Nice window, great wall color and I like the painting.

I think it all looks a little crowded though. I also think that the room is virtually part of the kitchen but does not seem to relate to it with any repetition. Getting rid of the slipcovers may help reduce the visual mass. The recliners don't look like armchairs from the angle shown; they look a little like end chairs for the table. They feel too tall and thin, almost like an airline seat. I'd try to move them. If they stay I think they need something to soften/liven them, if only a throw pillow.

I agree with all the backs of the chairs looking too similar. Even the barstools' shape with a high back looks the same. Since your family gathers at the table for more than meals, I'd want something more comfy than benches. Plus with benches, you'll still have two end chairs with two recliners...

I'd look for some durable lower back chairs, maybe inexpensive ones until your family reaches the ages they won't be so hard on them. Not suggesting any of these exact chairs, but lower back upholstered. Or maybe something similar in rattan.

Another thought would be to find wood chairs you like (keep an eye on CL) and get slipcovers for the bar stools - which might be less maintenance than the chairs. Personally, I would paint the bar stools a color or a light neutral, to open up my choices for table and chairs without so much wood in proximity. Or find some chairs on CL and paint them.

Or maybe something like this from Ikea:

I think there are too many chairs in one space, with more or less similar height. It gets monotonous a bit..

Since you love the recliners, and want to exchange the dining chairs-I'd go with chairs that are a tad shorter(only if it works for your family of course! everybody's height is different, and these things hugely depend on height), or/and shaped differently, or have only seat upholstered for example..or I maybe would decide to upholster them in some kind of fabric that has blue AND white in it, to tie it all together, but in different prints..something like that. In short, to break that feeling of a set, if you know what I mean. I did it several years ago with my own set of chairs, and am hugely pleased until this very day.

I'd definitely get that art on the wall-the room will feel more balanced. Will play more with heights, in general. Maybe more art? Torchiere somewhere?

As for the lamps-I feel like everything might go. Table lamps are the easiest of all lamps-you might find something you really love in a vintage store or Craigslist, for quarter a price of something standard and new.

I like your table, but then I'm very partial to the oval shape myself..

Love your chandelier!

To summarize-play with heights a bit, and have fun with some pattern/color/shape. It doesn't have to be all in once-whatever talks the most to you. It's very nice already-it will be great.

First thing I would do is remove all clutter. I think some small wooden chairs like these would help with the repetition of upholstery and shape. I might add a large lamp between the chairs and add some throw pillows. I would likely get a rug or two in order to identify your seating spaces (dining and lounging). Or maybe just one rug would do the trick. I photo shopped a roman shade in for you as well and think that would look great! Here are some ideas.

I like the openness of the bar stools and the table (like awm's idea of painting the base dark to match). The flexibility of a round/oval table is great when you have a lot of people, so I would keep it. The curtains are nice, but I would maybe add a band of a patterned blue fabric near the top for some color. The wall above the buffet looks like it might work better with large art hung at the height of the refrigerator. Definitely a pretty blue rug - there was a beautiful one posted here last week that I would love but I don't have any blue in my house. ;D I also think a simpler, larger chandelier with glass similar to your pendants.

First, hang the picture over the buffet. Then, I agree with some chair changes, and one approach would be to change the dining chairs (if you go to an open back chair, you have to worry about the stools at the island), but I would probably change the blue chairs. They look like recliners, and maybe they are. Either way, the DR chairs look right look out of sort to me in an eating area.

Iam big on function, so my first step would be to ask what function those chairs serve. Are they used daily for reading and coffee? Occasionally when the room is corwded? Alost never and are there mostly because you had them and they filled a space? What do you want or need that space to do for you that it hasn't done? Those answers will guide you on how you can improve the space and what you need -- then somes the style in which you want to do it.

Assuming the chairs are there for a functional purpose and that is what you want to go there, I would do something with less padded upholstery - something that looks smoother. A wingback comes to mind, and you can get some as recliners, but there are probably other options. I do like the idea of some curves in the chairs. The dining area is curved table/straight chairs and you have a very straight table under the window -- why not put some curve in the chairs. I do like color there since your DR chairs and kitchen are all solids, and picking up a color from the painting is good -- I think it is just the wrong style of chair.

Once you figure out the chairs, I would put a floor lamp behind one of them (the table seems a little small for a reading lamp) and scootch both chairs a little closer to the table so it looks like you can actually use the table when sitting in one of them. It doesn't look like it functions right now, so it doesn't draw you over to sit and spend any length of time.

That's my reaction to a couple of photos of a room I've never seen and not knowing what you want from the space. You've gotten some other ideas while I was typing (I really like the shade aktillery photoshopped in). You've got some good ideas. Weigh them against what you see and what you want.

Cheryl, you have gotten great suggestions. Can't wait to see how the room ends up. Been looking for modern style recliner...where did you find these? thanks.

I love your blue chair area!! We have the same setup at the end of our kitchen. It is the most popular spot in the house. It looks beautiful with your white curtains.

I posted on the other thread on conversation side.

