In lieu of a formal dining room, our clients kept the dining area casual. A painted built-in bench, with custom upholstery runs along the white washed cypress wall. Custom lights by interior designer Joel Mozersky.

Apartment at Carmicheal Road,Mumbai

ns*a Architecture and Interiors

Japandi Home

SDA Architects

After the second fallout of the Delta Variant amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in mid 2021, our team working from home, and our client in quarantine, SDA Architects conceived Japandi Home. The initial brief for the renovation of this pool house was for its interior to have an "immediate sense of serenity" that roused the feeling of being peaceful. Influenced by loneliness and angst during quarantine, SDA Architects explored themes of escapism and empathy which led to a “Japandi” style concept design – the nexus between “Scandinavian functionality” and “Japanese rustic minimalism” to invoke feelings of “art, nature and simplicity.” This merging of styles forms the perfect amalgamation of both function and form, centred on clean lines, bright spaces and light colours. Grounded by its emotional weight, poetic lyricism, and relaxed atmosphere; Japandi Home aesthetics focus on simplicity, natural elements, and comfort; minimalism that is both aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional. Japandi Home places special emphasis on sustainability through use of raw furnishings and a rejection of the one-time-use culture we have embraced for numerous decades. A plethora of natural materials, muted colours, clean lines and minimal, yet-well-curated furnishings have been employed to showcase beautiful craftsmanship – quality handmade pieces over quantitative throwaway items. A neutral colour palette compliments the soft and hard furnishings within, allowing the timeless pieces to breath and speak for themselves. These calming, tranquil and peaceful colours have been chosen so when accent colours are incorporated, they are done so in a meaningful yet subtle way. Japandi home isn’t sparse – it’s intentional. The integrated storage throughout – from the kitchen, to dining buffet, linen cupboard, window seat, entertainment unit, bed ensemble and walk-in wardrobe are key to reducing clutter and maintaining the zen-like sense of calm created by these clean lines and open spaces. The Scandinavian concept of “hygge” refers to the idea that ones home is your cosy sanctuary. Similarly, this ideology has been fused with the Japanese notion of “wabi-sabi”; the idea that there is beauty in imperfection. Hence, the marriage of these design styles is both founded on minimalism and comfort; easy-going yet sophisticated. Conversely, whilst Japanese styles can be considered “sleek” and Scandinavian, “rustic”, the richness of the Japanese neutral colour palette aids in preventing the stark, crisp palette of Scandinavian styles from feeling cold and clinical. Japandi Home’s introspective essence can ultimately be considered quite timely for the pandemic and was the quintessential lockdown project our team needed.

Midcentury Modern Rescue Renovation - Canberra

Architecture Republic

Dining Space with Lake View

Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction

Like the entry way, the dining area is open to the ceiling more than 20 feet above, from which LED pendants are hung at alternating intervals, creating a celestial glow over the space. Architecture and interior design by Pierre Hoppenot, Studio PHH Architects.

Paris - Tiny House Wabi-sabi sur les toits de Paris

Projet Wabi-sabi

Projet de Tiny House sur les toits de Paris, avec 17m² pour 4 !

The Hen House - Open plan dining room

HEM Architects

Open plan kitchen diner with plywood floor-to-ceiling feature storage wall. Pendant lighting over dining table.

Bay Pearl

Kirsten Johnstone Architecture

Reforma de piso en Cabruñana

David Olmos Arquitectos

Siatama Kitchen

H. Miller Bros

Set within an airy contemporary extension to a lovely Georgian home, the Siatama Kitchen is our most ambitious project to date. The client, a master cook who taught English in Siatama, Japan, wanted a space that spliced together her love of Japanese detailing with a sophisticated Scandinavian approach to wood. At the centre of the deisgn is a large island, made in solid british elm, and topped with a set of lined drawers for utensils, cutlery and chefs knifes. The 4-post legs of the island conform to the 寸 (pronounced ‘sun’), an ancient Japanese measurement equal to 3cm. An undulating chevron detail articulates the lower drawers in the island, and an open-framed end, with wood worktop, provides a space for casual dining and homework. A full height pantry, with sliding doors with diagonally-wired glass, and an integrated american-style fridge freezer, give acres of storage space and allow for clutter to be shut away. A plant shelf above the pantry brings the space to life, making the most of the high ceilings and light in this lovely room.

