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My Homeware Shop hang some photos on the wall. place a beautiful flower on the table.

sternl2001 work in progress. comments? The decor on the server is kind of weird, thoughts? I would like to recover my chairs also...

sternl2001 This is what it looked like when I started. I hope I've improved it.

misspeggy7 okay, honestly? I think you need to juxtapose the traditional with something modern and bright that pops. I would put a huge, abstract painting on the wall. A conversation piece. And then I'd put a large piece of pottery in the center of the table. Leave out any fake greenery or flowers. Maybe get a giant floor pot/vase and put some willow branches in there. OR, if you're not into the bright colors, just get something for the wall that's funky, young and different. Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware have great displays.

cypress Yes, you have made a big improvement! I like the placement of the server on the back wall, photo #2.
As far as decor on the server, both items are about the same size, I would choose only one of them with something lower along side. I prefer the lantern instead of the birdcage. I think you need something on either side of your art work, sconces, for example. Recovering your chairs is also a great idea.

tea77 Big improvement! I like the soothing colors you've chosen. Can you add a mirror? Maybe where the tree art is hung, and move the tree art next to the entryway

hyweld Maybe add on a table behind the table, a large Chinese vase to add some complexity. Nice wall colour btw.

sternl2001 Thanks everybody! Great ideas! I will keep playing and update pics again eventualy. :)

lj61 I would hang a large mirror over the buffet and place 3 different sizes vases over to 1 side on the buffet or maybe some white turen (soup) servers of different syles; You have a formal dining area so make it modern country french if there is such a thing, anyway just go with what you like but hang that mirror and see what inspiration you get after that. O! also change your curtains and go from ceiling to floor, let them drape on the floor it adds softness.

Keitha I agree with lj61 about replacing your drapes... Maybe something with a little pattern in it? Also, the chandelier is a little too small and hung too high. Have you thought of a two tier chandelier ? If you leave your painting where it is currently I suggest getting a buffet lamps for each end of the console table and maybe place your soup tureen in the center. The birdcage and lantern are great and can easily be used elsewhere.

Genevieve The look is formal therefore the picture that you have isn't really for that room ,you need a larger piece of art to make a statement ,perhaps something of this sort .
http://www.allposters.ca/-sp/Poppies-posters_i1110237_.htm
next the chandelier needs to be a bit lower and the window covering also need to be changed into a more formal style.

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Genevieve http://interiordec.about.com/od/chandelier1/qt/Dining-Room-Chandelier-How-High-To-Hang-A-Dining-Room-Chandelier.htm

Mary Bona Love the wainscot. I think a matching set of beautifully framed and matted prints would look fabulous, and then some tablescaping - flowers, etc on the table. Shades on the chandelier would add more to the space (or maybe exchange the current one out for something more ornate)...and some crown moulding where the wall sets the ceiling, and paint the ceiling a coordinating color to the wall for drama? Something like this, but with your color scheme:

carolins I do like the painting. You could pick out the colour for your seat covers from that painting. I'm thinking one of the blue tones and maybe go a shade darker.


Your dining room looks so much better than before. Great job!

Jayme Hobbs pics of a few traditional dining rooms

Barbara Griffith Designs First look for a new large rug with bold colors..the room really is lacking color. From that rug, choose a fabric to put on your chairs..things will then start to fall into place..On the walls, much larger art, or small matching items grouped in large numbers..cover wall space. Large pot with tall plant. Chandelier is boring, at the least it needs shades..or replace it with something with style.

asisi I like to repeat colors or shapes in threes. This keeps the eye traveling and draws you into the room. Three shapes like the oval chairs table, and plates on the wall . Add three colors as accents like red, or gold or copper Harmony through repetition. In addition consider a painting on a larger scale.

pollyannagal Looking so much better! The blue-green colour theme really lifts the tone of the floor and furniture and building on this will help to make the room more modern and fresh. My suggestions are: add a really big drum shade to the chandelier, recover the chair seats (I like the paisley suggested by carolins), replace the lantern on the sideboard with a lower item such as a large bowl full of decorative eggs (creates a bit of a thematic link with tree and birdcage), place the additional chairs square on to the wall rather than angled, add a large rug under the table - something modern with a simple pattern. Lovely room.

sternl2001 Great ideas! I have been a little afraid of buying a modern type rug for the space because my furniture is so traditional. I have actually removed the bird cage and the lantern from the server and replaced them with two matching large hurricane type candle holders which have a dark metal base and the glass is amber. White soup tureen in the middle. The painting is 34" x 34" . I like it's size in relation to the server, but I guess the wall still needs a bit of something. Can you add a drum shade over the kind of chandelier that I have? Or do I actually have to replace the chandelier? Thank you so much for your help!

pollyannagal You should be able to attach a large drum shade to the chandelier - the frame it would attach at the base of the chain. A shade that large is not the easiest to find but try a specialist lighting store or look online to have one made. This update is a great way to blend traditional furniture with more modern styling and should be less expensive than an entire new light fitting.

