Winston - Salem Dining Room

Georgia Street Design

Pacific Northwest Tudor

Heidi Caillier Design

Haris Kenjar

Addition/Renovation

GREAT FALLS Construction

Bob Narod Photography

Rye Beach Shingle

VanderHorn Architects

A classic egg-and-dart motif surrounds the honed absolute granite of the dining room fireplace with bolection moulding and mantel shelf above protrude from paneled walls centered between a built-in cabinet and French doors to a hallway beyond. James Merrell Photography

4311 Morningside

Niosi Design

C-alan Homes, Best Light Environments, LLC, Visual Comfort, Hudson Valley, Restoration Hardware, Benjamin Moore,

JCPenney Custom Window Treatment Designs

Lois Lambkin for JCPenney Window Treatments

Villa Maria

User

Michael Patch

Downtown Petoskey

BOYD Construction Company Inc.

Dining room with board and batten molding, navy walls and a gas fireplace

Livable Luxury

Marcelle Guilbeau, Interior Designer

Red Oak Common #1. | Solid Hardwood 3 1/4"

Tri Point Flooring

Red Oak Common #1. 3/4" x 3 1/4" Solid Hardwood. Stain: Special Walnut Sealer: Bona AmberSeal Poly: Bona Mega HD Satin

The Farrand

Shoreline Construction and Development

Tangley

Three Doors LLC

Linda Brown Designer, Ben Glass Photography

Kitchen Renovation

Alan Heron Homes Inc.

Beautiful built in cabinetry with glass shelves

In Keeping With Tradition

Meadowlark Design+Build

This great room was designed so everyone can be together for both day-to-day living and when entertaining. This custom home was designed and built by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Joshua Caldwell.

Sophisticated Glamour

RLH Studio

Spacecrafting Photography

Bold, Dark Dining Room

Kristen Elizabeth Design

A deep, custom magenta from Dunn Edwards creates a rich elegance to this dining area. Photo: Kat Alves

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

South Shore Kitchen and 1st Floor Renovation

J.P. Hoffman Design Build

This dining room was once its own separate space. We took the homeowner's vision of creating one, large room and knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create the open floor plan. We also took it one step further, removing the hallway wall that separated the dining room from the hallway that used to run between the front door and the kitchen - a typical colonial layout. We relocated a coat closet to the family room/office on the other side of the stairs as not to lose that important storage. But by removing the wall, the new space feels open and welcoming, rather than tight and crowded when guests enter through the main door.

Traditional Dining Room Design Ideas with Brown Floor

A traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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 traditional 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!