Instead of new end chairs, how about new fabric on all the DR chairs, matching your sofa(s) or new carpet(s)? Quick fix which you can do yourself. Too bad about your coffee table, I was admiring it. Do you use your dining room table? My set is now up in the attic and I haven't missed it. I set up long folding tables covered with tablecloths for the times we need a larger table. I think you'll need the sconces, look for something to replace the ones you have. Good luck!

We've just combined our DR and family room. We bought a large drop leaf table from CL. When not in use, it is used behind the sofa. When needed for dining, we push the sofa against the wall.

This is most definitely not finished!

I know you said you did not want to purchase new furniture, but this option worked great and my old table sold in a flash.

The table seats 8 comfortable when opened. We recently had company and it worked great. We had a big lobster feed in there.

I like your hostess chairs idea. What if you remove the sofa, and have hostess chairs that can sit around the coffee table with the chaise most of the time, so you create a small conversation area, but they move to the table for dinners, and back for after-dinner coffee.

Love the fireplace screen! If you do roman shades, the shape would echo the "swag" in the screen.

oldbat2be: I totally forgot to mention I will be recovering the remaining chairs as well. An example chair is linked below, but I'm getting inspired by Bee's CL find to open my avenues. It has been suggested that I paint the chairs, but I don't know if I want to go that far. The dining table is rarely used, but I don't really need additional seating space. The entire LR/DR is 15'x24' and was a dedicated formal LR that was so rarely used, the dog was able to chew that table as a puppy and it went unnoticed for weeks! (There is another 23'x27' family room). Do you think I need additional wall lighting? I had planned on just the new chandeliers and buffet lamps. I do have an electrician coming in two weeks to wire up the ceiling for the chandy. The current sconce locations are not live, plus they intrude into the new dining space.

mabeldingeldine: the drop leaf certainly saves space. I think we have enough space to keep the dining room separate from a seating area, though. We thought about taking out the leaves, though.

bpatome: the sofa is a little large scale, and it is a good idea to scale down the area. I'm afraid, though, that two chairs won't be enough. There is an existing chair and 1/2 that matches the sofa, perhaps I could use that instead.

Here is a link that might be useful: Litchfield Chair

Love your kitchen!

Do you use the chaise where it is? If not, relocating it would give you lots of space.

ML

Overall I don't think the mismatch is terrible. I think it looks pretty nice already. I would suggest having some side or coffee tables in the living room in the same wood (mahogany?) as the dining table. Also, you have lots of decorative items in the living room, but the sideboard in the dining area is empty. Maybe you could move some over there?

One of the reasons the two vignettes look (in the present incarnation) disjointed is that the DR part is very plain, while the LR part is well-accessorized.

A idea that came to me as I was looking is whther you should subordinate the DR function to the LR one by decorating the whole room as a LR, which just happens to have a DR table in it.

One way to do that is imagine the DR section as an eating place in a library. Add some shelves, perhaps fit the lowered hutch (now more sideboardy) below some built-in looking shelves. Perhaps have shelves on the long wall, as well. Put some books and a lamp on the table; re-arrange the chairrs out of the conventional 4-sided DR placement (moving some to other rooms.) In short, sitting-room-ize the whole space. Right now, both elements are fighting for control.

I happen to think the most charming arrangement for a DR is in a library.

HTH

L.

You seem to have so much seating in the kitchen, I wonder how often you'll use your dining room table. I know you're trying to avoid buying furniture but I'd consider a 42" round table with leaves that you can use when you need to. I also like the library idea above... Probably because my dining room is also a library room!

That chaise isn't helping the crowding issue. I'd replace it with one cozy/comfy chair or two smaller chairs with a small round table between them. You could even use a couple of chairs that could be pulled up to the dining table when needed -- upholstered, like Parsons type chairs or something like the Gramercy chair (hm, I hope I have the name right) from Ballard Designs.

Beautiful kitchen, BTW!

Liriodendron, GENIUS idea! I can so picture that in my mind. Might I possibly impose on you to check in on my family room thread? I'd love your input. (Apologies for the hijack Gooster)

Love the idea of a living room/dining room/library combo.

Here's a page with LOTS of inspiration photos -- including ones with chairs like Bee's new ones! :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Pinterest -- Dining room Library pins

Thanks all for the real useful suggestions and the kind words about the kitchen.

maddielee: The chaise position is flexible -- I could even ditch it and use the chair and half instead or a club or arm chair. The corner makes a good corner to read or work on the PC.

pricklypear: I could go the dark wood route with the occasional pieces -- I know there is a clash in the wood stains. I thought about metal, mirror and glass though, to keep things lighter.

I guess the differences between the two are exaggerated in the photos since i have all the extra tchotkes and decor on one side (even more than normal), and the other side has been stripped. In fact, the room just had the excess boxes and stuff removed from the reno -- it was the main storage container for the reno of the EIK and FR! I was glad to just get the last moving box off the DR table.

liriom: Yes, that's it, the functions are at war... I hadn't thought of a library type of view -- I think a wall of builtins on the short side, and the long side of the wall would look great. The existing built-ins to the left of the FP give a clue to a possible direction -- I would match the style, I think. I'm looking at lots of examples on Houzz.

Or perhaps, at a much lower cost, I could simply add back the top of the china hutch and turn it into a bookcase.

sueb: You are right about the kitchen, there is plenty of dining options there, plus a full bar in the FR. This table would only be used rarely. And, I just evicted a square table (no leaves) from the FR.

I discovered a photo of the chandy on my phone... was taken in the shop...

I will experiment with decluttering the LR side -- and moving some furniture around next.

teacats -- I must have missed your post while I was making mine.

I've started to thin out the decor and blend the two sides, and have moved the chaise out of the corner. It is looking better. Going off this weekend to look at bookcases and new chairs.