Nestled in the white sands of Lido Beach, overlooking a 100-acre preserve of Florida habitat, this Colonial West Indies home celebrates the natural beauty that Sarasota is known for. Inspired by the sugar plantation estates on the island of Barbados, “Orchid Beach” radiates a barefoot elegance. The kitchen is an effortless extension of this style. A natural light filled kitchen extends into the expansive family room, dining room, and foyer all with high coffered ceilings for a grand entertainment space. The dining room, encased in a subtle blue textured wallpaper is formal, yet welcoming. Between the kitchen and dining room there is a full size, walk in wine cellar, with a dedicated climate controlled system. The Orchid Beach kitchen was designed as a personal and entertainment oasis for the owners to share the Florida lifestyle with their family and friends. The home gives the feeling of traveling back in time to a spectacular island estate and promises to become a timeless piece of architecture on Lido Key.

Sarayu Blue Mountain Beach, FL on Scenic Highway 30A

User

RH dining room and fixtures

Centerport

Matthew Korn, AIA

Oceanside Bungalow

ProPacific Builders, Inc.

Beach House Chic

Ko'olau Builders

The Willowcrest - 2018 Fall Parade Home - Dining Area

Snowden Builders LLC

St. Moritz Hardwood Flooring

DUCHATEAU Floors

DuChateau hardwood flooring in residence

Dining Room

Jimena De La Torre

This modern, coastal dining table was custom made to seat 8, paired with beautiful wood and cane dining chairs and two gorgeous chandeliers from Arteriors.

Grand Dunes Model 2

Ashley Burnette Designs, LLC

Wine fridge with pantry barn door adjacent to the kitchen with the second wine rack displayed in the entry to the dining room.

Berkeley Lake Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Dining room and kitchen

Daniel Contelmo Architects

Sth Coogee Beachhouse

Victoria Waters Design Pty Ltd

Dining room at @sthcoogeebeachhouse

Bay House

Rock House Design

Coastal in Wisconsin

Jerrica Zaric Interior Design, LLC

The entryway, living room, kitchen and dining room have a large open-concept floor plan that is ideal for entertaining. The white walls brighten up the space, while the tongue and groove details and blue painted ceiling create a soothing and intimate environment.

Nantucket Residence

Duffy Design Group

Nantucket Residence Duffy Design Group, Inc. Sam Gray Photography

West Sussex Modern Beach House

Lisette Voute Designs

Here a linear lantern helps define the dining area, lowering the ceiling height for warmth and intimacy. Shiplap cladding on the walls adds architectural interest, and depth to the shape. Natural wood and wicker furniture, a warm jute rug and decorative stone objects give it an organic feel, reflecting the coastal views and garden beyond. Graphic blue and white cushion covers add colour and detail to the space, while the floaty white linen curtains lend to the coastal feel. Photographer: Nick George

Malibu

The Sofa Guy

Contemporary solid wood 12' dining room table with seating for 10 guests on custom height arm chairs with Sunbrella fabric. Accented curated light fixtures from Global Views.

Luxurious Pool House Dining Space

Gilbert Design Group

casual but elevated pool house

Beach Style Dining Room Design Ideas

A beach style dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your beach style dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your beach style dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for beach style dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!