Thanks so much for your replies. Mikeandbarb, the area is shaded during the morning and then half shade by mid afternoon. When we first looked at the house in August, though, the area was full sun in the afternoon. I can't remember, but I think it probably heats up something terrible- one of the reasons I thought maybe a fountain might be a nice addition. I do have to use the faucet to water pots and hanging baskets. Lowes has cast iron water fountains for $99, by the way. I bought one, but it doesn't seem substantial enough for the space. They also have wall fountains for $89. Maybe I'll try one of those. Justin, I hadn't considered a pergola, but that might be a perfect solution. I could have a seating area underneath and a be able to sit and watch those little ones ride their bikes (and keep them out of my flower beds!) Red Geranium, I have to lok at pea gravel. If the pieces are dime sized or bigger, my son will probably have a hey day carting it off in his dump trucks and bulldozers. He does that with mulch, too. :( But otherwise, what a great idea to have that and large pots. More convenient than designing a planting scheme. Actually, the previous owners left a pile of flagstone in the back and two huge olive jar shaped planters. If I can get the (heavy!) planters into the front yard, I could plant something easy in them like asparagus fern. Could I espalier creeping fig? I might run to Lowes tomorrow and get one of those wall fountains. I know they'll sell out. I hope your sweet olive throws off some scent for you soon. I was at Bellingrath Gardens one year in the spring and Holy Cow, those Sweet Olives! You could smell them a mile away.

Thanks Sea, you are right the Parson is about 4" taller than the table, i believe the table is 30" and the parsons are 34". I just always thought the chairs at the end of the tables were supposed to be taller, but the ikea option at that price would be very attractive. My girlfriend is flipping out regarding mixing the wood legs with chrome, she thinks it doesnt work, but then again shes not a designer either lol. I guess in terms of making the table look more substantial in the room, it should look more substantial when that chandelier is over it, and when I add a buffet table in the room. So I guess it really isnt an issue. I may check out those ikea chairs soon

Thanks for the feedback, yayagal and walnut creek. I was beginning to get nervous about the black. I don't know if you looked at the Thomas armchair, but that is quite simple. When not in use, I was going to place them in front of the window where the low red/goldish chairs are now. I was getting them in a pretty seafoamish-sage green because all my furniture in the adjoining family room is cream. To go with them, I was thinking of these aimple mission style side chairs, in black, but maybe now to match the table, with the same green upholstery seats. Thoughts, photos? Here is a link that might be useful: Mission chairs

I'm sorry to take so long to reply. I've been out all day! Thank you for the pictures. Your fabrics are really beautiful! I do think that you could use the welting fabric for the chairs and welt with the valance fabric. I'd probably do the reverse though to match the valance, and maybe add a small green back pillow to the chair to contrast with the red and again trim with the valance welting too. You can't miss with either direction you go. A green chair would be really beautiful too especially with the contrasting welting. I'd do whichever version would allow for moving the chairs from room to room easily to go with what you have going on in the rest of the house. This may not be a big consideration for you though. I'm so glad you already have the parsons chairs. This really makes for some significant savings doesn't it? There is a site you might want to look at that does parsons chairs in every possible way with a variety of different legs and finishes, arms and armless, skirted and unskirted in their fabrics or your own. Slipcovers too. The site is Carrington Court Direct and lots of designers use their chairs. If you look them up you'll see that there are quite a few design options that most of us have never seen before in terms of parsons designs, two of them being the Danbury parsons wing chair and the Dartmouth King chair. Men like the extra width of the King design for a dining chair and the Danbury is a style that lots of people feel comfortable moving from the dining room to the living room. The Danbury arms work well for pulling the chair closer to the table in tight circumstances where otherwise armless chairs would normally work. I don't know whether a skirted look would be something you're interested in, but I've seen these Danbury chairs upholstered in both solid colors and patterns with a contrasting welting and a third contrasting color or pattern in the kickpleat of the skirt. Kind of an unexpected surprise. They look much more expensive than they are I think, and all of these chairs are very good quality. Their upholstery workmanship is first rate according to everyone I know who has used them. Just another option to consider...as if you needed one more! Great site for inspiration though. Having parsons chairs already on hand is really wonderful for you and I don't think you could go wrong in covering them in either combination of the valance materials or the green and adding a small pillow would be icing on the cake. I know I've seen your beautiful wallpaper in a fabric somewhere too. Your dining room is really charming and very French!