Hi Crobr3, You have a lovely living and dining room and I love the dining table! I agree with vee_2596 that the coffee table should be in a similar wood to the dining table and I like the style of the first image that LouieT posted. If you could find a marble top coffee table with light wooden legs that would work perfectly. As your dining table is in a light wood perhaps White Thonet chairs could work, this will complement the light wood tone and keep the room fresh. Below are some other coffee table and dining chair options. Good Luck with finishing your living and dining room, I'm sure it is going to look beautiful. http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/living/coffee-tables/23277953/stockholm-coffee-table-oakwhite/ http://www.freedom.com.au/furniture/dining/dining-chairs/23437449/brandon-dining-chair-whiteoak/

Thanks TTT. Good article, Always best to read lots before deciding. Thx also for bump. Oklouise has done a number of drafts and needs me to get her some measurements before we finalise something. Am looking forward to posting our final collaboration here. In the mean time. Ideas for laundry feel. And maybe a bigger drop zone.

CP, showed those ones to hubby...wasn't keen, he felt they weren't going to be comfortable for lengthy stints at the dining table. Afjp, think the timber colour won't blend very well with the silky oak of our table. Thoughts on these ones in the olive... https://lifeinteriors.com.au/collections/dining-chairs/products/life-interiors-blake-velvet-dining-chair We are meant to be checking out the marketplace ones this weekend...but we're still undecided.

i would be reluctant to make any major changes until you're ready to consider an extension to take best advantage of the great northern views towards your proposed new back gardens so my first suggestion is to check true dimensions of every room including bath, toilet and laundry and then make an accurate site plan with specific location of house, existing driveways, shed and any trees you want to keep and then check with council to find out if its possible to build a new garage in the front yard (or on the boundary as the old garage appear to be located)...an accurate site plan will allow you to begin planning future renovations and gardens and unless the old garage is beyond repair, subject to council approval, why not consider adding a new garage in the front yard and renovating the old garage to use as a shade house and garden workshop ...short term my suggestions include a new entry foyer, home office and pantry.. stage 2 has a new kitchen family and master suite and repurpose existing rooms (with the old kitchen post relocated into the new doorway between entry foyer and lounge) and stage 3 would include a new garage at the south west corner of the block and best location of alfresco will depend on your choice of location of garage and extensions but a covered space between old garage (new garden room?) and new kitchen could be worthwhile...