Appartement Jouffroy d'Abbans-

Agence KP-Architecte d'intérieur

En tant que designer, j'ai toujours été fasciné par la rencontre entre l'ancien et le moderne. Le projet que je vous présente aujourd'hui incarne cette fusion avec brio. Au cœur d'un appartement haussmannien, symbole d'un Paris d'antan, se dévoile un séjour audacieusement revêtu de bleu foncé. Cette nuance profonde et envoûtante ne se contente pas de donner une atmosphère contemporaine à la pièce ; elle met aussi en valeur les détails architecturaux si caractéristiques des intérieurs haussmanniens : moulures délicates, cheminées en marbre et parquets en point de Hongrie. Le bleu foncé, loin d'opprimer l'espace, le sublime en créant un contraste saisissant avec la luminosité naturelle qui baigne le séjour par ses larges fenêtres. Ce choix audacieux témoigne de ma volonté constante de repousser les frontières du design traditionnel, tout en restant fidèle à l'âme et à l'histoire du lieu. Ce séjour, avec ses tonalités modernes nichées dans un écrin classique, est une ode à la beauté intemporelle et à l'innovation audacieuse.

Penthouse Batignolles

Moure Studio

Dining room area of a penthouse designed and decorated by Moure / Studio. Each furniture was selected by the studio. This living space features our Kalupso Chandelier made of golden brass and cathedral glass offering a beautiful light reflection at nightime. Salle à manger designée et décorée par Moure / Studio. Les meubles et éléments décoratifs ont été choisis par nos soins. Table par Aymeric Tetrel et lustre Kalupso en laiton doré et verre cathédrale par Moure / Studio. Le verre de ce lustre offre superbe projection murale de lumière une fois la nuit tombée. Enfilade en noyer dessinée par Moure / Studio derrière un mur de placage noyer. Photographie par Peter Lik et tableaux par Clement Mancini. © Alexandra De Cossette

Midcentury Modern Loft Chinese Dining Room | Kimball Starr Interior Design

Kimball Starr Interior Design

After our redesign, we lightened the space by replacing a solid wall with retracting opaque ones. The guest bedroom wall now separates the open-plan dining space, featuring mid-century modern dining table and chairs in coordinating colors. A Chinese lamp matches the flavor of the shelving cutouts revealed by the sliding wall.

Colony Project

Thermally Broken Steel USA

Wrap-around windows and sliding doors extend the visual boundaries of the dining and lounge spaces to the treetops beyond. Custom windows, doors, and hardware designed and furnished by Thermally Broken Steel USA. Other sources: Chandelier: Emily Group of Thirteen by Daniel Becker Studio. Dining table: Newell Design Studios. Parsons dining chairs: John Stuart (vintage, 1968). Custom shearling rug: Miksi Rugs. Custom built-in sectional: sourced from Place Textiles and Craftsmen Upholstery. Coffee table: Pierre Augustin Rose.

Colorful Luxury Project

K2 Interiors

Fun, luxurious, space enhancing solutions and pops of color were the theme for this globe-trotter young couple’s downtown condo. The result is a space that truly reflect’s their vibrant and upbeat personalities, while being extremely functional without sacrificing looks. It is a space that exudes happiness and joie de vivre, from the secret bar to the inviting patio.

niguel west mid-century modern

Moss Yaw Design studio

a formal dining room acts as a natural extension of the open kitchen and adjacent bar

Saline Creek Road

Kurtz Construction, Inc.

La Casa spiata dall'antico castello

Corazzolla Arredamenti su Misura

Dettaglio nicchia a giorno con ripiani in pannello impiallacciato legno, a servizio del tavolo.

MADESIMO APT

Tommaso Giunchi Architetti

living e cucina, ambiente unico con penisola: lunga panca su disegno per supporto tv e seduta zona pranzo; cucina con ante in legno anticato e top nero; paraspruzzi in vetro retroverniciato nero.

Open Plan Dining Design Ideas with Wood Walls

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!