swizzy and nancy, thanks for your input, too. swizzy - I don't think there's enough room for a china cabinet on the brick corner, but I had similar thoughts, perhaps a drum table or something or a small corner cabinet. nancy, I like your sideboard a lot. If I could find a smaller corner cabinet like that in a painted/distressed color, I think it would look nice in the brick corner. Definitely like the idea of plant stands, too. Add some ferns or ivy....lots to consider. Thank you all. re: the skinny mirrors. I was so excited when I found them, marked 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I had seen them elsewhere for much more. They are nice and heavy, too.

Tinam61, thank you! Susieq07, thanks so much for posting your buffet. Stinky and Kitchendetective, thank you so much for all of the suggestions and advice .. they helped me out tremulously. It really helps to see what I have here through new eyes, and see how you all would go about designing the space. Persnicketydesign, your dark wood sideboard up against the white wainscoting is beautiful! Mldao, I don't think it looks busy at all, you've set up a wonderful vignette. I love, love, love your trumeau mirror, it looks wonderful with your sideboard. Lynn, thank you so much for doing a mock-up for me!! I'm a very, very visual person and it helped me out so much. Seeing the different colors and shapes introduced really gave me a much better idea how to proceed with this! That lamp is too cute. I love the 'pop' of red with the flowers. I agree if the shelf stays, something very simple, like the black framed mirror you put up would look great. Now I just need to pull together my thoughts, start searching and implement all of your help and great ideas. :)

Of course one might argue that you've got a peninsula here not a wall, but the rules there are laxer than what you're envisioning.

Absolutely. You also have a lot of options about how to decorate it. A large mirror, picture, or collection above. The surface can hold a collection or seasonal vignettes...especially since we are getting close to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Or one large piece, maybe pottery with branches. So many possibilities! My grandma gave me the buffet from her old dining set that I used in the LR for our TV. It's in the dining room, now, waiting for harvest inspiration from me. As long as you have room for them, they can be quite versatile. The defeated army under the side table made me laugh! I have the same thing in my living room :D