James Ferrara Photography

The client came to us to transform a room in their new house, with the purpose of entertaining friends. In order to give them the relaxed, airy vibe they were looking for, the original outdated space needed some TLC... starting with a coat of paint. We did a walk through with the client to get a feel for the room we’d be working with, asked the couple to give us some insight into their budget and color and style preferences, and then we got to work! We created three unique design concepts with their preferences in mind: Beachy, Breezy and Boho. Our client chose concept #2 "Breezy" and we got cranking on the procurement and installation (as in putting together an Ikea table).From designing, editing, and ordering to installing, our process took just a few weeks for this project (most of the lag time spent waiting for furniture to arrive)! And we managed to get the husband's seal of approval, too. Double win.

Modern dining room

Scandinavian Design Gallery

Bow House

BRIBURN – Architecture for Life

View of the dining room surrounded by craftsman stair. Photo by John W. Hession

Farmhouse Kitchen

Covenant LLC

Breckenridge Kitchen

Ken Pieper & Associates LLC

Eat-in Kitchen

Vicki Simon Interior Design

breakfast area in kitchen with exposed wood slat ceiling and painted paneled tongue and groove fir wall finish. Custom concrete and glass dining table.

High Plain Desert

IMI Design, LLC

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ

Smith House

Randall Mars Architects

Rustic Post and Beam Straw Bale House

New Frameworks Natural Design Build

Ace McArleton

Live Edge Red Oak Dining Table

RE-CO BKLYN

Red Oak dining table from a tree damaged in Hurricane Sandy. This tree once stood 3 miles from the house where the table lives.

Contemporary Dining Room

Haas Entertainment

The dining room in this contemporary Beverly Hills home shows a just a small part of an expansive distributed audio system. The components for the audio system are centrally located in an equipment rack with signals distributed throughout the house.

Dining Area

Rockefeller Kempel Architects

Eric Staudenmaier

Arts & Crafts Cottage

David Heide Design Studio

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio -- Photos: Susan Gilmore

North Bay Residence

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Creemore Addition

Marylyn Joel Interior Designer

Lillian Toohey

Evergreen Log Home Kitchen Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

This project's final result exceeded even our vision for the space! This kitchen is part of a stunning traditional log home in Evergreen, CO. The original kitchen had some unique touches, but was dated and not a true reflection of our client. The existing kitchen felt dark despite an amazing amount of natural light, and the colors and textures of the cabinetry felt heavy and expired. The client wanted to keep with the traditional rustic aesthetic that is present throughout the rest of the home, but wanted a much brighter space and slightly more elegant appeal. Our scope included upgrades to just about everything: new semi-custom cabinetry, new quartz countertops, new paint, new light fixtures, new backsplash tile, and even a custom flue over the range. We kept the original flooring in tact, retained the original copper range hood, and maintained the same layout while optimizing light and function. The space is made brighter by a light cream primary cabinetry color, and additional feature lighting everywhere including in cabinets, under cabinets, and in toe kicks. The new kitchen island is made of knotty alder cabinetry and topped by Cambria quartz in Oakmoor. The dining table shares this same style of quartz and is surrounded by custom upholstered benches in Kravet's Cowhide suede. We introduced a new dramatic antler chandelier at the end of the island as well as Restoration Hardware accent lighting over the dining area and sconce lighting over the sink area open shelves. We utilized composite sinks in both the primary and bar locations, and accented these with farmhouse style bronze faucets. Stacked stone covers the backsplash, and a handmade elk mosaic adorns the space above the range for a custom look that is hard to ignore. We finished the space with a light copper paint color to add extra warmth and finished cabinetry with rustic bronze hardware. This project is breathtaking and we are so thrilled our client can enjoy this kitchen for many years to come!

Hudson Valley Farmhouse Kitchen

Jeff Wilkinson, RA

Farm House Kitchen built from a white oak tree harvested from the Owner's property. The Radiant heat in the Kitchen flooring is native Bluestone from Johnston & Rhodes. The double Cast Iron Kohler Sink is a reclaimed fixture with a Rohl faucet. Counters are by Vermont Soapstone. Appliances include a restored Wedgewood stove with double ovens and a refrigerator by Liebherr. Cabinetry designed by JWRA and built by Gergen Woodworks in Newburgh, NY. Lighting including the Pendants and picture lights are fixtures by Hudson Valley Lighting of Newburgh. Featured paintings include Carriage Driver by Chuck Wilkinson, Charlotte Valley Apples by Robert Ginder and Clothesline by Theodore Tihansky.

Complete Home Renovation

Randal G. Winter Construction Inc.

Mel Carll

Dogwood Ct

Valia Design

Kitchen/Dining Combo Design Ideas with Slate 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!