Lovely home, and I can imagine that the pond will be wonderful once completed. No, your new chandie does not seem too big. I think a walnut top will be perfect.

Pretty red valance; your friend is lucky.

I love your chandy. I don't think it's too big at all. I say keep it.

I love your chandelier. It looks fine to me. I agree with your DH. The chandelier and your dining set look good together.

I can't answer your second question but I love the island top. This is what I want my countertop made out of when I update my kitchen counter. The color is ideal.

Nice kitchen.

I think the size looks good but did think it looked a little low?

magazine-worthy

Love the chandy.......but also agree that it needs to be higher.
A walnut table top would be lovely but I'm not sure it needs to be as thick as the one on the island. Have DH make up a template of some sort and do a test run first.

Pretty, so pretty. That is the word that came into my mind when I saw your DR. I think your chandy is perfect in that room. And your island is lovely. I think your DR table is fine the way it is, but would also look very nice with a similar top as your island.

Looks wonderful-- but I agree that you might try getting it higher.

And lucky you-- a pond!!!

I love your chandy; it looks great with your table. And that island top is awesome. Your dh did a great job on it. I think it would look good on the table too, although I can't really tell how thick either of them are.

Pretty chandelier, pretty breakfast nook, and pretty kitchen! The chandelier looks like just the right size to me, and I think the tabletop in that beautiful walnut would look great with your chairs.

The whole picture looks so lovely, I see the wall picture matches the chandy...how nice! You have created such a comfortable kitchen and the view is perfect. I don't know, I do love the table the way it is, probably a toss up! Hubby is a great woodworker for sure. SWEET!

Hi Diana, remember me from the cottage? Been awhile. I love your new addition and think it fits the space well. Love the way it ties in with the picture on the wall. I recognized your beautiful schoolhouse lights and remember when you first posted them. We are waiting for septic inspection and we will be mooving into our new house. Finally after two years. New canvas to paint both inside and out. Patti

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the lovely compliments and the feedback on the chandelier. I really appreciate all your input. : ) I think the chandelier needs to be a bit higher, too. I held it up a bit higher and DH measured. It seems like another two inches will work. But I have a question - if we raise it the light bulbs will be viewable when sitting. Is that ok? Can you tell I haven't had a chandelier in a long time. lol

The table top is one inch thick. I don't have a good pic of the thickness of it but I'll take one in the morning and post it then. The island top is 1 1/2 in. thick. Here's a better pic of it. This was before we got the feet on the cabinets:
{{!gwi}}

My sweet DIL is an artist and she painted that picture of the rose for me. I am a recovering rose-aholic. I say recovering because I've only bought one rose this season. ; ) That was a happy accident, the way it goes so well in the room.

And thanks for the compliments on the kitchen. Other than the soapstone install, it is total diy. I wanted inset cabs but didn't want to pay the price for them so DH added a few more tools to his workshop and I got my cabs. I have Budge to thank for the table leg source for the island. She and I were on the kitchen forum at the same time, stressing over all those minute details. But I am so happy with my kitchen, even though I swear I never want to paint another cabinet. lol

Hi Pat! I have missed you and am so happy to see you posting. I'm really looking forward to seeing your new home. You must be thrilled to finally be moving in. I hope your DH is doing well. Home building can be so stressful. Do you remember Marilyn in Texas? That valance is for her. I made one for her dining room last year and that one is for her kitchen window. I'll be sending it off to her tomorrow.

Diana

Just lovely...good for you!

Your island is beautiful. I am thinking about doing something similar in my kitchen. May I ask what you used to finish the top? Did you oil it or is it a waterproof finish?

Thanks for the pictures--such good inspiration!

I think your new chandelier is perfect! It looks wonderful in your lovely dining area. What a beautiful home, everything about your house and kitchen is fantastic, love it!

What a beautiful, excellent choice!!! It's the perfect size. I don't think it is hanging too low, I think its the angle of the picture that is throwing people off.

I think the size of the chandy is perfect. It is substantial enough for the space and the fact the is is narrow makes it fit without overwhelming the table. You don't want a little dinky one over the table and you don't want a formal, wide, dining room size size. I think it is perfect just the way it is with it's very vertical feel.

As far as the table goes........I don't think a walnut top will keep the light and airy feel the small room has right now.

I can see problems with the uneven top that the table has now having grooves though. Dirt will collect in them. Setting glasswear and flatwear on them will be annoying if they tilt.

How about putting a glass top over the table to make it smooth and easy to clean? It won't add much thickness to the top either and will keep the room bright and cheery. The walnut top idea might make the room seem darker and would take away from the uniqueness that the walnut top in the kitchen now has. It might seem to 'matchy' to have them both in walnut.

I think lifting the light up a few inches is what it needs.

I love the island top but think it'd be too much on the table... I like the idea of glass on it tho. much easier to clean and more inline with the springy, outdoorsy look to it.

you're going to have a lovely view also!

I like the softness of the room now and think that the natural wood top would ruin the look you have. The room is just lovely and the chandy is wonderful there.
Diane

Thank you all for the compliments and the additional advice and opinions. I value each and everyone of them. : )

I think we will take a link or two out of the chain and see how we like it. Last night DH and I sat across from each other at the table and I noticed the round metal piece on the bottom was blocking the very top of his head. And we have 6 ft. plus sons and friends who come and eat with us so I know their heads would be a bit blocked, too.

Dilly, thanks for weighing in and mentioning the glass top. I will consider it. The grooves aren't as big as the pic seems to make them appear but they do get some dust in them and it can be annoying. But glasses are no problem. Everything sits flush without tilting.

profmom, we used waterlox as a finish. It works really well. If I'm remembering correctly, we did 6 coats, sanding lightly in between. We did it out in our garage because the fumes were too strong for me. You do need to do it in a clean, dust free area. I used wide foam brushes which gave a nice smooth application. I believe Budge used waterlox, too. Maybe she will weigh in on her experiences or start a thread and she'll most likely answer. And if you search on the kitchen forum, I believe you'll find more info or someone will find it for you. Let me know if I can be of any more help.

I think we will keep the table top for now. Too many other projects to get done and I must say I do like the lightness of it all. It is my favorite room in the house, besides my kitchen, so I sit there in the morning with my laptop, perusing the decorating and garden forums. DH is going to make bookcases for the living room, the kind that have the lower cases out further than the top. The top of those lower cases will be walnut so he'll get to use his beloved wood again. : )

Diana

I love your nice chandelier and agree a few inches higher would be better. What kind of light bulbs do you have in it? If you have the curly fluorescent kind they do make more standard looking fluorescent ones.

Lovely kitchen, DR and garden. You'll enjoy your pond. We have had one in the past and they can be work, but are so nice to look at.

I agree, a tad higher would be better.

I had a new "old" top made for our table. I can measure the thickness, if you'd like:

After:

{{!gwi}}