Red - Yes that's what I meant. I'll cut out some poster board tonight and check it out. I have a few other things in the attic that I have no place for because they don't coordinate with anything. I'm finally ready to get rid of the stuff but that clock still has a hold on me. It's just different and I really like the face. I hope you eventually find a place for your favorite treasures! Brownysmom - I do agree that spot could use a bigger table but that one will stay. (At least for now until I find a table on CL I like better......... :) I'm trying not to look.) Out of all the furniture I own that one is close to the top of my favorites. I think it would be nice to have a lamp there. I'm going to try doing some rearranging again this weekend. I'm open to other suggestions as to what or how many items to stick on that table! Jen - I know what you mean. I think sometimes it can be pulled off and look nice. Maybe if another item is added? Usually it looks like you forced it to work. I appreciate all the thoughts and suggestions guys. Thanks!

Nicole, one thing that I do when I'm looking at CL and think something may work for me, (as opposed to when I see something amazing that I MUST have!) I pull out my measuring tape and measure my space. Or if I don't know quite where I would put it, I measure and look around in different places. If measurements and condition are not posted in the ad.....well, first, I freak out and yell at the monitor---Whatsa matter with you??? You have a FREE ad, post your information, Peasant!! No, I don't really call all of them "Peasant", but that's pretty much what I'm thinking. It's insane not to measure your piece, put the measurements in the ad, mention scratches on the top, or that the table is in excellent condition, etc. The ad is free. The space is almost unlimited. Make it attractive. Second, I email for more information and provide the seller with my phone number if I am pretty serious. Or if they put in a phone number, I just text or call, asking for the height/width/depth. If those things line up I make the first appointment I can muster to go see. And I don't remember your wingbacks, did you go get them eventually? One caveat with upholstered furniture, sometimes it's pretty ratty in person. Stained, torn, ripped, smelly, etc. MUCH harder to determine if you found a gem or a germ. I bought some antique chairs last year off CL. I saw them, loved the style and the wood, they were priced at $100 for the entire set. And, I had to make arrangements to drive 90 miles. Arrangements included shanghaing my DH and the Toyota T-100. Well, the chairs were ratty as far as upholstery goes... But after exchanging emails with the seller, (who also bought them through CL, intending to refinish, reupholster, and reuse) I found that they were sound structurally. So, last night, they finally went to my upholstery guy. We shall see how they turn out. My husband ripped out the old stuff & springs already, and cut plywood seats for them that must be foamed and batted and reupholstered. The table I wasn't even really concerned about. I had a table, was just getting the set for the chairs. But once I saw how nice the table was, I sent it to my refinisher to scrape the stuff off the top. Some previous owner had allowed a plastic tablecloth to adhere to the tabletop and it had left it's little backing dots all over the top. My furniture guy redid the top for me early this year. It's actually much prettier in person than in my photo. Red

Marti- We went through that too. Thought about every possible potential use of the space and got discouraged by people who insisted we needed to have an island or nothing at all. I understand the sentiment, but different things work for different people. I mentioned it took us a year to go through the layout/design phase, right? We considered everything. I am going to try to attach a copy of an ideabook from houzz where I collected some photos to help me decide what to do with the beam/bar area. I liked some of the photos and disliked others, but kept them all to help me think it through... I have some other pictures, not on houzz that I will try to attach separately. Here is a link that might be useful: Houzz ideabook

Thank you everyone for your ideas! I really appreciate your time. LilDesignWorks as far as the nearby space. To the right is the niche which I'm working on now and then a large hallway that goes to bedrooms. To the left is the tapestry and then a dining room. I attached a photo of the dining room with the columns. Keep walking and you get to the kitchen. Yes and a foosball table for now while the kids are still at home. Also, I attached a photo without the plant. You all are right. It's too big for that table and it covers the frame. I do have a dining room chair on each side of the cabinet and I could try them next to the entryway table.