I posted this already and who knows where it is, but it's a crazy non-sequitor in someone's thread. And you probably saw these anyway. Here is a jib thanks to chijim and Arch. Digest. You can see it, but all this says is "THIS door isn't as important as the others". I have seen Obvious jib doors in dining rooms that said "The Servants Come in through here, You Don't". Speaking of Dining Rooms. See the columns here. Notice the wall thickness. Notice also that they ranked the orders, with lower order on the pilaster and higher order on the full column: This dining room would only be improved by DeGournay grisaille paper with the figures in color. That would be On Crack. Please do a scenic in your dining room. It would only add another $20K to $50K to the budget. What bugs me in this picture is the "smoke" coming out of the mirror over the mantle.

Thanks everyone! We are installing hardwood throughout the entire downstairs.The revere pewter is actually through french doors off of both rooms but you can't really see itwell from either room so I am not so worried about that going with the other rooms as much. It is mainly this view I want to flow well. I considered van cortland blue for the formal living room but it might be too dark/bold for me. I tend to be more neutral/conservative when decorating. And yes I love the yarmouth blue but don't think I want it everywhere. It looks perfect in the dining room.

It appears your foyer is just not large enough to put any piece of furniture there without infringing on the DR space. You might have a wall mounted shelf on the wall before the kitchen entry and possibly place a stool underneath it for seating. Possibly, not knowing how large your dining table is, you could orient it perpendicular to the windows, which could give you more wall space for your entry. As for the light, just make sure it is over your table. Don't worry about whether it is centered with the front windows.

I think the no area rug is pretty. I don't think you can get away from the traditional look of your dining room table and hutch unless you take the top of the hutch off that has the glass doors. Then recover the chairs with an awning stripe large stripe of navy blue and white or black and white or a flame stitch pattern. Find a large contemporary print with bold colors of navy, reds etc. large one on the other wall. If you like sisal rug I would do one that has a thin border of black or navy to tie it in with the look. Curtains airy and match wall color. I still would paint the foyer door area a color to separate rooms. a glass topped foyer table with leg material you like. don't get matchy matchy but tie colors and materials together. Look at some transitional style rooms on Houz, there are great examples. I know you said you have a great room in the kitchen but what if you take out the leaves in table and put it on the back of a couch with maybe four chairs in your great room. Use that front room as a sitting room and use your great room as a combination dining area that would take it out of formality. plus you would use the table more often. Leave the hutch without the top in the front room or use it in the foyer.