Recap - for me there is too much going on and it needs to be simplified. For eg - you have dark wood stools and a dark sideboard but a mid-tone table. A dark table would present a more cohesive look and prevent the eye from bouncing around.

OR - I would reconsider replacing the chandelier over the table (if possible) because you have glass pendants over the island, a glass table lamp on the sideboard but then a very ornate chandelier - replace it with a glass type chandelier to tie the lighting all together and again a more unified look and a more simplified one.

Pillows are pretty.

One other issue that makes it look crowded is the white console. Its kind of unusual to have consolses on both sides of the room; makes it feel narrow.

Haven't read the responses, but I'd:

1. Get a cool chandelier, maybe something like this from West Elm

2. Keep the IKEA chairs at the ends (no kids allowed :) and get some cheap wood chairs that I'd paint.

3. Bamboo matchstick blinds

4. Patterned rug (optional)

The closeup of the blue chairs shows they are less padded that it appeared before. I was reading the shadows as upholsterd puffs rather than shaping in the frame and once that suggestion was in my mind, it stuck until I saw the close up. Sorry. That's better than I was seeing it. If you have that much space, you can use a larger table -- but you do have room for the lamp and a couple of mugs/glasses and the remote while you look. Maybe round?

I would do no more than one pillow in a chair you sit in a lot -- the smaller lumbar size would be plenty in my mind and that's one less pillow per chair to toss when sitting, esp for your DH.

You have room for the larger painting over the buffet and the color looks great with the chairs. It will look even better when hung.

I don't know what to suggest for DR chairs. I liked the ones atkillery posted, but my sons are a little taller than your DH and my concern would be that they might seem a bit delicate, especially for your DH (or for growing boys who insist on leaning back in a chair). Scale and comfort could be a hit or a miss. Good luck with your search. It's going to look great.

There is a dining room in the March issue of Better Homes and Gardens, that has light colored walls and window treatments like yours. The article starts on page 128, and is called Never a Dull Moment. I took a pic of the dining room table, which she painted in high gloss blue when she ran out of budget for a new one. The color is SW6803 Danube in gloss. That may be an option for your love/hate table to come alive for you.

She uses a lot of dark blues and oranges against her light walls. Her rug pulls her colors together and is stunning. She has fewer items on her console/table against the wall, which I think is key, as I think I count 7 - 8 candles on yours along with the penguins.

What do your dining chairs look like under the slip covers? Are they a style that could have new fabric stapled over the seats, in a color/print that would also add dimension to the room?

No one has mentioned taking the leaf out of your table and making it round...that would free up space and make your room more open. When you have company and need more space, put the leaf back in. I like the blue chairs there and seem so comfy for watching TV. You have a white chest/console on one wall and a dark chest/console on the other....My suggestion (depending on how many sit around your table) would be to either get a round glass table with dark legs or get a table with a dark top and white legs to tie things together. I would also get more open chairs...not upholstered ... for around the table and hang your picture and you will have a nice room.

erinsean, we have tried shortening the table however with 2 busy boys plus their friends here all the time, plus an ongoing puzzle at one end, it just wasn't practical. I adore a round table however it would need to be so large, that it would no longer be cozy. We do shorten it for cards with neighbours. I agree about not having upholstered chairs - they are a nightmare with kids, dogs etc. Thanks!

The henriksdal chairs, unless they're the previous model are substantially wider than regular dining chairs.

Alternatively, you could also replace the current slipcovers with shorter ones in a pattern.

I am trying to get away from the slipcovers - they are easy but still a huge pain to keep clean - always covered in little fingerprints and dog fur. Thanks :)

I would suggest painting the console under the TV black like the TV. It will look much less obtrusive. Actually, I'd paint it whatever color the one on the opposite is, can't tell whether it's black or brown. The ocean scene is great, larger and more lively, won't you please hang it up immediately? Chandeliers are tricky things. The one you have is a classic, it will be okay for a long time. The chic one that is shown may be considered a horror a few years down the road. You have to follow your own inclinations in that respect. I think this is going to be a great room!

Hahaha yes I will hang it as soon as I decide which one goes up :) I love my chandelier and may leave it for now. The unit under the TV is the white from Ikea and the DR buffet is the espresso brown from Ikea - I can try swapping it out for the one in the basement and see. Or may try something narrower and lighter there. Thanks!

I completely agree with you regarding the slipcovers and we don't even have children in the house. We do have a few cats, however, and they are enough of a problem that I recently got rid of 6 upholstered chairs with slipcovers and bought solid wood chairs to replace them. The wood chairs are so much easier to clean pet hair and hairballs off of. I think you have some really great stuff going on in this space already and agree with much of what has been suggested. Have fun with it!

Re the chairs: If you've got kids or even active teens, you'll want something durable. We got ours at a restaurant supply place. They are nice looking and durable. Search any restaurant supply place and you'll find lots of options. Also, you can buy seat cushions which might be easier to take off and clean.

Cheryl, I do't mean to highjack. I like your walls and am wondering about the undertones? When I googled, info came that they Natural Cream is a gray!

