Thanks for the responses folks...I do need to learn to think outside the box. Delta Breeze - I'm planning to put a tall hutch to the right of the front door, and my writing desk/hutch to the left of it. I do like the idea of the bookcase to the right of the window. I'm going to move it though, center the table and see how that idea works. I think the right side chair will be too cramped. I'm beginning to think the table being off-center from the window might be okay. Les917 - I had thought by doing the lopsided curtain/swag I could make an illusion that the table was centered over the imaginary window! The table would stay where it is now, it would just look like there was more window to the left. I love all the ideas you offered, and I do hope to swag the light once the furniture placement is set. Rob333 Thanks for the link. I can't wait to try it. This isn't really a dining room; it's just a breakfast/tea area so I can take advantage of the one bright, sunny window during our long, S.A.D., North Dakota winters. There will be a small eat-at island in the kitchen and the "real" dining room will be set up out on the four-seasons sunporch...eventually! GardenWebber (Love the name!) I think you're right about the table being too close to the wall. Here's a poor drawing I have of the room. It shows the dimensions. It's rather narrow and cramped. The room is just under 12' wide, about 24' long. The opening between the L/R and kitchen is just over 8' wide. The wall with the short bookcase is about 40" wide. The area between the front door and the corner of the south wall is 30" wide.

The table needs to have 36-42" of open circulation space all around it so chairs can be pulled out and sat in. Use painter's tape on the floor to tape out an imaginary table that allows for that. How many do you need to seat every day? https://www.houseplanshelper.com/dining-table-size.html

Hi Rsh Grge, On the left hand side of the space where the wall is 7'3", you could fit a 24" round bistro table with 2 smallish chairs, angled so they look toward the door opposite. Then you have a space of approximately 9.5' x whatever space there is between front window wall and the door on the right wall, (probably 3.5') for two comfy reading chairs of no more than 32 x 32", with an 18" round table between them. If you'd like a breakfast table for 3 or 4, then figure on a 36" round table on the left with 3 or 4 small chairs, and on the right only one 32 x 32 reading chair and a round table of 18 to 20" beside the chair. Once you get the furniture in place, you'll see what kind of space you have left for plants. Fit in low bookcases where you can. Ikea is an excellent source for the bookcases.

I think your best bet would be a very narrow table against the wall, with a couple of chairs. I’d do some searches like ‘eating table small room’ ... ‘eating area small apartment’ ... etc. Apartment Therapy might have some helpful articles, too. I like your thinking ... wanting to turn a challenging space into something usable. My first apartment was a “studio apartment” — I had only a tiny corner in the living room for an eating area. No window, just looking at an ugly wall. I think it could be a nice, charming space. And yes, I think a bistro set would work fine, too. Once you get whatever you decide, then see how/where a reading chair might fit in.