A generous dining area joining onto kitchen and family room

Timber-Lantern House

Mcmahon and Nerlich

View to double-height dining room

GATINEAU HILLS

Marvin

Architect: Rick Shean & Christopher Simmonds, Christopher Simmonds Architect Inc. Photography By: Peter Fritz “Feels very confident and fluent. Love the contrast between first and second floor, both in material and volume. Excellent modern composition.” This Gatineau Hills home creates a beautiful balance between modern and natural. The natural house design embraces its earthy surroundings, while opening the door to a contemporary aesthetic. The open ground floor, with its interconnected spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows, allows sunlight to flow through uninterrupted, showcasing the beauty of the natural light as it varies throughout the day and by season. The façade of reclaimed wood on the upper level, white cement board lining the lower, and large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows throughout are the perfect package for this chic forest home. A warm wood ceiling overhead and rustic hand-scraped wood floor underfoot wrap you in nature’s best. Marvin’s floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the ever-changing landscape of trees and mountains indoors. From the exterior, the vertical windows lead the eye upward, loosely echoing the vertical lines of the surrounding trees. The large windows and minimal frames effectively framed unique views of the beautiful Gatineau Hills without distracting from them. Further, the windows on the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, are tinted for added privacy. Marvin’s selection of window frame colors further defined this home’s contrasting exterior palette. White window frames were used for the ground floor and black for the second floor. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Bi-Fold Door Marvin Sliding Patio Door Marvin Tilt Turn and Hopper Window Marvin Ultimate Awning Window Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door

Sante Fe Historic

Violante & Rochford Interiors

It has all the features of an award-winning home—a grand estate exquisitely restored to its historic New Mexico Territorial-style beauty, yet with 21st-century amenities and energy efficiency. And, for a Washington, D.C.-based couple who vacationed with their children in Santa Fe for decades, the 6,000-square-foot hilltop home has the added benefit of being the perfect gathering spot for family and friends from both coasts. Wendy McEahern photography LLC

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

Custom Sedona Home

RJWC Development

Mountain Modern Lake House

Judd Builders

Waterfront Cottage

Chango

Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Construction by G. B. Construction and Development, Inc. Photography by Jonathan Pilkington

Traditional Kitchen Phoenix

Caine & Company

This remodel was for a family that purchased a new home and just moved from Denver. They wanted a traditional design with a few hints of contemporary and an open feel concept with the adjoining rooms. We removed the walls surrounding the kitchen to achieve the openness of the space but needed to keep the support so we installed an exposed wooden beam. This brought in a traditional feature as well as using a reclaimed piece of wood for the brick fireplace mantel. The kitchen cabinets are the classic, white style with mesh upper cabinet insets. To further bring in the traditional look, we have a white farmhouse sink, installed white, subway tile, butcherblock countertop for the island and glass island electrical fixtures but offset it with stainless steel appliances and a quartz countertop. In the adjoining bonus room, we framed the entryway and windows with a square, white trim, which adds to the contemporary aspect. And for a fun touch, the clients wanted a little bar area and a kegerator installed. We kept the more contemporary theme with the stainless steel color and a white quartz countertop. The clients were delighted with how the kitchen turned out and how spacious the area felt in addition to the seamless mix of styles. Photos by Rick Young

Chayce Lanphear

Fotograf: Herrmann Rupp

Orange Park Acres Dining Room

Beth Whitlinger Interior Design

The homeowner of this ranch style home in Orange Park Acres wanted the Kitchen Breakfast Nook to become a large informal Dining Room that was an extension of the new Great Room. A new painted limestone effect on the used brick fireplace sets the tone for a lighter, more open and airy space. Using a bench for part of the seating helps to eliminate crowding and give a place for the grandkids to sit that can handle sticky hands. Custom designed dining chairs in a heavy duty velvet add to the luxurious feeling of the room and can be used in the adjacent Great Room for additional seating. A heavy dark iron chandelier was replaced with the lovely fixture that was hanging in another room; it's pale tones perfect for the new scheme. The window seat cushions were updated in a serviceable ostrich print taupe vinyl enhanced by rich cut velvet brocade and metallic woven pillows, making it a perfect place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Photo by Anthony Gomez.

Trevaylor Cottage

Lydia Allen Interiors

Preisgekrönte Altbausanierung, fotografiert für das KAMINZIMMER in Kassel

Andreas Zapfe, Objektphotographie

Andreas Zapfe, www.objektphoto.com

Mandeville Canyon Mid-Century Treehouse

Emily Pertzborn Interiors

Gröbenzell B 42

Lebensraum Holz GmbH

Foto: Michael Voit, Nußdorf

Patching Residence

Dylan Barber Building Design

WOHUNG MITTE

Otto von Berlin

Dining Room Breakfront & Wet Bar

Great Rooms Building Group

Neubau eines Einfamilienhauses, Berlin - Pankow

soederarchitect

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Plaster Fireplace Surround and a Brick Fireplace Surround

A 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 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 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 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!