Other photos show it as a cream, some have it looking taupe.

ellendi6161 - it is a very chameleon colour - we have BM stonehouse in here before and it was a very goldy-beige - this one is a breath of fresh air! Because the 3 front windows are predominantly north facing, the room gets very cold, blue/green light so most colours turned even colder in here - this one stayed neutral - it definitely has grey tones but it's soft. Not quite as warm as I was hoping (hard to find fresh and warm together....) but it's a good neutral. :)

Thanks!

I had tall parsons on the scale of yours, at my previous home. I went with side chairs with backs that are open and just barely above the table height. It makes a huge difference because the table can be seen, rather than blocked off by, the side chairs.

Lower side chairs, then decide if you want to change the end chairs.

Maybe instead of the white cabinet/console you could find something smaller and with less depth. Then it won't be in the way of your curtains.

I personally don't think the white console isn't working. I'd put the TV a tad lower-but that's again question of your family comfort-we're not tall people and need TV to be lower, while you might be tall and thus totally fine with the position of the TV (the distance from it also plays a role of course). So, if the placement of TV works for you-I'd just restyle the console.

The styling now reminds me a bit of the chairs dilemma-too many things of the(approximately) same height. I'd remove couple that are less important to you. Make more tight groups of the remaining ones together(be it subject, or color, or texture that ties between them. Get a tad more space between these groupings (or "vignettes" as people call them or so I heard)), so you'll have some negative space there too. You want the eye to bounce around a bit-and to rest a bit. As in a conversation, you know:) It's hard to be intensively involved all the time, but it's hard to be engaged in a dull repetitious conversation too. In short, you're striving to find that balance-being it a conversation, or a room, or even a console.

Besides doing more tight groupings of less items, I'd add something vertical, taller there too. You can do it on the both sides, for the perfect symmetry. You can add something vertical but visually light from one side, and something shorter and a bit visually heavier from the other side-not complete symmetry but sense of balance nevertheless(and I can see you tried something similar..it's just dispersed too evenly now). Or you can go for the asymmetry-which can also be very cool. That's individual preference. I'm always inclined to asymmetry myself-doesn't need to be a rule. Your only rule is striving for balance, because that's how we are wired ("we" the mankind). With several twists and tries you'll soon see which look is the most pleasing to your eyes.

Now I'm sorry my comment is so long, and if you make it to the end of it, my hat's off to you)) I'm impatient with my own long rants sometimes..))

PS love the ocean painting(the second one)-lots of dynamics in this one! Also I agree with the commenter who mentioned you don't need two pillows on both of your recliners..as much as I'm a crazy pillow lady-one is enough here. Family/friends would inevitably throw one of these on the floor..)))

I agree with dyhgarden that you should look for some side chairs (at least) with a low back in a similar style to your bar stools or with a plain curved back. Perhaps something like in my3dogs photo from BH&G. You have some beautiful space and think you need to open up the view.

I'd also put something taller in the left corner instead of the basket. Is that a music stand barely visible? Can't tell what else is on the far right, but you could try putting your music items in the corner. Or perhaps a floor lamp.

Before you change out the light fixture, I'd start with the chairs and smaller and then see how things look.

I have a dining room chandelier very similar to yours that once had those little shades. They drove me crazy trying to keep them straight. Plus you see every single seam in every shade when the lights are on. I got rid of the shades and got frosted bulbs to mitigate the glare. I added my own sleeves from metallic paper. Anyway, it's something you can easily do with what you already have and the look is a lot less fussy.

The one thing that stands out to me is that painting that's sitting on the buffet. HANG IT! Sitting on the buffet is too low and looks very out of whack to me. I also agree about those fussy little lamp shades on that chandelier.

I think the console isn't working because it's a stark bluish white, and the walls and drapes are warmer. I'd paint it!

arkansas_girl - the painting is not currently hung as I am trying a few different ones and will not put holes in my walls until I know where it's going to go - thanks :)

indygo - yes, I think you're right - it should be a mellow-er colour - thanks!!

Linelle - the shades were purchased recently as the exposed bulbs were visually too bare - yes, it appears one is crooked - I have straightened it :)

OutsidePlaying - thank you!!! I think you're absolutely right - I have dragged in a few random chairs from around the house and the lower backs are the key - I was trying to create cozy with the bigger chairs (they ARE very comfy) however the lower chairs in place now make all the difference - I will make sure whatever chairs I end up with will keep this in mind (I'm also debating benches on each side and lower (!) comfy captain-style chairs on the ends)

aprilneverends - until yesterday, all four pillows had been flung into a basket and stayed there lol - I will reduce down to just the yellow pillow :) My husband has threatened divorce if any more pillows enter this house..... And the ocean painting (the 2nd one) is now here-to-stay... now to hang it ;)

Cheryl, look into command picture hanging hooks. no holes, no permanent commitment to picture placement. It might help you decide which art and where.

Do you NEED the table to seat that many every day? With the TV on the wall, the bar stool eating RIGHT THERE I would look to increase the lounge area and decrease the dining area..It appears the table would be round without its leaves. Seating for four would be about right from my perspective.

Lucky you!! Busy place, no doubt!!

bertb123 , any updated photos of natural cream in your home? How are you liking it? would love to know! thank you :)