray/pink/mauvy granite quartz modern pattern that the room looks out at. Does that make a difference or do I treat this room totally separate colorwise?

My dilemma is still whether it would be a better space for a round table/chairs or a sitting area. I think I will have a better handle on that once I remove what's in there. In the meantime, I'm thankful for every design inspiration. This is so helpful.

You could consider getting a modern style banquette built against that back wall with a round table and chairs or get a modern upholstered armless short sofa against that wall with a rectangular table. If you're wanting a more modern look along the lines of the piece you installed along the wall, then go for the MCM style maybe on a platform. If you do a banquette on both sides, make sure the back looks good from the backside since it would be against the railing.

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Colors should be considered from room to room, especially in an open concept. I would definitely consider the fireplace. I see the chairs in the kitchen are multi-colored?

As far as what furniture, I missed that you are considering something other than a table. Perhaps you could consider a coffee table with 4 leather chairs.....a place to relax, but still could eat there if you want.

Back in the 60s, Kai Kristiansen designed one of my favorite pieces ever... the elevator table. Coffee table most of the time, lifts up and leaves come up to become a dining table.
Ive been wayching for one for years. Somebody " sniped me" on a rosewood version several years back. Pricey, but such a statement, interesting piece.

$765 is a great price. $849 shipping is the stinger.

swickbb-

I am not sure what you are asking.

Do you want to keep the room as a dining room or not at all ever?

Do you want to permanently convert the dining room to an office/study? A little library or reading room?

Do you want it to be a little sitting area with or without a desk that is totally open to the kitchen adjacent to it?

I really recommend you consider opening up the wall from the kitchen to the dining more. It could be as simple as increasing the height of the current passthrough and/or widening it. There are plenty of ways to add art, once it is completed

I really think that is the key to getting you to use the room more.

I would not close it up.

loobab -

I am thinking I can have the space as an updated dining room with modern furniture and/or a more comfortable space (modern furniture as well) to eat and relax in. I could go either way - and I think once I remove the sideboard against the window and if I put in a banquette/bench that might give me both a informal/relaxing seat?

I don't need an office study/reading/library area - although I would probably use it to read in or use my laptop instead of always being at my kitchen island. Also if I am entertaining, people can spread out into that room with a more relaxed vibe than just sitting at the table the way it is now.

Once I get the sideboard/corner curio cabinet and those parsons chairs out it will give me more space and make it feel more open.

we don't know your floorplan, but you do.
before you make structural changes, just delete the furniture you don't ferl is right .
your house will tell you what's right, for you and your family, as you live with it for at least six months. take it through a couple holidays or parties.
your home is really great, and it deserves time and thought.

Hi swickbb-

Well, that is a great idea!

How many people do you invite to dinner? If all together you will have more than 4, than your current dining room table will have to find another home, and you will need another one.

I suggest knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the current dining room altogether to make one large room.

You have a credenza/buffet that seems to be attached to that wall. Is it made of good quality wood? If so, I would try to save it and you can find a piece of wood to add to the back and add simple legs to the bottom.

It is so very helpful to have a credenza/buffet in the dining room. You can store serving pieces in there, and when you entertain, you can have dishes of food on top so you don't have to walk all the way into the kitchen.

And what I do is, during the meal, I have an electric warming tray on top to keep things warm.

Afterwards, the desserts and coffee are there.

It looks like you have a freestanding credenza/buffet in the dining room already, decide which you like better.

I prefer the clean lines of the one that is attached to the wall, and additionally it is longer so that will give you more storage.

You do need to remember that you need a minimum of three feet all around the edge of the table to allow space for the person sitting in the chair, and that doesn't include the space for the credenza.

You said you want the mid-century modern look.

I don't know where you live, so I don't know how accessible this is for you, but that stuff is selling for a song, for a song!!

Retired and deceased people's things are getting thrown away, given away, etc.

Go into every tag sale, charity store, craig's list, etc.

