Get a range of samples to put in your house, against the kitchen floor tile in order to make a decision. Dark wood would be a simple and effective solution since you already have what appears to be dark wood beneath the sink. Wood which is too close in color and value will probably be problematic, and will probably fight with the kitchen tile. The photo by suzyq53 is very attractive, but don't try to make a decision using photos or the computer. Get samples and choose from them in both direct and indirect lighting conditions. Good luck! PS: For other consumers reading this, the best approach is to pick all of your finish materials together at the same time, before construction. If you have one room's finishes installed and then worry what to do in the adjacent room you will be forever chasing yourself throughout the house until the very last room and very last corner. Do it all, or have it done for you to approve, before construction begins. Worry less! Enjoy construction more!

It is really hard to visualize without pics. I know you aren't in the space yet, but could you at least link to a pic of the dining set? And the sofa? And a photo of your chandelier since it sounds like you have that in your current home? It sounds like the kitchen is a black/white color scheme. A lot of people pair that with greige walls, which (if my web search turned up the right sorts of images for "mink") seems like it would work with your dining set. I think "fawn" walls would not work well with "mink," at least if my understanding of what you mean by those colors is on point. Fawn conjures up a warm color with orange undertones, and while that could look nice with a sage green living room set, I think it will fight the cooler tones of the kitchen and the proposed dining set. It sounds like the peppercorn floor is not installed yet, so I will throw this out there: Dark floors have a reputation for showing every speck of dust. The elements you've described would look just as nice with a less dramatically dark floor. Just something to think about. I haven't found it to be difficult to find black tables in styles other than country. What style are you interested in? More modern? More traditional? I'm sure we could help you find something. But if you stick with the peppercorn floors, black furnishings might be too much black. You could do white (tie in with kitchen cabinetry), chrome (tie in with your proposed chandelier) or something else. Congratulations on your new home! (I probably should have led with that...)

Great, Sally. Hope we didn't overwhelm you with too much information. Most of us do go for a holistic approach to space since no single element exists in a room by itself; they connect through layout, style, finishes, palettes. Sometimes the "problem child" isn't the actual problem, or the only problem, and getting a bunch of alternative suggestions can be useful. Your room is lovely as is, frankly. If you are getting wood flooring, that will definitely modernize the room without your doing anything else. Feel free to post again with all the details at the outset--i.e. not loving the paint, getting wood floors, etc.--then people won't chime in with too much information. Good luck with your new home. You have beautiful pieces.

Once you have furniture in your space the chair rail will not be noticed on that side. It will not be the focal point. Your furnishings and artwork will be what people will see. Also, spaces that are completely balanced are not nearly as interesting as having a little asymmetry here and there imo.