Room of the Week: A Funky Dining Nook for an Active Family

A tiny, casual meals area for an on-the-go family is transformed into something special with chic touches

Georgia Madden 9 October 2018

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In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.

Alix Helps Interiors

Images by Helen Ward, Inward Outward

Answers by Alix Helps, interior decorator and stylist, Alix Helps Interiors

Who lives here: A busy family of five with three children aged between 10 and 15 years old
Location: Turramurra, NSW
Room purpose and size: A 3.45-square-metre dining nook

Alix Helps Interiors

Brief
My clients wanted an area for casual family meals that would also provide extra seating when they entertain. The dining nook was to form part of an open-plan kitchen-family room.

Alix Helps Interiors

After our initial consultation, the clients worked hard to define the style they wanted for their home. After researching looks they loved online, a theme emerged that I would describe as modern Australian with a touch of Scandi. Limed-oak flooring and crisp white walls provided the foundations, paired with clean-lined furniture made from natural materials.

Alix Helps Interiors

Starting point
The framed artwork above the bar table is actually a photo of the client walking the family dog at the beach. The pale tones in the print were perfect for the space and framed up beautifully in Tasmanian oak.

Alix Helps Interiors

Thinking behind the arrangement
I wanted to create a really funky space that didn’t feel like a run-of-the-mill kitchen table. I turned the original meals area around to make it feel like more of an alcove, installed a raised bar table and created a feature wall with recycled-mosaic tiles.

Alix Helps Interiors

Challenges you worked around
Absolutely none. This was part of a major renovation and my clients were very receptive to my creative ideas. Everything was being replaced in this open-plan room, from flooring to lighting (insert fist pumps here!).

Alix Helps Interiors

Key design aspects
Colour palette: Dulux Natural White on walls, pale timber with accents of black in the bar stools.

Materials palette: Classic Series White Patina recycled-coconut shell mosaic wall tiles from Cocomosaic Australia, limed-oak floors and pale-timber picture frames.

Key pieces of furniture/fittings: A custom-made bar table by CRS Joinery. Yvonne Potter Y leather bar stools from Matt Blatt Furniture. Artworks from Designer Boys Art.

Alix Helps Interiors

Why do you think this room works?
The sunny aspect guarantees plenty of light, and the large opening to the entertaining terrace and pool makes the location of the kitchen and meals area perfect for family use. The raised bar table and stools change the traditional kitchen-table dynamic and the incredible textural effect from the feature wall makes this space a striking focal point.

Tell us
What do you love about this room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join the conversation.

More
Love this makeover? Check out last week’s Room of the Week: A Serene Parents’ Retreat