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What if you put some textile curtains on the window, vase with the flowers on the table, art pictures on the wall. The important thing is to connect all new items witg one concept. Now the room has to character, so now with textures and colours you can add any mood you want to.

You have a lot of elements in the room and they don't complement each other. The style of the chairs are very casual, and your space is more formal -- traditional. The buffets are rather heavy...are they the green you are referring to? I would use the insert to display what you would find in a dining room -- candle sticks, crystal, perhaps art on the larger shelf? I don't think I would put a book collection in there at all, if that is what is on the bottom shelf.

The chairs are hand-me-downs! i just bought the buffets and really think I need to return them :(

not what type of storage would look best because of the insert. Or perhaps I should add cabinets by the window??

@erinsean what about painting the buffets?

@User chairs and buffet are both green. Chairs are hand me downs and buffet I just bought because of the size (nothing else fit that would work well with storage). can you tell i need advice ha

The buffets are too big IMO, I would return them. The room is so nice with the moldings don't hide them. Add another shelf into the insert. What do you need to store in there?

I wanted to add extra plates, bowls, table linens, etc! But I agree that they’re dark and large. Would you suggest smaller storage?? Or just none.. by the window??

First I would ask yourself what are you storing in the buffets? Or what do you need storage for? Then, how do you use this room? Is this a formal dining room or is this the only dining space in your house? Last, define your style.

I would not add doors to the shelves, but I would work with the height on the shelves to make them more even. The light fixture, table / chairs and sideboards do not really coordinate. So I'd start with what you need most in that room for how you want it to function and go from there.

Buffets too big for space. How about 2 corner cabinets? I have 1 from Ballard’s Design, small scale with curved glass, comes in several finishes.

What's on the wall opposite the built-in? Will the buffets fit on the window wall?

I agree with others that you need to define your style. Maybe return the buffets and buy chairs that complement the style and elements of the table since those are hand-me-downs. I think I would look at buffets that have high legs to relieve the heaviness. It's such a beautiful space and once you define your style, you will have some direction. Corner cabinets would fit nicely in the room.

No,

I would not paint the buffets or chairs. I would either put doors over your shelves or do away with them completely...dry wall over them. I would recover your chair seats and put a runner or just a pretty centerpiece on your table.

Are you keeping the chandelier? That is key to your ultimate look. It is very pretty, but contemporary while the table, chairs and new consoles are traditional. So since you stated the table stays, then we need other adjustments including the chandelier. Let me put some ideas together for you. Bbl

I love it & would paint the sb's white to match the wall.

I like the sideboards. What if you put a buffet style lamp on each sideboard close to the ends and put complementary paintings above each sideboard.

Here are some light colors and ideas. I think this can be a really pretty room. What is to left of table? Living room.

The sideboards are just wrong on that wall. They detract from the built in and chop the wall up. If one or both can go on the opposite wall, do that. Otherwise, return them.

Without sideboard. I do have 3 shelves and emptied to be less distracting.

Opposite insert is my kitchen

Would the bench, chairs on the sides and back and black light all go together? Returning the sideboards but still need some sort of storage!!!

The photo showing the entire area makes a difference as the dining room is not a separate space. What about adding a storage cabinet in the kitchen area, next to the window, that matches your kitchen cabinetry? You could have it customized to hold what you want and it would fit into the design of both rooms? I would then leave the far wall empty and put some pottery or some of your serving pieces on display. If you buy new chairs, you might consider the same style of chair as the bar chairs, which would repeat the design element from the kitchen.

Those photos are very helpful thanks! Your chandelier is quite pretty and with the black interior, I think we can work with it. Different chairs would be desirable. I would never do a bench. Terrible to sit in and then getting folks in and out a real problem. Unless you have a passel of grandchildren, but generally the adults sit at the table and the little ones, sit at another table? I think I would return the cabinets. They just don't quite work. I was also thinking about removing the shelves from the little niche and place some large art in that space. You don't want to load that space up in any case. If you do cabinets either side of the window, as groveraxle proposed, get them in an white or off white. They can be decorated and perhaps mirrors above with some lamps to give the space a more "dining room" feeling. Then we can style a centerpiece on the table that will bring everything together.

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You might be able to take some ideas from this picture. Similar harvest table, with more formal but interesting chairs and big candle statement on the table. Notice the niche in the background. with shelves removed you could do something like this as well. Very nice backdrop for dining. Notice all the super large pieces. Bigger pieces look less "cluttered" than a bunch of miscellaneous smalls.

Please add a photo of the wall to the right of the table, arcoss from the window. I love your chandelier, the wall trim and your kitchen. Yes, the sideboards need to go.

Guys it’s a very very messy hallway ha

I’m thinking by the window it’ll block entrance into the island area

Added some items into the insert

As a long range plan, I would remove the inset and place one longer narrow buffet on that wall, with art and lamps or sconces. You would need to display non-white items in the inset or paint the back so that the items show. You could paint it a little darker than the wall color and arrange the items you have. (Budget friendly fix!)

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The hall looks pretty wide, where you now have the buffet...can it work there? It still would be pretty accessible to the dining area?

I think this could work if you had smaller chests and painted them the exact same color as the wainscot and built in:

Then some simple decor on top and in the niche, and you're finished.

Some niche styling ideas.

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