I think your current table looks fine excpt how about centering it under the chandelier?

Do you ever seat more than four at the table? Consider a white tulip table to echo the white around the fireplace.

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I feel the table you have is great, the rug, and the light fixture would impact the room greatly, swagging the light over to the center of the table would help. I am assuming the table is pushed over for traffic flow I would work toward making that feel intentional, taking down the pictures, clearing the mantel, changing out the curtains, sort of a fresh look at the room. If you need a new table my brain goes to a beefy pottery barn style with mixed chairs.

Thank you Suki Mom. I should clarify that I would like to get a new table because functionally, the current table does not work for me anymore. It is lower than modern tables, so I bump my knees under it. Also, because of the cross beam and leg structure underneath, I cannot put two chairs side by side. It makes it awkward to help my child with homework. Also, in the not-extended state, there is no room for all six chairs at the table, so I have to put two of the chairs against the wall away from the table, which takes up more floor space. In addition, there is a groove around the perimeter that has bothered me for a long time :-).

I used to have the table centered under the chandelier, but the dining room is a pass-through room to other rooms. Maybe I can move the chain for the chandelier so that it is over the table.

Thank you decoenthusiaste. I often have more than 4 people at the table. The large tulip table could work. Thank you for considering the white around the fireplace. I had not thought to complement that feature before.

It might help if you share some photos of the other spaces you have modernized so we can get a sense of what you mean by "modern furniture". MCM? Contemporary? Transitional?

My initial thought is the same as Suki that your current table is quite nice. You could try removing the curio cabinet in the corner, choosing a more contemporary or modern rug, and replacing the end chairs with something upholstered.

I have a beautiful old cherry dining table that is quite formal. I've paired it with a set of upholstered chairs. They're very comfortable and make the space a little less formal and more contemporary.

Thank you RL Relocation LLC. You are correct about the traffic flow. The dining room is a pass-through. I was thinking the same thing about swagging the chandelier. Thank you for the table suggestion. My current table is beefy, but small (60 inches when not extended), and it suited the room.

Hello! Beautiful room! Needs to be lightened up. I would suggest removing the window treatment and use shades more like what you have in your kitchen. Or none at all. I would recommend

remving the curio and adding a large plant. I would add a lighter, more modern looking rug and a lighter table with fabric chairs as shown. Replace the chandelier with something more trasitional.

Can you change the chandelier?

I would probably get a Parsons table

This is another vote for a Parsons style table instead of a tulip table which I think is too modern. Also upholstered chairs like the ones @pricklypearcactus showed. Maybe keep the chandelier as a nod to the Victorian house, but change the rug. I can't tell what the wall color is but you may want to paint the room. After you change multiple things the current color may not work anymore.

Thank you pricklypearcactus. I like the upholstered chairs and will get a new rug.

By more modern, I am attracted to Room and Board furniture. I have the York sofa and something similar to the Linear Media Cabinet. I like an industrial look as well and I designed my kitchen to be a combination of traditional and industrial. Here are some pictures.

Thank you Cecilia for your suggestions. Removing the current window coverings is a good idea. I like the lighter table and chandelier suggestions too.

Hi RL Relocation LLC. Yes, I am open to changing the chandelier.

Thank you palimpsest. I have thought about the Parsons table. Similar to the Parsons table, I was previously interested in the Room and Board Linden table with the quartz top. But I was not sure if it was too plain for the room and I could not visualize how more traditional chairs would work with it.

Thank you kandrewspa. What do you think about this table?

That table is great!

Thanks Cecilia. I also like the table in the first photo you posted. Do you have any information on it?

Yes, it is the Avalon collection from Haverty's Furniture.

That chandelier is giving VERY bad light quality the room looks like a cave, so I think for crafts and homework we can get something that also gives light!

and complements the pendant lights.

Wall paint and new window treatments would make a big impact.

Keep the table and paint the chairs.

Keep the table, but get new chairs that are less ornate. Clean lines with maybe an interesting, colorful fabric would be great. I'd also get a new chandelier, and I'd paint out all the wood trim to white to make it fresher. Here are some inspirational photos that show more updated looks in an old home:

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These are a few ideas I had. Fluting to match the trimwork and white/black for the fireplace. Add some gold in to a new fixture or chairs.

(I wanted this SO bad for my house but I couldn't get past the bright white top with my very cream trimwork)

I don't think I would paint the woodwork.

Hi RL Relocation LLC. I agree the lighting is not very good. In addition, the dining room is on the shady side of the house. Do you think a table lamp on a side table or floor lamp would help?

