The cornice has room for draperies to hang behind it, or I can remove it and hang them from the wall above the windows.

Your room and furniture are really lovely. Drapes or a rug would be nice but I'd hate for you to do something that would compete with the floor inset or the great window.

A centerpiece would be good - something large and organic with some personality. This is a total nitpick but the mirrors seem a little high. It might be the camera angle.

I'll be watching this thread to see what some of our talented members have to say. Even if you don't do a thing, you will still have a great room.

Such a lovely room.

I think drapes and a rug would be lovely, softening touches in the room. I think they'd be a great way to add some more color to work with the pretty vanilla that's on the walls. And for a hard look, that chandy looks high to me.

What's the picture over the buffet? Can that inspire any colors?

I would think about a heavy decorative rod over the bay window with the panels hanging on the outside where the mirror is.

[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by New Providence Interior Designers & Decorators Creative Wallcoverings & Interiors

Or if that's too much rod for you, you can do it with the shorty rods on either side.

[Mediterranean Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mediterranean-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2109) by Westport Interior Designers & Decorators Olga Adler

Maybe add an upholstered bench in the bay window area...with rolled arms and a couple of pillows.
{{!gwi}}

The first pic Annie posted is what I saw in my mind's eye. A little bit of lushness will be a nice addition.

You want a transitional look, so what colors would you like to use? Something from the art or the room adjacent to the DR? I'm partial to the simplified empire style of chandelier and have this one in my dining room. I've seen similar in chrome or more silvered finishes.

[Modern Chandeliers[(https://www.houzz.com/products/modern-chandeliers-prbr1-br~t_607~s_2105) by Other Metro Interior Designers & Decorators South Shore Decorating

Such a pretty room! I really like the ceiling detail, too.

My first impression was "what a gorgeous floor" and then my eye went to the table which bothered me as it's not quite centered under the chandy". I agree about the rug, drapes and centerpiece.

Annie's idea to pull colors from picture for drapes and rug....I like those shorty rods at each end of the bay...just enough and not overpowering. I think that's all you would really have to do...I like the wall color. The only other thing I might do is replace the chandy...maybe crystal?

Great room size and your furniture is lovely. A rug would really go a long way in warming the room and adding color. It could go within the inset floor so it's not hidden. Center the table under the chandelier. A larger, lower chandelier would be nice. Put all the chairs at the table. The two small mirrors are pretty, but don't do anything for me. All I can see is a pair of lamps and a pair of mirrors - lamps are fine.

Are those blinds or duets on the windows? I personally don't care for curtains out in front (on the walls, either side of window) and since the woodwork under the window is pretty, consider a long(ish) valance with a pretty, sculpted bottom edge. We had 5 bay windows in our last home, but the windows were taller than yours. Although in a MBR/2nd story addition they were shorter and I used long panels on those. They don't necessarily have to be operable.

What a beautiful room! If it were a terrible paint color, I'd consider changing it -- but I really like the paint with the floor & wood of your furniture.

I completely agree with Annie's suggestions -- love the window treatment inspiration photo - as well as the rug. I've been looking at rugs for hours for my entryway and there are TONS of great ones at Home Decorators.

Here is what I think would make a huge impact:

Area rug
Window Treatments (panels - no valance)
Updated Chandy - ceiling medallion?

Your moulding is lovely - and I really like how it goes up onto the ceiling. Nice details in that room.

If and only IF you could wrap your head around this - I'd also consider wallpaper. It's a big commitment - but there are so many gorgeous papers out there....

Lovely room -- and gorgeous floor! :)

a)Curtains: Yes indeed. Check out any sales at Pottery Barn -- perhaps a couple of their panels in silk or even velvet?

b)Chandelier -- Yes -- a much larger one. And do consider adding a ceiling medallion -- would work SO well in your room!

c)Buffet Lamps -- Try looking a larger, heftier pair of lamps.
Add a white tureen in the middle of the buffet -- fill it with seasonal goodies (like pinecones for the cooler months)

d)Add a couple of hurricane candleholders to the table -- again -- look for a larger pair. Add battery-powered candles.

e)Consider finding a pair of new (or check your local Craigs List) host chairs -- maybe wing chairs? If you want a change of décor -- place the wing chairs in the bay window with a small table or chest between them ...

Here is a link that might be useful: PB -- silk curtains

I took a hard look at your room, and I love it from ceiling to floor.

