Matteo Serpi

Although the dining area is part of a large Great Room with tall ceilings, it still maintains an intimate feeling with the beautiful area rug, draperies, arched opening with Cantara stone columns and sconce lighting. Photography: Mark Boisclair

Caisson Studios– Interior Designer Los Angeles

Caisson Studios

Large Addition Renovation

Bistany Design®

The family often entertains large parties and also needed space for their family of seven to gather. This eating area is open to the kitchen as well as the family room allowing great traffic flow throughout the home. Custom gothic-inspired cabinet doors on the bar cabinetry make a statement within the space.

Lakefront Estate

chas architects

Authentic materials, hand crafted details, and carefully scaled architectural elements create an overall ambiance much like one would find in an old European country home.

Flea Market Style

Alison Kandler Interior Design

Bret Gum for Cottages and Bungalows

Spanish Mission Residence, historic renovation

Indigo Diggs Architecture

Joe Nuess Photography

Elmwood Place- Dining Room

Heather Peterson Design

photos @spacecrafting

Dining in a Ranch Home

Maraya Interior Design

Rustic ranch dining area. Old table with industrial lighting and reclaimed wood plank ceiling for a famous Hollywood producer's weekend rustic home. The Multiple Ranch and Mountain Homes are shown in this project catalog: from Camarillo horse ranches to Lake Tahoe ski lodges. Featuring rock walls and fireplaces with decorative wrought iron doors, stained wood trusses and hand scraped beams. Rustic designs give a warm lodge feel to these large ski resort homes and cattle ranches. Pine plank or slate and stone flooring with custom old world wrought iron lighting, leather furniture and handmade, scraped wood dining tables give a warmth to the hard use of these homes, some of which are on working farms and orchards. Antique and new custom upholstery, covered in velvet with deep rich tones and hand knotted rugs in the bedrooms give a softness and warmth so comfortable and livable. In the kitchen, range hoods provide beautiful points of interest, from hammered copper, steel, and wood. Unique stone mosaic, custom painted tile and stone backsplash in the kitchen and baths. designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. contractor: Tim Droney photo, architecture and interiors: Maraya Droney,

John Baker

Architect: Don Nulty

Comal County Ranch House

Dibello Architects, PLLC

The 3,400 SF, 3 – bedroom, 3 ½ bath main house feels larger than it is because we pulled the kids’ bedroom wing and master suite wing out from the public spaces and connected all three with a TV Den. Convenient ranch house features include a porte cochere at the side entrance to the mud room, a utility/sewing room near the kitchen, and covered porches that wrap two sides of the pool terrace. We designed a separate icehouse to showcase the owner’s unique collection of Texas memorabilia. The building includes a guest suite and a comfortable porch overlooking the pool. The main house and icehouse utilize reclaimed wood siding, brick, stone, tie, tin, and timbers alongside appropriate new materials to add a feeling of age.

Lake Michigan Residence

Elizabeth Drake of Drake Interiors Limited

Photo: Petra Ford

Projet longère charente maritime intérieurs

Agence FOGEL

Détail du plan de travail en ormeau galeux massif. La rive du plateau n'a pas été rectifiée révélant ainsi tout le relief de l'aubier.

Del Mar Home

Steffen Construction & Design

G O L F

Evensen Design

Aaron Dougherty Photo

Eclectic Dining Room

Kitchen and Dining Room

Eric Watson Architect, P.A.

Küche Nachher

StageItUp

Dining Room Design Ideas with Terra-cotta Floors

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!