We had a small dinette area off our kitchen that we preferred to use as a little sitting area. There was a chandelier centered in this small dinette area. We did not really care for the way the chandelier hung down over that sitting area but wanted to leave a fixture there in case we later opted to use it as a dinette again. We ended up using a semi flush light fixture. It hangs down a little bit but you can easily walk under it. If you used something like that it would provide light above your table when you would move it out into the room. There are many options out there if you just search for "semi flush". Here are a couple that I found:

You could use a light fixture hung by a chain. Use an S-hook to shorten the chain when the table is pushed back, then unhook it when you move the table out. Or, you could put a swag hook in the ceiling over the pushed-back location of the table and hook the chair over this when the table is not pulled out, unhooking it when you pull out the table. The light will be shorter in the swagged position. This will only work if both positions are fairly close together. What are you going to use for seating? Do you have a place to store the extra chairs? This post was edited by Chibimimi on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 20:34

I like the buffet and think its old wood is pretty. Adds age, which is needed in this room, IMO. The finish does not match the bright, new "maple" on the dining table, which does not go in this pretty room anyway. The table top gives it a very casual, and modern, in-the-kitchen feel. I'd sand that table and paint it to match the cabinet, using satin, not glossy. A roller is easier and won't show brush marks. Keep that old buffet, put a dark grounded(toile, perhaps)runner on top and an old silver tea set,a lamp, etc. Look at the recent post by reno-fan re. her new bathroom. You could use the door idea: remove bottom doors and replace with fabric and chicken wire. You have gotten lots of wonderful ideas, along with inspiration pics..Am sure you will end up loving it! Question : can that hutch top be hung on a wall?

Does anyone have a set of placemats (& tableclot) for each season: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall? ...Or is that just too much? I have several for autumn, in autumnal prints/colors, including the one above. I don't have many matching cloth napkins since I like to mix and match; I also have a set of natural colored linen napkins which work well with most of the tablecloths. For the rest of the year, most of the tablecloths are some version of blue-and-white block print or batik, and I just change up the napkins, plates, glassware, etc. for the seasons. Other than wood/grass/bamboo placemats, do your placemats ever look the same after the first wash? It seems the sewn/2-sided ones never do for me. My placemats are all wicker/rattan/grass, or cork-backed (Pimpernel), so this hasn't been a problem. Be aware that the current Pimpernel placemats are nowhere near the quality they used to be. And, what do you do about stains? Not having to worry about them is definitely another plus in my book for colorful patterns : ) . Especially since we're hosting Canadian Thanksgiving later today with about 25 people. I wouldn't worry too much about placemats not looking the same after washing. I think there's something lovely and welcoming about well-used, and clearly well-loved, table linens, that show they're used often to welcome others around the table. And unless you're actually hosting very formal dinners, I think there's a lot to be said for guests as well as hosts not worrying too much about perfect, pristine-looking table linens through the entire meal. As a guest or a host, I would much rather concentrate on the conversation, family, friends, than worrying about spills and stains that might happen or have happened. At one dinner with a heavy white damask tablecloth and napkins, and all the best silver sparkling, the conviviality came to a screeching halt after a guest spilled a glass of red wine, and the hostess seemed distracted and upset; we all pretty much got the impression that she couldn't wait for us to leave to break out the club soda. I also think of the napkins and other linens I have from my mother, some older embroidered napkins from my grandmother, and think of the memories and history. If I can't convince you : ) , then I'd either agree with Jan's Sunbrella suggestion, or suggest linen tablecloths, placemats, and napkins, in darker colors (with a different color for each season) and a mangle/clothes press. LinenMe has some very nice things. Linen tends to look better the more it's used and washed. Good luck! Am off to preheat the oven for the turkey : )