After painting my nightstands, and knowing you can’t sell this style furniture, I would paint that China cabinet dark blue in a second!! Then darker but not too dark blue for chair seats. I think a whiter chandelier would be stunning. It doesn’t take long to paint furniture. I could have easily done my nightstands in one day if my knees were in better shape! Take the black detail off. Fill the holes and paint it. You will never regret it but wonder why you waited so long!

I like those drapes DIS posted but I think for your look a neutral with a blue leading edge trim ironed on would work better and look lighter.

I suggest waiting to select/buy chandelier until you have overall game plan. Any bites on selling current one?

One offer of $150 but not in a rush. Retail is $679

If I get $250, I’ll go for it

A peak at navy…I ran out of time and steam to do the second head chair…

Thank you!!!!!

I took Kjoys and elaborated a bit I think if you do the hutch blue it should be a true soft navy. Then with that being Dark I would drop in a light chandelier in front of it. I would go with a natural rug and yes I knpw thats not a window but just showing you what a printed panel would do for the space. It may be your formal dining room but everything in it isnt formal and your fabrics should reflect that. I would change out the art work to something with blue in it as well.

Of course, I love Van Deusen Blue. Have it in my dining room and powder room. Got these water colors from an artist on Etsy. Love them. I framed them in soft brushed gold frames. I can post source if you are interested. She lives in Vienna, Austria! But she has shipping deal with FedEx and I got them in around 5 business days! Beautiful pieces. She also put the small palm leaf piece in as thank you. Very nice!

I just am sad you don’t see your gorgeous paneled walls…still feel strong about just moving it for now to the big kitchen wall..your dining room would look so big! Add rattan chairs change out fabric on chairs and add new chandelier! I think it would be fabulous…

FYI….wasn’t planning on window treatments BC I want to feature paneled walls too!

The drapery panels arent what is going to deplete the board and batten. If your concern is exposing that then you should take the hutch off the buffet and use just the buffet.

The area to the side of each window in that room is likely 3' at most. Your main expanse of trim work is behind that hutch. If you want it to be the showcase of the space lose the hutch. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how it opens up the space, makes it feel larger, makes the celings expand and gives you the opportunity to update the space with lamps, a mirror or beautoful art.

The walls are more “formal” than the dining set..if they’re exposed more ....it would be a reason for more formal fabric and finish on the country dining set perhaps

Board and batten is not formal. Formal would be a detailed wainscotting. Your dining set is in line with the formality of your trim work.

This poster is entitled to more than one opinion...your dismissive and authoritative opinions are often offensive...a little diplomacy would not be lost on this forum

Beautiful home!

Thank you, bty. I keep following along with interest, and there are several good options.

Piping up, ok...? :)

Solid heathered-woven seems nice with 'wheel' light [and strengthened with another circle, in metal]... and watercolory art. And large blue, quite accenting.

So my vote if you go with that is no pattern on chairs. But your pro's said that already, so thanks for listening to me.

I am not sure if your comment was directed at me @btydrvn but I will address them since it came right after my comment. Lets go over this shall we because I agree anyone who posts here is entitled to a plethora of opinions and Colleen has gotten a ton and it has helped her immensley.

"The walls are more “formal” than the dining set..if they’re exposed more ....it would be a reason for more formal fabric and finish on the country dining set perhaps"

This was your opinion. You stated it.

"Board and batten is not formal. Formal would be a detailed wainscotting. Your dining set is in line with the formality of your trim work."

This is my opinion. I stated it.

Any interpretation of the two that is seen in a derogatory manner, which is what you have stated is your own.

"your dismissive and authoritative opinions are often offensive"

Authoratitive and dismissive? Not really in my wheel house. "OFTEN" I find this word especially interesting since I have not been on this forum in months and have always had a good track record on it. Again as you stated @btydrvn Colleen is entiteled to opinions. No one as far as I can tell is depriving her of that. I personally find it more offensive that you have used this space for something other than design advice and that you have used it to throw derogatory comments down and towards me.

Please...Address your comments to the OP ... it is not your job to correct other posters or disqualify their opinions....if you really cared about anything but yourself you would just say ... sorry... I didn’t mean to offend

No need to defend me! 😃 I welcome any and all opinions. Happy to process and come to my own conclusion. I have benefited greatly from everybody’s excellent advice. DIS is right…. I have been helped immensely. Please don’t stop now. It’s all good.

Everdebz…..what is a “wheel light”? (I like the heathered woven best too)

Hi Colleen just popping in to see if you have made any decisions.

Been in Chicago all week so not quite yet

Hi everybody… It’s been a while.
I am once again considering swapping out my dining room chandelier & would love your opinion! Although I like the one I have, it just doesn’t go with the rest of my decor. My decor is primarily neutral: creams, blue gray, natural, white. Can you help me pick something moderately priced that would blend well with the foyer fixture (1st pic) that you helped me pick? Here’s a few photos to remind you of what we’re dealing with.

Open floor plan

Interested in this one….thoughts?

It’s probably too similar to the one in the foyer – the last thing I want is for them to match!

I think that is great pick and goes with entry fixture but not too matchy at all.

Thanks 😊

Just don’t hang it too high! Lol

Flo-do you think my current one is hung too high? (I’ve been thinking about raising it up to get it out of the way but that’s probably because it’s too heavy and dark for that space)

A couple other thoughts...

Height of chandelier...

Thanks Theresa! I like the Lottie

To me, its timeless and works with many different styles..

Where did u find Lottie?

Height depends on shape of chandelier and lines of sight viewing it. The “guidelines” give you starting point but viewing in the space gives best feeling of proper height. You want it low enough that it makes the statement you want while dining and then above eye level of seated diners that they can see easily to other guests. Some consideration of the look from your entry and then from entry toward your China cabinet. To me the ceiling height is not relevant for hanging. It’s important when selecting size and shape of chandelier so with higher ceiling a two tier chandelier might be better than one tier. But for hanging I want the look at “living” height. Just from experience, this is my formula. Sometimes I measure but not often. Lol

By the way – here’s what the dining room currently looks like with the chairs reupholstered. Wanting to find a light fixture that will lighten up the space and work with the dining set the way it is currently but also keep in mind that I can continue to consider painting both table and hutch.

Lottie from ballard designs...

Another thought... how about a  white chandelier?

Not against white/off white.

How about this one?

I like that one too.  Simple and open feeling and timeless.  I will look for a white one just to compare.

Saw this style and liked it as its very light feeling and in the same vein as your island pendants...

Heres a white one....

Colleen if you have decided to leave the big china cabinet/hutch in the DRoom I would add a round chandelier…not linear

Open to suggestions! Finish? Size?

Reupholstering the chairs didn't make the furniture set any more palatable for the room. You could get a good many more years if you had chalk painted the table chairs and china cabinet a strong color.

Beverly – I hear you and respect your opinion. That is the long term goal but reupholstering the chairs was an easier fix and believe me the previous fabric needed to be replaced….it was a good first step. Hoping to stain paint both pieces eventually but I have just too many projects going on at the moment.