Your rearrangement of the seating is a huge improvement. For balance, you really need a longer couch instead of that dinky loveseat. Depending on budget, I'd keep the two black chairs (if they're Ikea's Poang chairs, I know they're comfortable) because they're neutral and allow great flexibility. When you do a gallery wall, don't use those frames with multiple openings for snapshots or anything like that cluster you have now. Choose your very best candid shots; remember, this is your artwork so it should be compelling. You can create a cohesive gallery wall by framing all the photos the same, or by converting them all to black and white or sepia tone. It's pretty inexpensive now to have them printed on canvas and stretched. One of my favorite uses of family photos is this:There are some articles on Houzz about creating gallery walls. The trick is to keep your grouping tight, to vary the sizes and orientations of frames, and to arrange them in a way that creates balance and movement. Houzz doesn't seem to be working right now. I'm going to quit my browser and return.

Don't have time to answer all of your questions but here's what I can suggest: 1) Lower the mantle on fireplace a little, as well as the painting in the niche. (See #2 here) Consider changing the mantle to something less rustic and paint in color A (see next suggestion) 2) Open spaces should be cohesive - which you can easily do with paint. Choose 2 colors or 2 shades of the same color and vary placement in different areas. (see #5 here) Consider adding a simple chair rail to the dining area. For example, with minimal effort, you could use color A below the chair rail in dining area, as the dominant color in window treatments fabric (I"d use draw drapes) , the back wall of niche, throw pillows, lamps ac, and maybe an area rug in living room, and in accessories (see #3 here) in living room and kitchen. I'd consider adding some of that color to kitchen also -- back of open cabinets for example, recovering bar stools and dining room chair seats to match drapery fabric and possibly slip covering one of the armchairs in the living room in a pattern that incorporates the wall colors with other colors in the space. You want to use coordinates, not just the same solid everywhere so look for different textures or patterns to add. Hope that helps. I've inclluded links to additional info about topics I mentioned that I think you'll find helpful. 3) see #2 - I'd choose lamps with either a base or shade to match color A. (See #7 here) 4) Add plants. If you aren't there often enough to take care of them, use artificial greenery.

Thank you for the advice. I really like the suggestions. I have only kept those old chairs because the kids are so messy. I love the blue/gray chair options and the lighter rug. I’m a little nervous that we can’t keep them clean. I already have long white curtains from our old house that I haven’t hung, so I will hang those ASAP. I also have a large round mirror but it is oil rubbed bronze. Maybe I could paint it to hold us over? im still not sold on the current chandelier, but maybe if the sconces and other stuff changes it will look better. no, we probably don’t need the lamp in the foyer. I never thought of that. Although we do leave it on all of the time.

A round table large enough to seat even 8 people would make it almost impossible to get additional seating in the room. Plus, a 72" round means that people across the table from each other cannot converse because they are simply out of range. (a la banquet tables that usually seat 8). I have included a seating guide go give you an idea. Your idea of two 72"x36" tables has the same liabilities and more if you choose a table with 4 legs at the corners because someone would have to staddle a leg at each "end". https://www.countrysideamishfurniture.com/blog/entry/the-complete-guide-to-dining-table-seating-capacity I heartily agree with suezbell who suggests trying all this out for yourself with graph paper and furniture cut outs that are done to scale.