is there a reason the ceiling in the dining room is so low?
could you do a tray ceiling?

Thank you for your input! Wish we could have done that. There is a 2nd story so we can't bump up there.

hi, one way is to see if you can put a glass panel above the doors - it's called a Transom. Here is one with and one without. You have to move above the "without" one to see the top - sorry!

Pcerf, I think a lower ceiling in a DR makes for cozier dining! Picturing the double set of doors opening onto a terrace, why not give it a garden feel with sky blue ceiling and pastoral paintings on the walls. Maybe bring in a beautiful rug that picks up on the blue plus adds in some terra cotta to relate to outdoor brick.

Just treat that low ceiling as a non-issue, because it is! Your home sounds beautiful!

Thanks so much for your input! Great ideas