Everything in this room is formal. It will take selling off and starting from scratch.

I agree with Margo C....what is going on in the rest of your house?

I think you can make it less formal (more transitional style) by replacing the rug with a lighter and transitional rug. Fresh fabric on the chairs and remove the heavy drapery. Also, ornate and "formal" art should go and replace with beautiful abstract art. A new, linear chandelier, in a more contemporary style will help. The dining room will still be a "formal dining room" but far more casual. Here is a photo. I would not recommend this fabric for the chairs, but an illustration of less formal window treatment and art. Oh...changing out lamps from bell shape to another is more casual as well. The furniture is too pretty IMO to refinish!

Pamela beat me to it!

Having your art and accessories in pairs (like the buffet lamps and art flanking the console) and the candlesticks, etc, makes the space feel more "formal".

Darzy - great minds think alike!

Paint your chairs and add a banquette on one side of the table.
https://www.houzz.com/photos/2010-colorado-homes-and-lifestyles-home-of-the-year-traditional-dining-room-denver-phvw-vp~247423

I would paint the chairs creamy white. Contemporize with some light colors and bolder patterns. Chairs cushions lighter color. Rug in an asymetrical pattern, and light background. Paint the chandelier cream. Choose a fun pattern, lighter color for the drapes. Paint the art frames white, same as molding trim. Asymetrical accessory arrangements. A cool sculpture for the buffet. One lamp. Art that is freeform.

Eclectic mix

Just read your comments, Pamela and Darzy. Guess we are all on a similar wave length. :)

some ideas you could consider form these inspiration pics
(transitional)

lighten the walls add new curtains and rug

consider replacing chairs at the end of the table with upholstered ones
recover the seats
etc. all pics

inspiration pics for a contemporary style

Thank you all for giving me such great ideas. Now I've got to think it through.

Nice furniture. But let's let the room have more fun. New rug. New drapes with a large graphic design. Can't see what is on buffet or in cabinet.

I like to not over think things.

Catherine, I agree with most of the comments thus far: Bold colors, lighter wall color, the linen drapes sound good. Recovering the seats on your chairs is really easy, all you need is a screwdriver and a staple gun.

Not so many wall accessories that match and are symmetrical. I love the chandelier in the Transitional dining room picture posted by pcmom...

The first pic is a rug, geometric speaks to Contemporary, the second pic is Ikat fabric for your chairs, and the third pic is a contmporary artwork with paint color suggestions, but I would probably go with a light grey that matches the linen drapes.

The Netsuke paint would probably work with everything.

How are you feeling Nancy? I hope much better!

I'm feeling much better, thanks. I'll feel a whole lot better when the drains come out!

1. Get white see Through

2. Remove inessential furniture.

3. Replace light fixture with a contemporary / modern fixture

White see through curtains
Get rid of blinds

Lighting ideas plus some crumbs for the birds please.......somebody did not want a rooster on the table. Not joking...makes it more homely if that's what you are thinking of......not knowing cannot tell much but I am full of ideas. Don't care for the white stripe on the chairs though.

How about some fruits on the table? By less formal I presume it means the human touch without having the 'hands off' signal.
Hope these ideas are helpful to you..

I agree that you can in fact use your furniture and have a more casual dining room. I envision a fun, fresh color on the chair cushions and in your accessories.
http://houzz.com/photos/1222222
And definitely a new chandelier in a more transitional style will help bridge the gap between your formal pieces and the atmosphere you'd like to create.

While I'm not a huge fan if the coral color against the wood in this photo, I can envision the concept done up in citron green or a shade of turquoise...
http://houzz.com/photos/193248

Ann dee, I'm sorry, I just noticed you already posted the above picture. We're thinking alike anyway. :-)

Light filtering shades will really brighten up the space. Roman shades are a traditionally formal window covering, but these from Levolor meet in the middle with modern, clean lines.

We love the palette that @Darzy suggested. Bringing in the blue and white with wallpaper, will make the space look much fresher and more alive. Take a look at these patterns:

Rugs are expensive. Thinking, leave that for now, but take down the curtains, art, all objects off the buffet. That will give you a pretty clean slate to work with and get the ball rolling! Believe reupholstering the chairs would be a big impact. And, change out light.

The wall and seat colors in the photo are too dark for you. But I like the style of the curtain panels. Something like those with your rug would work.

DO NOT paint that table or chairs. All you have to do is update and scale back on accessories. Update lamps, rug or mirrors. Even wallpaper.

What Pamela said!

It looks like everything is in perfect condition but I am guessing you are just looking for a change. The dining room chairs would look beautiful painted a black lacquer with a colorful contemporary fabric. I would change the Oriental rug with a contemporary design. You have everything very symmetrical which is very formal; consider asymmetrical when placing lamps and accessories on your side tables. Another huge change would be to replace the crystal chandelier with a contemporary fixture. Consider a bold graphic window treatment, too. Happy shopping!

