For the most modern colours go to Pantone 2014 online and see the colour family.use for paint, rug , modern upholstery on your chairs, and drapes. Repeat the drapes in your living room. Or ditto with your inspiration colours.

It is a wonderful set. Paint the walls dark tan, white crown molding, Ceiling to floor drapes. Hit the sales and keep buying different dish settings. Change them out all the time you will never tire of the room.

Lovely dining set. Ditch the white table cloth - if you want it covered, use something in a deeper color. (Deep red or blue, like the flowers on the chairs.) Get a couple throw pillows for the sofa in the same color to tie it in. A tall plant in the corner to the left of the china cabinet would bring some life to it (majestic palm, ficus, fiddlehead.) The sample photos you show both have floor length draperies - is this something you're looking for? I think drapes would pull it together. I like the current wall color. Have you considered putting the rug all the way under the sofa?

Oh yes, by all means please remove the tablecloth. Put one large shiny object in the middle of the table.

I like the wall colour in your last photo. Painting the window frames white would most definitely "modernize" the area. Or maybe even black to match the TV and stand and the chest by the door... and the black in the rug (which needs to be pulled under the legs of the sofa by the way).

I love your chandelier.

I know you didn't ask, but a black coffee table would round out the area, bringing it all together.

Good luck.

A pretty damask table runner with a pretty silk flower arrangement in the middle with tall glass candlesticks- maybe turn the table the other way. Yes, the chandelier is lovely. A nice window treatment would keep some of the sunlight out. Sometimes dishes and keepsakes look good when balanced with like objects. Lots of wall paint choices- pick your favorite! Also what a nice buffet to show anything- and this gal Likes chairs!!