Thanks, all, for the advice and good ideas! Lots to think about. While I know the space is not large and the table is, I am nevertheless inclined to do something. In answer to the questions, I do not think it is an option to build anything in front of the window. The space behind the chair on that side of the table would be too tight. As for storage, I need some, but not an incredible amount. In my adjacent living room, I have a mahogany breakfront (actually, a 1948 Magnavox "entertainment unit" that was in DH's grandmother's Brooklyn walk-up) and a mahogany buffet (same era but was my grandmother's). I can fit most of my china, platters, vases, etc. in the closed storage in these two pieces. In the adjacent hallway that formerly was my kitchen, I have my great-grandmother's chest for table linens. Plus lots of new kitchen and pantry/laundry cabinets. I think the dining room closed storage would mostly be for glassware, so it could be relatively shallow and would work in either a corner or non-corner set-up. In the open shelving, I would want to do a combination of nice books, pottery, art, and photos. I also like the idea of painting the back between the shelves a color other than white, although I'm not sure whether that would work with a corner cabinet. Also, I think having a single corner cabinet would not sit well with my need for symmetry! I will play around with some mock-up options and report back. In the meantime, here are two examples I found of cabinet/shelf built-ins with a window in between (and window "enlarged" thanks to panels on either side). Neither of these is quite what I would do if I didn't do corner(s), but it's similar. [Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Providence Photographers CM Glover [Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Evanston Interior Designers & Decorators 2to5design

Lovely space. I'd fill those cabs sparsely, just because I don't like my good china on display in the dining room. So for me, a few books stacked flat, small sculpture, a beautiful bowl, a painting that no one needs to look at much (or closely), some vases might lurk behind the glass. One fabulous tureen that never gets used....umm,guess you can tell I'm typing and looking at my corner cabs at the same time! Some one else might feature a prized collection of most anything. Legos to monsters. I recall a picture where someone featured her handbags. Basically,all the ideas you might put on open shelves will work here,too. As would papering or painting the backs of the cabs. Guess the point is to keep it authentically YOU. And as others have mentioned,no need to rush. Also: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/photo-flip-85-window-seats-for-whiling-away-the-day-stsetivw-vs~61150399

I drink wine, so I would put several wine racks in either side of the lowest cubbies. I wouldn't get fancy about it -- in fact, I would want to make the room more of a mix of informal and welcoming and sophisticated -- so I'd put in a bunch of these or whatever else fits and doesn't break the bank and spend the savings on better wine. ;) Middle shelf above the double door cabinet I'd put in crystal canisters or European ceramic or tines filled with after dinner candies, rock sugar treats and cookies -- like, a lot of them Then I think I would simplify my life and put 3 framed artworks to cover the upper shelves, hanging them over the shelves so that some of the shelves were still visible. These come in big sizes , But I might stick with a dark old fashioned rug because of your light fixtures (which I like) and the cabinetry

If you want some color and interest in the dining room, I would think about changing what is over the buffet and getting a marvelous piece of artwork. Either one large piece or a trio, that goes to the height of the door frame. I would also change what is in those cabinets to make for a more interesting display in terms of color, shape and texture. For example, on the left, you have all white objects, it looks like serving pieces or bowls, all lined up in a row. This is a snooze. If you do these two things, you may not feel the desperate need to paint those cabinets.