Ok, since you said colonial -- your black animals by the wall - are they metal? If your vibe includes hand-made wonders -- and so the chairs are in tune with craftsman's vibe, what about a deeper color for table [with chalk paint / milk paint for old-time appeal]?

Idk if this would help, but here's something vaguely similar in photo -- designer says this: "we used contemporary silhouettes and a neutral color palette. We subtly incorporated the wife's love of all things equine and the husband's passion for sports into the interiors."

---------------- keep adding what you love. Let us see more of the area?

Pacific Heights Wurster · More Info

I like the new chairs and the room but the table is farmhouse and I'd change that.

You need a larger pedestal table for sure to even come close to the inspo. Really not sure what you are trying to copy. You have a rectangle table and the one you like is round so start there.

A wider shot of the space would be helpful. What size(s) are you looking at?

Thank you all!!! Here’s some more info...
Floor plan if:

1. Buy 60” round table
2. Keep existing cabinet, wall “sculpture”, cocoo clock, and artwork
   
   

Since there are no measurements, I cannot tell if that would work. Can you provide measurements and photos of the space. Thanks so much.

Pics of room (ignore clutter if possible)
Kitchen to LR
LR to kitchen

Northeast corner to hallway
Hallway to northeast corner

I would like to keep bottom of cabinet only. Replace top shelving unit with large mirror.

To answer questions:
Chairs are from Grandin road. Pros: price, VERY comfortable Cons: lack of contrast, western nail-heads, sloppy finish work (wood filler light color and they stained without sanding filler! 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️)

Thanks so much. Are the clock, wall sculpture and art the only must-stays?

Could you please provide the room dimensions? Thanks.

The only thing definitely staying are chairs. Everything else is totally optional.

Thanks for the info on the chairs. Not typical of Grandinroad to have sloppy workmanship, but good to know.

Measurements

Or I could use these chairs...

A 60 " round table would work. One thing to keep in mind about that is it is a little more difficult for the people directly across in a round table to converse.

Or, you could place a a 72" table parallel to the 14' wall or a 60" table parallel to the 13' wall.

Good point. Thx! If I went parallel to 14’ wall, where do you recommend I put table and storage?

Actually, can I go parallel to 14’ wall or does that impede flow to LR too much?

I placed a 72" table in your space and added the buffet. (I don't know how deep the buffet is, but it seems fairly shallow) Placing the buffet along this wall, I would think essentially makes the room a square. What I would do is to place no chairs on the ends on a daily basis. This allows for about 40" on both ends. These chairs are on the smaller side at 15", so fitting 3 Grandinroad chairs across would be a little tight. The black chairs seem a touch smaller?

When guests come over, you can add chairs at the ends. No chairs at the ends gives a more modern feel to the space. I almost always design that way, unless circumstances do not allow or the client wants chairs at the end on a daily basis.

If you wanted, you could even move the dining set a little to one side (would have to move chandelier).

Yes, you could turn the table to the other direction. It really depends on the foot traffic flow in the space and what works best for you. You essentially have a square room.

How many do you need to seat on a daily basis? How many when you have guests?

I don't think you'll achieve the vibe you're going for with a rectangular table. The 60" round seems like it would be a nice fit in your space and should seat 6 comfortably. I don't think it's too big for conversation. After all, if you put a 72" long table in there, the two people at opposite ends are 6 feet apart instead of 5.

You are very welcome. Is the kitchen to living room the most common traffic pattern through the dining room? Is the living room your main family room or is there another family room?

Off topic but I love your floors! Your house seems to have a really nice vibe!

I like round tables! Great for conversations...so many dining rooms don't have the right layout for a round table.

A round table is certainly an option for this room. I certainly was not trying to sway you against that. It really depends on what you like. The nice thing is that there are options for this space.

Your plan to remove the hutch from the buffet will be a good update. [But isn’t it disappointing that hutches and curio cabinets are apparently seen as dated. Frustrating when one buys a classic, timeless design...and then things change.] Because of the quality of the finish on the chairs, wouldn’t now be the time to return them?

Hi all. I just spent about 2 hours responding and somehow lost it all. I will try again now but have to do it quickly so I apologize if I'm unclear.

FIRST, THANK YOU ALL! I love all the ideas.

Kateinparadise-thanks for the suggestions/

CDR-Kitchen to living room main traffic. Yes, LR main family room. Never felt swayed. Just great options which are VERY appreciated!

Cynthia-Thanks for compliments and suggestions.

dsimber-Agree! Yes, I will try to return but policy states I have to pay shipping back. I'll give them a call on Monday.

Here's the full description of the house:

Dining Room on left, Kitchen on right

Kitchen on the right.

Design vibe that I love (basically anything that Amber Interiors puts out into the world):

To achieve this look, I'd like to "go for" the 60" table! I'd also like to use a colorful flat weave kilim. I've found a few 8x6 that may work:

Another kilim....

