Gatherings filled with family, cherished memories, and heartwarming laughter, all set against the backdrop of a meticulously crafted, serene yet carefully curated dining space.

Pavilion House

Sheri Haby Architects

Brunswick Parlour

Mihaly Slocombe

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Berkeley Vale Home

AMA Studio Interiors

Elizabeth St, Five Dock

Hatch Constructions Group

Taringa House

Shane Marsh Architects

Port Melbourne Residence

MR.MITCHELL

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Dining room featuring built in cabinetry and seating with storage. Great little reading nook. VJ panelling in Dulux Kimberley Tree

Anderson Street, South Yarra

Key Piece

Barkly Street

S&A Stairs

Where form meets class. This stunning contemporary stair features beautiful American Oak timbers contrasting with a striking steel balustrade with feature timber panelling underneath the flight. This elegant design takes up residence in Mazzei’s Royal Melbourne Hospital Lottery home.

Elegant Mid-century Living | Kimball Starr

Kimball Starr Interior Design

Modern light-filled home is designed with a relaxed elegance that revolves around family comfort with a stylish flair. Unique sculptural and art elements inspired by nature echo the family's love for the outdoors, while the select vintage pieces and ethnic prints bring visual warmth and personality to the home

Casa PP

Sarah Pidatella architetto

L’appartamento si trova alle pendici dell’Etna, vicino Catania, all’interno di un complesso residenziale degli anni ’70. Linea guida del progetto è stata la volontà di creare un grande open space che contenesse tutte le funzioni di cucina, zona pranzo e soggiorno, che divenisse il vero e proprio core dell’abitazione, eliminando le tramezzature . Qui il cambio di pavimentazione, gres grande formato color cemento per la cucina e rovere di Slavonia per la zona pranzo, distingue le diverse funzioni all’interno di un unico spazio, cosi come il controsoffitto contribuisce a differenziarle tramite salti di quota e uso differente del colore, bianco e alto per le aree di conversazione e pranzo, grigio e basso per le aree distributive e di passaggio. Qui quest’ultimo diviene in verticale ora guardaroba accanto l’ingresso, ora armadio contenitivo e dispensa nella zona prospicente la cucina, ora libreria vicino il grande tavolo da pranzo in legno. Attraverso una porta filo muro scorrevole si accede alla zona notte: qui si trovano le stanze da letto, il bagno principale e un bagno per gli ospiti .

Red Ledges

Studio McGee

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven Design and Construction

The design team elected to preserve the original stacked stone wall in the dining area. A striking sputnik chandelier further repeats the mid century modern design. Deep blue accents repeat throughout the home's main living area and the kitchen.

Chandeliers

Brilliant Lighting Center

Australian Minimalist Ground-Up

Cathie Hong Interiors

This Australian-inspired new construction was a successful collaboration between homeowner, architect, designer and builder. The home features a Henrybuilt kitchen, butler's pantry, private home office, guest suite, master suite, entry foyer with concealed entrances to the powder bathroom and coat closet, hidden play loft, and full front and back landscaping with swimming pool and pool house/ADU.

Ketchum Cabin Retreat

User

The living, dining, and kitchen opt for views rather than walls. The living room is encircled by three, 16’ lift and slide doors, creating a room that feels comfortable sitting amongst the trees. Because of this the love and appreciation for the location are felt throughout the main floor. The emphasis on larger-than-life views is continued into the main sweet with a door for a quick escape to the wrap-around two-story deck.

Natural Woven Weave Shades

Window Spaces

Natural Woven Weave Shades highlight the windows in this dining room.

Lauriston

Camille Hermand Architectures

Jennifer Sath

Lafayette

Duet Design Group

Dining Room with Bold Console, Photo by Emily Minton Redfield

Mid-sized Open Plan Dining Design Ideas

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!