Every detail of this European villa-style home exudes a uniquely finished feel. Our design goals were to invoke a sense of travel while simultaneously cultivating a homely and inviting ambience. This project reflects our commitment to crafting spaces seamlessly blending luxury with functionality. This once-underused, bland formal dining room was transformed into an evening retreat, evoking the ambience of a Tangiers cigar bar. Texture was introduced through grasscloth wallpaper, shuttered cabinet doors, rattan chairs, and knotty pine ceilings. --- Project completed by Wendy Langston's Everything Home interior design firm, which serves Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville, and Indianapolis. For more about Everything Home, see here: https://everythinghomedesigns.com/

The Ranch House in Almaden Valley

Carmit Oron Interior Design

Almont Drive

Brett D Karns Designs

This square dining room wasn't elongated so, a round table made sense. The drama is in the fixtures by Rejuvenation, the black ceiling with a ship lap design, herringbone floors and 8" baseboards. Also, all of the windows in the house are painted black wood from Marvin.

Notting Hill Hideaway

Chaunceys Timber Flooring

Holden Row

Area3 Design Studio Inc.

Dusty Miller

DB Interiors

Harmony Club Modern Farmhouse

restyle design, llc

This everyday dining space is so cozy and inviting. We used an indoor/outdoor rug from Dash and Albert, farmhouse table and cafe chairs in reclaimed wood, and an oversized buffet from Classic Home Furnishings. Added warmth with draperies in Pindler fabric and tongue and groove ceiling.

Lions Bay Post and Beam

Simply Home Decorating

The new owners of this 1974 Post and Beam home originally contacted us for help furnishing their main floor living spaces. But it wasn’t long before these delightfully open minded clients agreed to a much larger project, including a full kitchen renovation. They were looking to personalize their “forever home,” a place where they looked forward to spending time together entertaining friends and family. In a bold move, we proposed teal cabinetry that tied in beautifully with their ocean and mountain views and suggested covering the original cedar plank ceilings with white shiplap to allow for improved lighting in the ceilings. We also added a full height panelled wall creating a proper front entrance and closing off part of the kitchen while still keeping the space open for entertaining. Finally, we curated a selection of custom designed wood and upholstered furniture for their open concept living spaces and moody home theatre room beyond. This project is a Top 5 Finalist for Western Living Magazine's 2021 Home of the Year.

Contemporary Dining Room

Brilliant Blue Condo

Tailored Spaces, Natalie Spiniolas

We opened this condo up and took advantage of all the storage we could get. We staying within a neutral pallet, but used navy as our base color. This is a perfect reflection off the lake.

White Oak House

Boxwood Avenue

This beautiful custom home built by Bowlin Built and designed by Boxwood Avenue in the Reno Tahoe area features creamy walls painted with Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee and white oak custom cabinetry. This dining room design is complete with a custom floating brass bistro bar and gorgeous brass light fixture.

Williams Kitchen

Brickhouse Kitchens and Baths

Franklin Park Residence

Purple Cherry Architects

In this transitional home, a casual breakfast nook sits adjacent to the kitchen and living room.

Window Seat For Dining Area

Christopher Scott Cabinetry and Design Inc.

A custom, built-in seating option for the dining room adds versatility and storage, making a window seat a perfect option for a smaller dining space. These custom, built-in benches are a cozy addition to this eat-in kitchen.

Hollywood Actor's Off Grid Tiny Home

Tru Form Tiny

Designed by Malia Schultheis and built by Tru Form Tiny. This Tiny Home features Blue stained pine for the ceiling, pine wall boards in white, custom barn door, custom steel work throughout, and modern minimalist window trim in fir. This table folds down and away.

The Evans Floor Plan as a Model Home

Bercher Homes

White parson chairs around a weathered grey rectangle table

Katsura | Deep Cove

Hasler Homes Ltd

South Bay Coastal Farmhouse

White Sands Coastal Development

This 5,200-square foot modern farmhouse is located on Manhattan Beach’s Fourth Street, which leads directly to the ocean. A raw stone facade and custom-built Dutch front-door greets guests, and customized millwork can be found throughout the home. The exposed beams, wooden furnishings, rustic-chic lighting, and soothing palette are inspired by Scandinavian farmhouses and breezy coastal living. The home’s understated elegance privileges comfort and vertical space. To this end, the 5-bed, 7-bath (counting halves) home has a 4-stop elevator and a basement theater with tiered seating and 13-foot ceilings. A third story porch is separated from the upstairs living area by a glass wall that disappears as desired, and its stone fireplace ensures that this panoramic ocean view can be enjoyed year-round. This house is full of gorgeous materials, including a kitchen backsplash of Calacatta marble, mined from the Apuan mountains of Italy, and countertops of polished porcelain. The curved antique French limestone fireplace in the living room is a true statement piece, and the basement includes a temperature-controlled glass room-within-a-room for an aesthetic but functional take on wine storage. The takeaway? Efficiency and beauty are two sides of the same coin.

Virginia Country House

Norris Architecture

Dining Room Design Ideas with Timber

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!