No to an area rug. I've seen the most beautiful DR's with wood floors that have no rug on top. Come to think of it, I don't have one either! lol. I think we're so used to seeing rooms with rugs that we just assume every room needs one.

Besides, your floor is too pretty to hide, and with other textiles in the room you wouldn't need a rug. The decorative trim around the floor *is* your rug.

Definitely panels or cafe curtains on the windows and a large centerpiece on a table runner would be nice.

All I would do is change the small mirrors for larger art works, and use more substantial decor on the buffet, and add a nice tablecloth ... not gonna mess with something that pretty.

Your room is beautiful and just so calming! I'm with those who say no rug, no window coverings, but I always think less is more. I don't like the mirrors; something about the symmetry is just too perfect, blah and boring to my eye, but sorry no good suggestions. I think it would be good to pull the chandelier down and center the table under it. Pull the corner chairs out and angle them. But, all in all, a beautiful room!

I am a huge fan of area rugs. I think an area rug would break up all of the brown wood that is in your floors and table. I think it can really ground a space and showcase it.

Your dining room is gorgeous! I would start with a rug and go from there.

Lots of good ideas already suggested for you to choose from but have you ever considered painting the ceiling inset blue? Or another color if blue doesn't work for you. I think a color that contrasts with the trim color would make the ceiling moldings even more effective.

Lovely room!

I agree with a lot of what has been suggested:

1. Simple ceiling medallion, in keeping with your existing moulding
2. Larger, maybe more whimsical chandelier, I'm suggesting perhaps a white pagoda vintage chandelier
3. Oval Gilt Twig Mirror over sideboard, to add a new shape and some sparkle to the room
4. Larger China Cabinet on one wall (see note below)
5. Traditional Yellow hued area rug, love the look of this rug on your lovely floors
6. Subtle Yellow two tone strie' wallpaper, because it's a classic, easy to live with look.
7. Striped Silk Drapes, because they go with everything.

See inspiration board below.

I would love to be able to suggest you utilize the cornice at the windows, but it's very low for the room, so I'm suggesting the drapes be positioned outside the bay. It's hard to tell from your picture, but the china cabinet, maybe be a bit undersized, and if replacing it isn't an option, then maybe chairs with prints mounted above on either side will add the volume this wall needs.

What a lovely room. I agree that you should add a beautiful rug and drapes.

Wow, some seriously good ideas! And thank you for the kind words :)

There's a Homegoods opening near me soon, so it will be easy to test drive a rug, some pictures on the cabinet wall, and I might even find a bench for the window.

Annie, you sent me back looking at more pictures, I really thought I had overdosed on Houzz, but this time I searched for shield back.

The picture is of my children when they were little, in white silk dresses having a tea party. It's very creamy, so keeping the design seed concept in mind, I'm thinking toning down the walls to a neutral color.

alex and beverly, you sold me on the new chandelier.

beverly, are you using photoshop? The drapes make the room look so much warmer, and somehow bigger I think too. Thank you so much for taking the time to do that! It really opened my eyes to the possibilities!

What do you think of this color scheme, with white drapes? Will the white drapes be too bedroomy?

Sorry, not sure what happened to the photos...

These drapes are a little different pinch pleat...

crazybusytoo,

I only use Windows "Paint" to add objects to your photos and to assemble the 'item board'. No Photoshop, though I used Picasa to straighten your photo and crop it.

Before I comment on drapes, I'd ask you where the yellow for the room came from? Because I have no idea how it ties into the rest of your home and its' finishes.

I think the room could use a subtle pattern some where, and I am taking your existing color selection and layering soft yellow on soft yellow to enhance it's appearance.& create some visual texture.

I recommended a classic stripe for the walls. That could be done with wallpaper or two tones of paint applied as larger scale stripes to the walls. Or simply flat and satin finish paint in alternating vertical stripes applied to the wall if you have an aversion to wallpaper.

I suggested a subtle patterned drape also. From what I see in your existing dining room, you may be a person that plays it safe with your selections, so I'm only taking baby steps with my suggestions. A plain white drape, without a master plan for the room, is just a plain white drape. Safe like the Silhouettes.

I think you have a lovely room. I would start by centering the chandelier over the table. And then I would add window treatments. Since your art has cream in it, I would consider yellow and cream drapes to pull the colors together.