If you feel the wall needs something more then add a pair of smaller pictures, mirrors or plates above the chairs. These should be of a style that isn't trying to match the main picture, rather to frame them in a composition. Have a look at the third picture that Jayme Hobbs posted to see the idea.

carolins What about a large sisal rug, bordered with one of the colours from your painting? And I like pollyannagal's idea about adding some other decorations to your wall.

Mary Bona Check out bellacor.com for reasonably priced chandliers. I get most of my lighting from that site.

Nancy McFalls If you aren't sure how to cover a large wall, rather than commit to an expensive piece, you might want to try this idea to infuse some color and/or pattern: frame multiple pieces of fabric, wallpaper or even wrapping paper that you love. Ikea frames are cheap and clean-lined. Group with space between or not... here's what I did with some cloth napkins from World Market to cover a bare 4'x6' wall in my own dining area:

Susan Mills Design Susanna, what a beautiful collection you put together!

Susanna Thank you Susan! So kind of you to say that. I always like your solutions whenever I see you on threads so I appreciate your opinion. Thanks!

sternl2001 Thank you everyone! I love the board on pinterest. I am sure I will refer to it often and I really appreciate the time and thought that went in to it!! Also love the idea of framing material or wallpaper! I am decorating with the thought of putting the house on the market in a year or so I don't want to personalize it too much but I can't wait to try these ideas in my Florida home eventually!

Marion Mayer Congratulations on eliminating the bleeding wall color! I like the feedback to use items of uneven size on the sideboard. Your painting is square, you can be a rebel & not "match"!

sternl2001 So funny! That red was pretty loud wasn't it? Thanks for your input. :)

AnnE Oakley On your side table......the two items you've chosen are too large for that particular table. One of your two choices would be better, however even one is a bit too large in general considering the large print you have hanging on the wall. Either one of these choices would look good in the room.....just not on this table or under this print. Also, the general rule is for odd number of items placed on surfaces.
A good choice for this side table would be 3 items of much smaller scale.

popo1 If it is still an option I would hang heavy curtains that have more colour to make a statement and couple of paintings in big, heavy frames

weego Hi, This room is so serious. You want to evoke conversation and a mood in a dining room. Cover the seat cushions, and buy a new chandelier(something that wows). The window could really help this space, by pulling the curtains all the way into the corners, the fabric will bring softness and some romance. Go all the way to the ceiling with your rod and do a heavier fabric so you can't see through it. Put a mirror on the wall opposite the window to reflect daylight and the chandelier at night. You may want to consider painting this furniture. Good luck, it is sometimes hard to work around pieces you already own but I think you can make it work.

michelleohio I would add upholstered parson's chairs to either end of the table. I love the caned back chairs. Adding light, neutral colored parson's chairs would make the space look more fresh and current. You can also use parson's chairs in other areas of the house for entertaining. Often, you can order extra yards of matching fabric when buying upholstered or slip covered chairs( pottery barn), so you could cover the seats of your wooden chairs in the same or a coordinating fabric to bring the look together.

designher2 You're making a good effort. I'd also suggest either replacing the draperies or adding a valance or cornice. By all means get the large stuff off the server. Keep it simple and/or give space for serving. One beautiful tureen with a dynamite flower arrangement, perhaps? I like the idea of a large framed mirror above the server.

blindsdirectcanada Room looks great so far . I would recommend replacing the drapery if possible. I would go with a silhouette type blind inside the window and just decorative panels to frame the window. I have attached a picture of the silhouette with panels however I would keep the rod and hang the panels on them for a more formal look.

http://www.blindsdirectcanada.com/blinds-toronto/hunter-douglas/silhouette-toronto.html

The Creative Man Hi, I would like to see new curtains, something a little funky with the pattern to change the elegance you want to get away from. Have some blue in the pattern to give the rug some connection. Move the buffet table to the other wall in the back of space. Put small lamp shades on the light fixture to cozy up the room. Art is always a powerful tool to adding a them to a room. Think about what you want to project and choose some framed art.

lara leigh designs llc i would go with different color above chrl - maybe a blue tone u like or ever a rich red , green anything more suited to dARK FURNITURE and rug then i'd lighten up with whites on the table dressing
lighter or different color seats and possibly another set of panels for the outer side in a contrasting tone and feel