Either one would look magnificent in your lovely looking new build. If you can't decide, you could always do a combination of the two, something like this.....

Here is a link that might be useful:

I like these square ones:

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WE have some similar elements in our home, maybe these pics will help.

I don't understand. What are the supports that are under the arches now? Is that a wall space, and then you are adding columns next to that bit of wall? If so, I'd go with the round to soften the square look. If that area is to be wrapped like a column, then go with the square.

Also, be mindful to what other architectural objects that will be around the dining room, such as the stair newel post.

Here are photos of the columns in both my old home, and new home. The older columns are not completely square. They are octagon shaped and the middle column was a support that was wrapped into a column. We used the same shape on our back staircase.

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Bathroom and family room arches:

i can't share a pic on here, but we have round cantera (stone) columns at the entry to my dining room, off a totally open great room. we also have the arched top. your final choice might depend upon where you live. round stone columns are the norm around here, which has an extensive mexican/spanish influence in architecture.

newhomebuilder - Yes, that is a wall space & there will be 2 columns on each side of that. It was originally 3 columns in that one spot, for a total of 5 columns in the DR & I thought that was way too many, so the contractor did the wall space & it will now be 4 columns. But now seeing your 3 columns there together, that looks really good. Oh well!! So, I guess I could wrap the wall space to look like a square column or leave it a wall & do round columns beside it, correct? Also, can I ask you about your paint (BM Decatur Buff). You answered my question this morning about what color that was in your house. Thanks! I have the sample card & it looks nothing like it does in your pictures. Would you say the color in your pictures is true? I'm wanting it in my LR, foyer & probably my kitchen & as you can see, the LR will have lots of afternoon light & I do not want the paint to look yellow & too light. I love the warm beige gold colors. Just can't find the RIGHT one!

hellpaso - I live in TN & the house in way back in a field all by our lonesome!

I think it depends on the style of your house. To me, the round columns look more formal and traditional. The square columns recall a more Arts and Crafts or transitional look.

hellpaso - I would love to see the cantera stone columns.

tnkcfan - I live in TN, too! Northeast corner.

Here is another view of the three square columns. From the hallways and from the foyer, you only see two. Only from inside the dining room, did you see three. Given your situation, I'd go with the two round columns, although square would look nice, too.

The Decatur Buff is true to the color on my monitor. I cannot vouch for yours. I can tell you that when the walls are sun filled, there is no hint of yellow in the color. It's definitely a warm gold/beige. Here are other photos of my living room, foyer and kitchen/family room.

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I think square on the bottom and round on the top would look great in your house.

Now, that's an idea! Is there enough room to have a square platform large enough to support a substantial round column? You wouldn't want a thin column holding up those arches. Yet, you want everything to be proportional.

newhomebuilder -- Love your front doors & all the white woodwork. Can't wait for mine to be painted.

Thank you acountryfarm, I meant to mention earlier that I was intrigued with you home. Is there anyway you can post a floor plan of the areas you showed above. I am trying to figure it all out. You really have the arches and columns and I am looking forward to seeing your finished home, as well. Doesn't look like it's too far away!

Looks like you already have lots of beautiful examples. Here's one more to throw in the mix.

I vote for square columns. Round columns seem to say "southern plantation" or "classic Greek or Roman". I've seen them used well in other ways, but that's when they've been carefully integrated into the overall design by an architect.

Your house is lumber framed and chances are there will be other wood architectural features, like window and door casings, frame and panel doors, shutters, paneling, etc? These all have strong horizontal and vertical lines because of the nature of wood construction. So they would tie in well with square columns. You do have the arches, but I'm not sure that's a strong enough curve motif to support (no pun intended) round columns, unless you want to emphasize curves throughout the first floor. Then you might want to add more curved lines somehow.

So many good suggestions! I'm not sure what to do! I had originally decided on square, but wasn't sure how it would look with that tiny wall space in between the 2 columns on the one corner. I live in TN & consider my home to be a "traditional country" style home. But I don't necessarily have "country" taste for the inside. Newhomebuilder - I like the way you decorate & am going more for that kind of style for the inside. Below is the layout of my house & pics of the outside. Not sure if that would help determine my "style" :) Ya'll have to excuse me, I'm new at this whole decorating thing. This is our first time building & this website is so much help! Thanks to all of you. I really appreciate. Next I will be asking for help on what kind of front porch I should for...round or square columns, brick on the bottom, etc.

After seeing your house plan and the scale of your dining room, I am changing my tune here.

I believe I would do something similar to lindybarts home(very pretty BTW) and enlarge the wall space/support and turn the middle area into wall space, flanked with two faux columns, instead of having any freestanding columns. For the opposite sides of the arches, do the same with a single faux column. Just like lindybarts columns. Show this to your carpenter. He'll know how to do it.

Here is another example from my other home:

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Newhomebuilder if you are still reading this - will you please tell me what color paint is in the bathroom posted above.
For those of you with painted columns did you paint the same as the trim? Currently ours our painted with a flat paint but I'm thinking something with a little more sheen like the trim would be better?

nan53 - It is BM Putnam Ivory. And, yes, my columns are done with the same trim pain and the finished is semi-gloss.

tnktfan - Here is a very butchered mock-up of your dining room/foyer, and of what I am talking about.

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tnkcfan - Are you still around? What have you decided? :)

newhomebuilder --just saw your request for my floor plan. Will scan it later today and post it.

A countryfarm, I love your house! Are your wood floors on pier and beam or slab foundation? If slab, how is the floor laid - I mean is it glued, nailed, or something else? Also, what is the name of the flooring? I just love it.

marti8a -- Floors are post & beam with joists, then wood sub-floor.

The flooring is 3/4 inch engineered "Antique, Reclaimed Heart Pine"
It was a nail down installation. My DH and I did the entire install of this floor so I know it very well.

It is one gorgeous floor. The pictures don't begin to show the character, warmth and beauty.
It has a 1/4 inch wear layer so can be be refinished as many time as solid wood. The substrates are 7 layers.

I love my floors, so glad I went with my instinct. No one in our area gets these kinds of floors but knew this is what I needed for my "new" old house.

I vote for round columns.

Acountryfarm you have a lovely home (both homes). Aren't you the lady that has eleven children?

Thanks acountryfarm ...I'll look for your thread.

I love heart pine. We had heart pine in one of our homes. The wood came from an old warehouse in Charleston, SC. The only problem is that it is softer than oak and high heels do not mix well with the floor.

Round columns, definitely! The half round (engaged) columns look so much more substantial than pilasters, which are not often fluted now but are simply outlined with picture molding. And sometimes the square column "look" is obtained with drywall, and not actual wood or fiberglass columns at all.

newdawn1895 --

Yes, you are correct about the 11 children. I have 10 sons, 1 daughter. I am blessed beyond anything I can express.

Thankfully we don't live in a shoe, I am not too old, and I know exactly what to do (most of the time) lol.