This is a wonderful blog -- check out their kitchen and dining room!

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: The Lettered Cottage

Another young couple with a wonderful re-done house blog -- check out their house photos!

Jan

Here is a link that might be useful: This Young House

Do you have room to turn the table so that it is lengthwise in the room? I don't see it being too matchy.

I would remove the drape and replace it with some sort of blind that matches the window blind material. It can be a different style, but the same material

(And can you might want to turn a couple of your shutterfly pics.)

I love that set and think it could work really well with your style. It doesn't scream formal to me at all. I think you just need to accessorize.

I really like the dining set but I'm not as keen on the chandelier -- I think that something in black iron might suit a more informal room.

Perhaps consider adding a smaller cabinet (for additional storage) under the artwork -- with a lamp on top for additional lighting options?

Consider creating a free account at Photobucket -- include photos of the kitchen and more photos of the family room too. After you have downloaded the photos there -- simply move your cursor over each photo -- and four codes will appear -- just click on the HTML one -- and it will automatically COPY. Then simply PASTE the photos into your message here at GW. More photos can really help us to help you!

Just some thoughts -- hope you don't mind! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I don't think it's too formal for your space either. What I do think would lighten things up is painting the window & door trim a shade of white. There's such a stark difference in the woods in that room. Are there windows in your kitchen? You mentioned it felt dark in there. The white cabinets should help.

teacats has some great ideas. I love the iron chandelier idea. Also, maybe a cotton rug or a sisal-look rug would help ground the space and add some informal ambience.

I really like the dining set.

Natal's suggestion of painting the woodwork and door white would make a huge difference in your dining area.

This is just a matter of personal taste, but I'd lose the tablecloth and go with colorful placemats.

I really like the set too,and think it is a set you will enjoy for years. The key is accessorizing it, as the other posters have said. Enjoy!

I think it is great and can definitely see it working for you with a more casual style. I think a rug would make a huge difference-- something with some fun and color and maybe (or not) a touch of black. I am picturing something transitional-- a larger pattern floral, though you could do a beachy stripe too. It's a great set and gives you a good start-- the accessories are going to be fun!

maybe change the wall color? it seems to blend in so much with the window treatments. i think that'd be cheaper than buying new WTs. blue would go good with it and the tablecloth.

or pick a color from an area rug after you get one.

I would lose the tablecloth too and go with colorful placemats. And a rug would make a HUGE difference.

I realize that the large black hutch cab is a great storage piece and looks great in the room, but what sticks out to be is the hodgepodge of small wine glasses that really do not fill the shelf. Maybe you could replace them with some larger pieces of china that are unified by a similar color (white) but different shapes.

I would also like to see the art on the wall have some of the grey/white/blue green color in it so that it ties together with hutch and the living room.

Consider removeing the tablecloth and try an area rug under the table in the blues/green white/grey.

Hi, Kimiko! Very nice furniture set! And it's not too matchy-matchy, you've just got to work with it a bit. Since you like the beadboard inside the hutch, how about installing beadboard partway up the walls of your dining area? Put it up to shoulder-height and top it with some chair rail. Several people mentioned getting an area rug, and I agree, it would be a nice addition, and you could pick out colors from the rug for your beadboard and upper walls.

Also, if you replace the chandelier, you could move it lower down, so it looks more intimate in that setting.

I'd also like to see a small side table against the little wall with the heat vent and like Teacats suggested, a small lamp would be nice. As mentioned, the current table cloth is too casual -- it's too summery on it's own against the masculine furniture, and the contents of the hutch are too small. You said you're replacing some of the contents, so get some chunkier pieces in there and use some bolder artwork to help balance the room visually.

Have fun with your beautiful new room!

Thanks everyone for their suggestions! I appreciate it!

The chandelier is actually from the previous owner. It should be 29 inches or 21 above the table. I'll have to check my notes. I hate it, but it matches the four other ones they have in the house. I was thinking about school house lights for our kitchen and maybe a bell jar in the foyer. Anyway, I already have replacement in the garage. It's one I bought for the house I was thinking we were going to buy. That was four years ago, mind you. :) It's a nickel finish plain one with exagerated arms. Kichler I think, before you started seeing them at HD or Lowes.

I love that beadboard idea up the walls. Would looks so pretty. I'm trying to get my husband to let me paint the trim as we type. He is a guy and like most guys.... no paint on wood! I just got him to let me paint the cabs.
i had to entice him by telling him we were getting new countertops!

I've been looking for things for the inside. I bought the soup pot with laddle the other day. You'd think I could find lots of substantial things to go into that cabinet, but I guess I'm pickier than I thought. I wanted to keep it all white things. I'll have to scour ebay more.

I did have a small cabinet there on that wall under the picture. But, it was hard to get around and sit down. If you can think of a thinner cabinet online, let me know. I think that wall is too bland too.

I didn't think about the peices being more masculine, but you're exactly right! I found that tablecloth at marshalls for three dollars and I needed something that day (did I mention we have a two year old?) So, is it a consensus that I should lose tablecloths and stick with just some placemats? I'd like to just have the table, but I'm afraid with a two year old that it will be all scratched up by tonight.

The artwork in there came from my mom's house. She bought two of them and decided she didn't like them. I had this great original art piece there. My husband hated it, so we went back to this boring thing. He likes boring stuff. And, not changing things.... hates change! I like to change everything every month or so. I'll have to start looking for different artwork.

I'll be on the lookout for a new rug. Do you think that a dash and albert rug would look good or something pottery barnish (we have another pb one in the ajoining room.) I saw an 8x10 medium grey wool oriental at big lots of all places. Would that be too masculine? Maybe that grey rug and some porcelain blue on the walls? (keep your fingers crossed about the painting of the trim!) I'll see what colors are in it if it's still there. (My husband didn't want a rug there, but too bad!)

Thank you guys so much. Just that little direction is exactly what I needed! Thank you, thank you!!!
Kim

BTW, sorry so long!

I think a dash and albert rug would help add that beach style-- yet I think they are refined enough too to transition the look without looking out of place. A PB rug would work too-- I am not really feeling the gray given the direction you said you wanted to go but I do think gray is lovely and would look nice with the set.

Maybe show us some examples of which rugs caught your eye?

I love your hutch and I, like the others, don't think it looks too matchy-matchy. It is just not done yet! I think a rug with your coastal theme would really liven things up.

In the link below, the Argyle Rug has some black in it and the Ming rug might be the green you are looking for...

Here is a link that might be useful: Beach House rugs...