I can't get over the dining room chairs dressed up like a kid in a last-minute halloween costume.

yes.

I liked this one. Light and airy for an old Victorian.

Wow! I thought that one was in the grouping as a joke. To each their own.

the winner is not my favorite... I really dislike chair covers like that. #1 is my personal fav. Classic, clean lines and a funky light.

It's a beautiful dining room, but I agree with mmead on the chairs. My first thought was, "those chairs look like little ghosts sitting down to dinner!"

how could 6 people possibly be comfortable dining at such a small table? there's something really wrong with the proportions of that room.
and what are the things on the "ghost" pedestal - they look like dancing gargoyles!

I missed the original post, but I agree with m.o.l.i. --- the first one is my favorite. I think it might be one of my favorite dining rooms I've ever seen on AT. Not exactly sure why, but I just love it.

Number 2 is scarcely stunning in my eyes.

I agree with Paulinet - those chairs look so crowded and uncomfortable around the table. And I can tell you from experience - when you live in a seismic zone, it's very difficult to keep your pictures hanging straight - those arrangements would be very high-maintenance. I like #1 and #2 the best. #5 is a nightmare - so dark and cramped!

Meh. It's all over the place and busy. The second one is cool.

@paulinet

the pieces you called "dancing gargoyles" look like they might be ancient mesoamerican statues (replicas or otherwise). if you look up "mayan statues" you'll see similar pieces in google images. i'd avoid passing judgment on others' artistic preferences unless i had experience in the genre.

Surprising...table is very small. The fireplace must have something to do w/this win. The chairs in #1 don't look comfy enough for dining, but it is fine looking. My faves: #3 and #8

I love the dark one with the potted palm and salon-style art. It's like being in a fabulous European house.

I like the chandelier in the winner, but none of the rest of it...

#2 is my favorite, and I find #5 strangely compelling - I don't quite like it, but I really really want to be invited over for dinner there. Maybe this means I need to paint my dining room a nice dark color?

Really? I mean it's not bad but there's a few i like better. Especially #3!

How can people vote for such a non-functional design?

I feel rather underwhelmed by all of them. Number 3 looks like a private dining room in a bland country house hotel. I can virtually smell the overcooked vegetables.

shocked! are they kidding?!

really? #4? it's pottery barn. shabby chic slipcovered chairs, grass on the mantel, photo grids (hint: use a yard stick to align the frames before the photo shoot). and i'd like to see six adults eat at that glass table. #1 and #2 are great. #5 is a hot mess. and #7 gets an honorable mention for careful execution of a traditional concept.

What? Was this Readers Digest?

I guessed. I scrolled. I won.

I would love to find a table and chairs similar to those in #1.