marciag, I went through the same thought process you're having now. Right now we have a dining room that we never use because it's closed off and cramped, a small kitchen with an island that no one but guests like to sit at, and a large eat-in area where we eat all our meals. My new kitchen will be much larger, the eat-in area will be gone, there will still be seating for guests at the island, and the dining room will be larger and completely open to the kitchen. The dining room, while larger, will be very cozy and comfortable with couch-like seating, and the plan is for us to eat all our meals in there. The table will be small and casual for every day use and can be extended and dressed up for entertaining. I agree with rhome that table dining is far more comfortable and desirable than at a counter or bar. If your dining room is too far away or too formal, my advice would be to plan for a table somewhere in your design. Maybe a cozy banquette?

Nosoccermom - thanks for posting the pretty beds. I'd love that last one with different finials. Looking at that one makes me realize I really need to check the ceiling height of the bedroom in the new house though - it's so tall! 1929Spanish and outsideplaying - that might be a good idea to take our bed with us and decide later once we get settled in. I'm just on a purging binge and trying to decide what we need to take since we have so much furniture to move and I've read about movers charging by the pound! Really the bed disassembled won't take up much space itself compared to the rest of the furniture, although it is heavy. Pinkmountain - I haven't showed him pictures yet but DH is actually onboard with getting a new bed and he likes the modern, country look that I like. I think he'd be fine with switching out just one piece, just not with spending so much to replace everything with similar quality furniture. He doesn't care for iron beds as much as I do but I think he would like any of the wood ones posted. Upholstered is an interesting idea too.

I really like the ones with only an upholstered seat, particularly with kiddos. Unfortunately the completely upholstered ones like the last one pictured are exactly like the chairs we have in our offices where I work (as extra chairs and around conference tables) and the ones in my dentist's waiting room and at clinics, so I just can't get the 'office chair' look out of my head. As far as the 'pile of wood' goes, I think the open back of the ones you posted from the nearby store would look airier and make the room feel larger. It's such a beautiful room and table! Love the blue.

What a great piece @jojoco! It's beautiful. It looks like it might be maple? It will be lovely in your dining room. Do you know what brand by chance? It reminds me of cabinets designed by Bevin Funnell. I have just recently become interested in the cabinets with the beautiful fretwork in his cabinets (and others). It is usually rounded (for lack of better word). I have seen many homes with what we might formerly call a china cabinet used in other rooms; often holding books, etc. particularly English style decor. We just recently got rid of a cabinet in our home office that could have easily been a "china cabinet". There is also a beautiful cabinet similar to yours in an antique store in a nearby city. Sadly, it is painted, but it is still a beautiful cabinet. Can't wait to see yours in place!