There may be nicer finishes than poly, as Randy mentioned the Tung Oil finsih, but in my experience oil based poly holds up EXTREMELY well if applied properly. Many years ago, I did all my trim (doors, windows, base, etc) and it held up well. Have since replaced with white painted trim. Nothing gets more wear and tear than hardwood floors finished in poly and they stand the test of time. Did you prep you table properly? Did you sand between coats? I would probably do three thin coats on a dining table.

Often, instead of removing wallpaper/popcorn, the less time consuming, easier remedy is to install new sheet rock over the old, leaving the wallpaper in place. That may sound like a lot more work, but when the pitfalls of removing those two items are considered, the overlay can take much less time and money. Example: Popcorn was used because the ceiling could be done with one mudding/taping/sanding. So, when removed, at least two taping applications will be necessary to get a smooth surface. Then prime and paint. Installing new sheetrock over the old popcorn means no messy removal, the same three applications of mud/tape/sanding, priming, and painting. What is missing is a day or two of mess. Removing old wall paper can take several days. And destroy the surface of the sheetrock it covers. And have to dissolve the glue and remove. You could hire the installation done and it should take a day for most normally sized rooms. If the crew uses fast drying (hot) mud, the taping can also be done in a day. Two days and it is ready to prime and paint. The only gotcha is extending electrical outlets/switches and window/door trim to be flush with the new surfaces, which can be a DIY project.

YES! You want to do the top blue...get on that asap. We'll all look around for ridiculously low priced chandeliers so that you have some funny money for extra goodies... As usual, I adore chinoiserie, so I would do that kind of fabric for the seats... Someone posted drapes that I thought were SO fabulous...I'll see if I can find them. ETA: it was these..https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Exclusive-Fabrics-Mecca-Printed-Cotton-Single-Curtain-Panel/8285937/product.html?refccid=FGOEJLVFQFSINKKKWWFWGKXSAE&searchidx=29 However, they may be too full for the window closest to the door. If you have an Ikea near you, they have very nice drapes (I would do white) that you can add a trim to? And they would be well within your budget...

A simple way to determine a chandelier size is to add the dimensions of the room together in feet and then convert the answer to inches. The answer in inches should equal the diameter of the fixture. So if your room measures 10' x 14' the diameter of the fixture should be about 24" I would get the large