And here's the other sad thing.

Sad, sad, sad.

You need to be ruthless, abso-bloomin-ruthless with your own things.

The things that you will no longer have room for, the things that won't go with the look you want to achieve as far as mid-century modern, and the feel you want the room to have, whatever that is, roomy, comfortable, light and airy, whatever it is, write it out.

You can purchase a dining table large enough (with leaves) to fit the number of people you want, and then you can eat there and read and use your laptop on it and your sewing machine too.

If it is real wood, the finish doesn't have to be perfect, you can re-finish it or pay to have it done when you find the right person who won't charge an arm and a leg and when you have company you'll put a tablecloth on it anyway.

And you'll get dining room chairs and you'll cover the seats yourself, it's a snap, I did it too with fabric and a staple gun.

I would not do a banquette for the simple reason that as we age, a banquette becomes very difficult to get in and out of.

I would not get a round table, that won't allow enough room around the table to walk with the amount of people you want to have at the table, given that the room is a rectangle. I would get a table that is an oval or rectangle.

Thanks for all the great ideas and information. I have a lot to think about. Here's one more pic that shows the dining room looking out at the center / fireplace. The dining room is 12' x 13.5". Curio cabinet is emptied and contents ready for a tag sale! :-) Moving the sideboard out will give me an extra 20" too so it won't feel so cramped.

There are quite a few mcm style chairs on houzz that I like including the ones suggested. I'm thinking a green or orange mcm chair with wood would be good.

Thanks! Small space. You need every inch in there. Please take down the ironworks piece. You need nothing there.

Love your chair fabric; had it in a bedroom in the '90's and found a remnant of it just yesterday while cleaning out a couple of areas. I would eliminate anything that can be moved out, add a couple of comfy chairs and try it out as a sitting area for a couple of weeks. If you don't feel inspired to convert it permanently, then re-think the space. You'll have a better feeling for just how much space it is by then and will begin to realize how much or little you use it for sitting/reading/computing. If you think it needs to function both ways, here is some inspo using banquettes, chairs, table and even a sofa for the relaxing part.

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Wow. love your fireplace stone. The more we see of your home, the more I love it.
Are you happy with the natural light in your kitchen? If so, I would be tempted to close up the undersized pass through and use the space for some interesting art. I don't love seeing the kitchen from the dining room, and it looks like just a few steps around the wall with the tiny passthrough.
How much do you love the drum over the existing table? Your choice, or was it there when you bought the home. I only ask because I think it's oversized for the existing table. And, if you love it, I would look for a different table, with a larger prescence and different shape.

Thank you Oliviag. The existing light fixture/drum is fairly new and replaced a green glass modern piece that cast an unflattering green glow. It’s the photo that makes it look like it’s not the right size. Depending on the way I go I could change it if need be. Also the round table does expand with two leafs but I’m getting rid of it anyway. This is hard getting rid of attachments but will be good in the long run! The pass through does close. I'm going to close it for a while to see how that feels.

All good ideas. Question: may seem like an odd one, but why do you want to use this room? No right or wrong answer, just wondering.

Mostly I want to use the room to have another space to sit at on this main level besides the kitchen island. I'd really like to make it another sitting area but not sure it would be practical not have a dining table at all.

I would definitely for now: remove all of the excess, bring some relaxing furniture in there from other areas in the house and see if you actually sit in there, before taking the leap to buy furniture.

If you do take the leap, I would buy a long narrow table for my buffet. That could be pulled into the center for dining. Or, consider an adjustable height coffee table.

Thank you all for your suggestions and help. It’s very much appreciated!

I think you're getting some great advice and I love all the cool elements in your house, especially the floating buffet. I love the style of the round table beverly posted. If you are selling the smaller freestanding cabinet, move the light over (it's already just on the sloped ceiling anyway in no particular place). I get wanting to be sure you want a dining space. So move the current table over and see how it feels with some other chairs. That would make for a better path to the patio door too.