Now for chairs I have either 6 of these:

Or 6 of these (if I can return these, I would be able to get something else so let me know if you have something else in mind):

I am looking for suggestions for:

Round 60" table (finish and style)

Lighting (flush, semi-flush...whatever...8' ceilings)

Rug

Window treatments (We NEVER open the dining room door. Would love to disguise it to look like a window if possible?)

fyi....this is my inspo for LR:

Good luck with getting return shipping costs waived. It seems that it should be due to the quality issue.

I would use the black and white chairs (based on your living room inspiration).

I don't see the need, but if you want to, you can add woven shades (or just valances) to all windows and doors. This would disguise the height difference between door and windows.

Keep in mind, you should be able to fully pull out a dining chair without it coming off a rug. A rectangular rug is generally not the best shape for a round table

Tudor Revival · More Info

Just throwing this out there......since you don't use the dining room much and the traffic pattern is kitchen to living room......would you consider removing the walls between dining and living room?

I like where you’re going but I think those walls are load bearing and hubby loves DR.

Still stuck on original problem.... what table? Black, natural? I do have my original mood board...

Kitchen orig mood board...(Serena & Lily counter chairs too $$$, so I subbed CB2 chairs)

Dsimber-Grandinroad has agreed to take chairs back!!! $0 shipping fee for defective chairs!!! LOVE GRANDIN ROAD!!!Thanks for idea!

Since you have the C&B dining chairs, I'd use those. The black would pull in the unique iron art and then I'd buy a table to pull in your buffet.

Sorry, to clarify, the CB2 are counter height. 🤦‍♀️Pic is my kitchen island.

Thanks. I understood that. The 6 dining chairs you have look exactly like Crate and Barrel chairs (the black ones with cane back and white seat. Maybe you bought them elsewhere.

Ohhh! Yes! Just as FYI, i bought those at Scout and Nimble. They are made by 4 Hands. I looove them, but -again- quality is so poor. I sent them pics and they are just sending me 2 new chairs. They don’t even want the others back. Very impressed with Scout & Nimble! (Well, I will be once the chairs arrive!!! 😀)

If you use your current chairs, I would use a wood table to bring in the warmth that is in all of your inspo pictures. You could also switch out the hardware on the hutch to black to help modernize it a bit and tie it into the space. A square rug works well with a round table. This is 8' x 8'1" and is vintage.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/695827478/8-x-81-feet-gorgeous-vintage-afghan?

Great ideas! Love hardware suggestion! Love the rug! Brilliant! When you say “current” chairs, which ones? Black/white/cane or woven leather? When you say wood table....what finish? Any examples of tables?

https://www.scoutandnimble.com/products/powell-dining-table?variant_id=a487d052-963e-403e-8c3a-b4c357d0cf83

The Powell table would be one good choice.

May I say that what showed in your initial photos: I got feel of a 'cool' country lobby / restaurant, where things are imperfect as they say. I like what you had, especially because of the large focus on black metal creatures. :)

Do you have to have modern lighting? cause I think ones shown are too far over, and should be transitional instead.

The other chair options won't 'go colonial' - is it a concern? - anyway, a very bright kilim rug would work with those chairs.

But a more muted and simple kilim might work with the leather strap chairs....?

Is this it? "Trying to create Cali-cool- boho-chic-minimalism in a NE colonial house."

Good for you!!

katinparadise had idea after removing upper you add accenting knobs...? Casual canvas art above could bring in a vibe you want. Doesn't seem then that you'd need a rug...gosh, you could hang a rug/cloth/tapestry that fits. Buy local? :)

This item popped up - would this 'colonial old gold' color work with minimal design [nice]?

In a way, the upper unit balances ok with black item.... ? and you could sparsely place useable items. The whole thing could take chalk paint.

17"x10" Oval Platter, 0.75" · More Info

17.75"x13" Flare Oval Platter · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/17x10-oval-platter-0-75-prvw-vr~86469990

Great! The first one looks perfect.

I meant the black and white chairs. If you can get a refund for the other leather chairs (which I love by the way, but I would be very disappointed in the quality).

Katinparadise-any table ideas?

I would paint the table a color like olive green, mustard yellow, antique red. The chair legs you might be able to sand down slightly and rub with a black wax (easier than painting). You might consider covering the back of your hutch with grass cloth or a nubby fabric to better showcase your collectibles. Think it is a stunning and very interesting room.

Do you want to go modern or keep it a bit more transitional?

Modern Industrial Antique Vintage Style Round Dining Table, Brown, Metal Wood · More Info

Dining Table Mendocino California Classic Solid Wood Chestnut Modern · More Info

Modern Industrial Antique Vintage Style Round Dining Table, Brown, Metal Wood · More Info

https://www.allmodern.com/furniture/pdp/magaw-solid-wood-dining-table-lnpe9945.html?piid=

Modern, but not too modern. “California-boho-chic”. Lol.