Replace the chairs with upholstered ones and remove most of the " floral" accessories. Editing down all the patterns that you currently have going on will give you a cleaner more contemporary look!

Everything about your room is formal. Try adding slipcovers over the chairs. You have shutters, no? Take down the drapes. Remove the curly-que stuff. Maybe just stream-line your accessories put a few away to make the room less full. I like Darzy's idea to change the rug, too.

In the foyer(?) if you removed the mirror and the prints and just added one painting it would be a much cleaner look. Maybe a horizontal piece with the right scale to compliment the table.

I have a VERY similar dining room set. We sold our home to downsize. I wanted this furniture many years before I got it and I was NOT about to part with it so I made it work! This is what I did and I love it. I reluctantly left my beautiful chandelier and sconces with the home because they were too formal and now I have a drum shade that has oil rubbed bronze and the shade is burlap, really pretty. I took my china and crystal goblets out and stored those below in china cabinet. I began to place certain "fancy" things like a crystal water pitcher, crystal vase and a few silver trays for height in the cabinet. Then I added some pretty antique vases, bottles, and daughters artwork that I loved in there. These last items dressed it down, On top of the china cabinet and because the ceilings are high I placed three leather boxes with rustic closures. Then I hung a wreath in the center that I made from vines. I really like it, very casual things mixed with more formal things. I also thought I'd put books in there but I liked it so much I didn't do that. If you want to keep your chandelier, Ballard Designs has some nice burlap shades as well as some linen shades. Also, I replaced my formal centerpiece with a pretty crystal vase and some long stemmed silk flowers. Good luck!

Your room is very nice and you have all quality pieces. Don't refinish furniture--that really isn't what's causing the formal look.

The curly item on the wall could go and replace it with a palm tree in that corner. Then you could remove the two pics near the window and drapes as I mentioned above.

The box with flowers under the picture on the buffet could be removed, too. All your things are pretty but it's part of what makes the room formal.

While your dining room is very formal it looks very beautiful and in keeping with the look of your house ( from the entry way I see). If you want something newer /different in style, I would just sell your whole table set, chairs, sideboard and cabinet and do something radically different. If you are not ready to sell it yet,, then put the furniture in storage and rent something high end for a month or two to see how you feel about it. You will drive your self crazy trying to update each of the various components. There are a lot of great ideas here already; so I am just giving you another take on it.

Your whole house looks formal. One thing you could do is. Get new chairs at ends of table. Go a gray and yellow print. Change seats to a yellow. Get rid of all florals, incl drapes. Go a solid gray on ends only. Replace chandelier with a drum style with dark gray shade. Remove art on walls and lighter more subtle yellows, greens. Think Monet, knock offs. I would go same size rug in creams and pale yellows, blue and grays. Add silver candlestick to buffet. With tray with tall wine glasses. A big silver bowl on table, fill with faux fruits and veggies. Greens and yellow. I would not refinish furn. Very expensive. If you want to change it up buy. A same size table, but in dark wood modern. And a buffet dark wood with brush nickel pulls. Change out pulls on existing buffet, if keeping. It might be time to sell the old and bring in 2013.

I would sell hutch. Very dated.

Remove all small art.

Do not paint wood. Won't look good. It's a beautiful set. But if you want something more updated. Sell it.

People are living less formal lives and homes are changing in that direction, but it doesn't mean you can't have a "dressier" dining space than a kitchen would be.

Think of loosening the necktie a bit.
As suggested a bit less stuff on walls and perhaps a fresher more modern paint color.
Drapes are becoming less fussy.
Woven wood blinds with simple drapery panels.
Like the suggestion of sisal rug.
When it comes to china cabinet, less is more, don't overfill behind the glass area.

I don't think this set needs painting.

http://houzz.com/photos/4937489

http://houzz.com/photos/1218423

http://houzz.com/photos/1354035

Hi! Art is such a powerful tool not only in design but also enriching your life. May we suggest some artwork that would update your dining room. We love to mix formal with a contemporary painting.

How would I go about selling some of my beautiful, but formal furnishings. Most are expensive pieces such as a Henkle Harris DR table that extends to 144 inches with 10 Councill Carnegie Hill Side Chairs, a Federal Sideboard and matching Breakfront, also Councill and all in superb condition. I've heard of professional estate sales but it seems like everyone else makes out on these deals except the seller.

change your walls from red wallpaper to light neutral paint, and your rug to a modern one, and you'll be most of the way there with your furniture. take off the china hutch top, and use just the buffet base works, too.

yes, people arent much buying furniture like this.