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cidel This is the light that will hag over the table. Brown shades, chrome & clear acrylic. And three of these over the work island, so stools to consider as well.

cidel What I am really after is 2 armchairs. I like these.
http://www.bowring.com/f_products.asp?subcategory=17

cidel Again the ornate set (but it doesn't show the armchairs).

La Maison Chic Too ornate for the kitchen seating .

cidel Thank you, what do you think of the two chairs that I would change out for two of the ones I have now? Ideas to dress up the table? With the leaf out it is 42 round. Small, but I would love a round table.

carole must say i like the set you already have,17 is that the windsor?/they are in style with your current diningset too...will you upholster all the chair the same ?? i think it will work well!!

Megan Wayyy to ornate!

Keep it fresh & fun. I love the caned-back chairs...Restoration Hardware sold some very similar to this for $200 a pop. I'd choose a neutral fabric in a solid or small scale pattern. A ticking stripe is cute and fresh. I love the idea of incorporating armchairs into the space. It's still meets your desire for "formal" but paired with different chairs it makes it more kitchen appropriate.

I attached a small idea board. Hope it gives you some ideas!

Lydia Your existing dining set is much better! Just update it with some interesting fabric on the chairs. I wouldn't go with the brown shades.....too much brown already with the wood.

joanbllt since you are in a smaller area - and this probably kitchen/dining, you might want to consider a sunbrella type of fabric that can clean up more easily.

cidel Thanks Carole, yes it's the Windsor chair from Bowrings. It has a bit of maroon, which is why I hesitate, I don't love the fabric. But I do like the chairs.

cidel The brown shades are a must. I've incorporated this line throughout the house & really like it. http://russell-lighting.com/collection/genesis/
The ceilings are 9' the walls will be taupe, BM Cabot Trail, lots of white moulding work, the floors Mirage - Praline & the counters Caesarstone Carmel, lots os morning light too. 15' of one wall white over glazed antiqued cabinets, work island is dark wood.

cidel I think I should have said exactly what I really want , 2 new Armchairs plus a Large round table. But, the Lane (expensive) cherry table is beautiful, and I've had it as my kitchen table for more than 20 years now. So would have a hard time parting with it, and I'd get little if it was sold.

I have a lot of more formal looking kitchen seating ideas in my Idea Books here.

Megan Here's a beautiful antiqued table that might work well with your new cabinets! I would then keep the caned back chairs their cherry color and find two pretty armchairs with cherry finishes. You could always sell the table you love so dearly to a local consignment store...you know it'd be getting a nice, new home! :)

cidel That's a nice table, thanks, but I really want to stay with a dark one. The big draw of the ornate set was the large table. Although it too was not simple enough for the kitchen dining area.

La Maison Chic The table is too fine for a kitchen table, it belongs in a dining room setting. the chair gives it more of a casual feel but still the polished wood and the style is very formal dining room. its beautiful and i can see why you dont want to part with it. if you can, perhaps distressing it a bit so its not so perfect would help but maybe storing it and getting something more suited to the kitchen area. Just an idea, if you do decide on the set go with a really casual fun fabric.

cidel Do you mean my current table is too fine for the kitchen? That is where it has been all along, in my past two kitchens. And my husband has distressed it, not on purpose though. *wink*

Gretchen Maurer I love the table to the set you showed....but the chairs did seem heavy.... don't try to "make-up" for the loss of a dining room by going too formal in the kitchen setting. down sizing may require more use of less space so keep it comfortable. I love the painted table above....

La Maison Chic Husbands are awesome!!! :) The style is more formal than a regular kitchen table but if it works in your space just make the fabric really fun!

cidel You know exactly what I am trying to do. Make the dining area in the kitchen more formal, but I do need help in not going over the top with it. I have deleted that ornate set from my mind completely.

cidel I think that I am on the right track then with my first idea. Keep my table and chairs, but set two aside, and add to armchairs. But, should the table stay the oval, or remove the leaf and use it as a 42 round. I love the round, as I said, but is 42 too small?

Megan Paired with armchairs, I think a 42 round will be very small. Ours is a 60 round and four armless dining chairs still feels small. I'd keep the leaf if you're going to add armchairs.

cidel By the way, the pic of my current set is not in front of a stove or counters.

cidel Yes, leaf in, that's what I thought. Should the 2 armchairs go on the ends of the table, or the wide sides of the oval?

La Maison Chic YEs, i figured you had a separate area for the table, i think it will be great with the less formal chairs and a couple of armchairs. Fun but beautiful enough for a Sunday dinner

Megan I think it will depend on the measurements of the armchairs you end up buying. I like them, personally, on the wide side of the oval...seems less formal and more laid back. However, if it's formal you're after, I'd put them at the ends.

carole could you get the chairs upholstered in a fabrick of choice when you buy them??

cidel No, I don't think so Carole. But I can live with that fabric to have the arms.