I have a couple other suggestions. All of these are from World Market. A dark brown table, use your current chairs on the sides and use fabric chair for the ends. Also a couple different rug suggestions from there.

Thank you judianna20. What color would you recommend for the walls? I could paint the chairs, but I am looking forward to a table that is more functional than the one that I have now.

We have a 1920s cottage with a pass through dining room. I replaced a rectangular table for 8 with a 60” round pedestal table. That changed everything — the room is so much more functional! I even have room for a bench along the walk path through the room. We can comfortably get 8 around the table when necessary (older chairs are better sized than modern ones). I think it is a little more difficult for board games but you can work around that. It is very nice for sitting side by side and working on a project. The pedestal is nice because there are no legs to deal with but it evokes a bit of the vintage feel even with a brand new piece.

Thank you Sabrina Alfin Interiors for your detailed suggestions. I really like the style of the coral-colored chairs in the second photo and the table in the 3rd photo. Do you have information on the chairs?

Thank you mnmamax3. These are exciting tables. I like the idea of adding furniture that has gold in it.

I think Sherwin Williams Alabaster White could look great and really brighten things up. Maybe into the adjacent sitting room as well.

Hi Cecilia. I like the table. Considering your comment and the other comments above, I will consider how my current chairs could work with a new table. The fabric chairs you posted would work with my exiting chairs.

Hi, palimpsest. Thank you for the mark-up. I see how a white table can brighten the space. Maybe even just a white-topped table.

I think lighting the wall color, getting rid of the heavy curtains and changing the light is going to change the room. I see light that cant make it through those windows, and light from the kitchen and parlor windows too.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Origin-21-O21-Greenwich-LED-6-Light-Chandelier-in-Black/5001962503

Simba - SIM-1 Area Rug

Simba - SIM-1 Area Rug

Thank you N Johnson. I appreciate your suggestion for a round table in a pass-through dining room. I'll take some measurements to see if a 60" table can work in my room. That is the size I would likely need.

Thank you for the Sherwin Williams Alabaster White color suggestion Cecilia. Funny, this room used to be a dark red-brown. I thought I had lightened it up enough with the current color, but obviously, there is room for improvement. I will get a sample of the Alabaster white and test it out.

Are your floors cherry? I think a VERY light sage green would look lovely, your walls are very light already but the FEEL is dark. I think the contrast against the brighter kitchen nearby enhances that dark feel. Not every room needs to be "light and airy" but given how your space is used for homework and crafts, it definitely needs better lighting.

I see a curtain pulled across the living room window. I presume it's for privacy since that room likely faces the street? You may also have antique pieces you'd like to protect from UV damage--please look into privacy window film with UV protection. Installing that would allow you to mount drapes that can be kept to the side of the window and thus allow more light into the space.

Your chairs feel gothic to me. I would look into changing the chairs into something a little more modern (to go with the new table) but use a Victorian inspired fabric to cover the seats as a nod to the house style.

Please don't paint the woodwork. Before choosing the wall paint, work on the lighting and find the light and bulbs that work for you (you'd be surprised how much they can vary between manufacturers).

Agree with other suggestions to move the light and I would try to tie the new light into the lovely pendants in the kitchen by relating the shape or the material. I love your kitchen, I think you did a good job making it suit the house.

Love Victorians, what a fun project!

Is there a privacy issue? Can you post a picture of the window wall?

Yes I was thinking maybe even just paint above the mirror black.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Artscape-Light-Effects-Old-English-24-in-W-x-36-in-L-Textured-Old-English-Privacy-Decorative-Window-Film/1000204439

or cafe curtains.

@lovelywork10 if you click on the photo, there will be a button on the right side that says, "Ask a Question". You can ask the source of the chairs directly from the designer.

Hi RL Relocation LLC, Attached are pictures of the window wall. It is on the side of the house and faces holly bushes and the next door neighbor’s house.

I see in the markup of my photo that there is black paint above the mirror. Can you tell me more about this design feature?.

Thanks,

Thank you for your comments Anna (6B/7A in MD)! I am in MD too. My floors are heart pine. The color was a result of clear polyurethane applied to the freshly sanded (almost white) floors. I agree that the lighting definitely needs to be improved. I will look at some lighting options suggested in this discussion. I do like sage as that is the color of my kitchen (Benjamin Moore Silver Sage). I plan to work with the existing trim and brighten around it.

Oh ok so you don't need privacy for those windows, I would just update the roman shades for the more modern feel.

I just thought tying the top of the mirror to the black tiles may make feel more like on unit?

Thank you for the mirror wall suggestion RL Relocation LLC. I will look at Roman shades as an option for a modern window treatment.