Need ideas for this area, picture has to stay sentimental

Loreta, I don't quite understand what exactly your question is. From the pictures you posted, the room looks quite neat and pulled together especially with the complementary color tones, already. I do have to say though that the bottle sculpture(?) in the corner looks harsh and distracting. It is not clear from the picture what it really is and what is the function of it being there in the corner.

What different look to the room are you seeking if you make some changes? What are you hoping to achieve with the top of the credenza?

Looks very dark and gloomy. Paint the walls a sand color to have contrast to your chairs and buffet. Remove the straw, turn upside down and put a live plant on the top of the urn. Take the placemats off the table and put some print placemats in place of the ones there. Everything is too brown, too dule. Remove the end pieces on the credenza.

I think it looks great as it is. I wouldn't put more stuff on top of the credenza. The picture is the focal point and the tall vase and straw in the corner make a nice balance with the size of the picture. If you add more things to the top of the credenza it will start to look cluttered and detract from the beautiful picture.

If you need change, I suggest that the credenza be painted an off-white color. This will help the contrast of the white in the picture. Then, maybe you could put a black trim around the edges of the credenza. The black from the tall vase will help add more black color, like in the picture. The bottle stand is great for access. I suggest you cut the stand in half, add a small shelf to hold glasses below (you have plenty of space on your walls) and raise it up off the floor. Then you can mount it to the wall and hang glasses, upside down from the bottles. this will add more space to your floor for a small refrigerator. I like the placemats, but you might want to take a photo of the picture and make placemats out of them!! Hope this helps.

I think the niche wall needs to be lighter. Ideally, you need brighter chairs, but that’s a huge expense. Right now the chairs and wall appear to be the same color, as to the placemats. Get black placemats , get greener grasses, or black, for your giant vase If possible, hang wine rack. Or paint it black.

The credenza is wonderful. I’d hate for you to have to paint it. Do the easy cheap stuff first.

Hi. I like the vase with straw "spray" mimicking the spray of color in the picture, but I think it's a tiny bit too tall maybe trim it a few inches cuz it seems cramped under the lower ceiling there. Maybe add identical tabletop topiaries on either side of the painting. Also to have the painting seem more substantial paint 2 1/2 inch or 3 inch black frame right onto the wall

If you are not crazy in love with this picture then I would place it in a Hall way or somewhere else perhaps by a door way. Do the room the way you want as if the picture stays then the room will have to stay about the same way May the room a comfortable beautiful dining room like you really want it to be. The person that gave you this picture would not want you to be unhappy that you are just using th3 room and not really enjoying your home like you should be. Placing it by itself in a hallway still is representing the picture and maybe placing a sconce near it would look good.

I think the area looks lovely. No busy mess to detract from the picture and nice items.

I think that the room looks great but we all like to change things a bit. My suggestions are to remove either the pot with the straw or the wine rack, ( the wine rack is a fun piece but maybe not quite right for this room) then put in a standard floor light. This will bring light to the alcove area. OR put a picture light on the wall just above the picture making a feature of the painting. Also, I would move all 3 silver balls to one end of the dresser and the dish at the other end with nothing in the centre, and only have the placemats out when using the table. Hope this helps.

I also think your interior design already looks great. I would put two buffet lamps on the credenza. The lamps will help highlight the art and it will also bring some more light in the room. Tall and thin lamps will make a big difference. Best of luck to you.