The rich brown mahogany woodwork contrasts with the fireplace's marble surround, painted white walls and tall, sheer window treatments. Daniel Newcomb Photography

Wading Place 2

SHELTER Custom-Built Living

Fort Hill- Formal Dining Room

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Stefco Builders Landscape Architect: Hilarie Holdsworth Design Photographer: Greg Premru

West Linn Kitchen, Family and Dining Room

Double J Construction Inc dba Double J Renovations

Hand crafted cabinetry, paneling and shelving

North Of Nell

Cathers Home Furniture + Interior Design

Santa Maria Shingle Style

Meyer Design

This beautiful and spacious dining room is part of an open floor plan called the Great Hall. The barn doors open to reveal extra storage and built-in desks for studying and homework, while still getting natural light from the main living space. Meyer Design Lakewest Custom Homes Portraits of Home

Blanchard Condo

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton

828 International Area Rugs

Signature Carpet One Floor & Home

Chester Square London

Elayne Barre Photography

Elayne Barre

Brookfield Midcentury Modern Interior Remodeling

S.J. Janis Company, Inc.

The lighting schemes each serve their own dynamic task from recessed lighting to task and up lighting. The family can now entertain and communicate easily with their family and friends. A load bearing wall was removed and engineered to allow the open concept design. New red oak hardwood flooring was added and blended into the existing wood making it one surface.

Wildwood

Talie Jane Interiors

Major remodel of first floor including dining room. Replaced existing fireplace with three-sided gas unit surrounded by stacked stone, metal and concrete. This acts as a fabulous backdrop for the dining room, adjacent to a wallpaper-adorned wall and dining seating for 8 (when pulled out from the wall).

Ridge House

Lea Sisson Architect llc

david marlow

Garrison Landing 202

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Building Architecture: Charlie & Co. Design | Interiors: Martha O'Hara Interiors | Photography: Landmark Photography

The private home, reminiscent of Maine lodges and family camps, was designed to be a sanctuary for the family and their many relatives. Lassel Architects worked closely with the owners to meet their needs and wishes and collaborated thoroughly with the builder during the construction process to provide a meticulously crafted home. The open-concept plan, framed by a unique timber frame inspired by Greene & Greene’s designs, provides large open spaces for entertaining with generous views to the lake, along with sleeping lofts that comfortably host a crowd overnight. Each of the family members' bedrooms was configured to provide a view to the lake. The bedroom wings pivot off a staircase which winds around a natural tree trunk up to a tower room with 360-degree views of the surrounding lake and forest. All interiors are framed with natural wood and custom-built furniture and cabinets reinforce daily use and activities. The family enjoys the home throughout the entire year; therefore careful attention was paid to insulation, air tightness and efficient mechanical systems, including in-floor heating. The house was integrated into the natural topography of the site to connect the interior and exterior spaces and encourage an organic circulation flow. Solar orientation and summer and winter sun angles were studied to shade in the summer and take advantage of passive solar gain in the winter. Equally important was the use of natural ventilation. The design takes into account cross-ventilation for each bedroom while high and low awning windows to allow cool air to move through the home replacing warm air in the upper floor. The tower functions as a private space with great light and views with the advantage of the Venturi effect on warm summer evenings. Sandy Agrafiotis

A unique project combining elegance and comfort

Mon Concept Habitation - London

This project is the result of research and work lasting several months. This magnificent Haussmannian apartment will inspire you if you are looking for refined and original inspiration. Here the lights are decorative objects in their own right. Sometimes they take the form of a cloud in the children's room, delicate bubbles in the parents' or floating halos in the living rooms. The majestic kitchen completely hugs the long wall. It is a unique creation by eggersmann by Paul & Benjamin. A very important piece for the family, it has been designed both to allow them to meet and to welcome official invitations. The master bathroom is a work of art. There is a minimalist Italian stone shower. Wood gives the room a chic side without being too conspicuous. It is the same wood used for the construction of boats: solid, noble and above all waterproof.

BaseCamp

Denman Construction

Inside Rec area of Smoking Gun

Garage Doors Unlimited

This is a recreation area inside Smoking Gun in San Diego. The glass garage doors were created in a barn style that gives an outlet to an outdoor area. Sarah F

Graystone Lodge

Steamboat Interiors, Corp.

Cowhide dining chairs flank this custom dining room table.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Light Hardwood Floors and a Stone 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!