This Victorian dining room was sympathetically renovated to sit well within its era, yet have a modern and midcentury edge. Contemporary pieces bring it right into the 21st century.

California Craftsman

Arnold Brothers Construction, Inc.

Inspiration for a beach style dining room in Santa Barbara with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kitchen Remodel in Historic Home in Wilmington, DE

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

This is an example of a traditional dining room in Wilmington with a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Greenwich Georgian

User

Anastassios Mentis
This is an example of a large traditional separate dining room in New York with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Gold Coast Apartment

Eva Quateman Interiors

Gorgeous living and dining area with bobs of black and red. Werner Straube
Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and recessed.

Bold Blue Dining Room

User

Mid-century dining room sideboard.
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with blue walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

PROJET : HÉRITAGE

Distingo Home Staging

Design ideas for an expansive open plan dining in Montreal with white walls, a wood stove, a wood fireplace surround, brown floor, light hardwood floors and recessed.

Tobias Oliver Interiors - Victorian Manor

Tobias Oliver Interiors

Ali Framil
Design ideas for a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Other with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Eclectic open plan living-dining room

Absolute Project Management

Bright, south facing open plan living -dining room with a sea view. A comfortable grey corner sofa complemented with a bright, mustard yellow armchair. Open shelving to create a subtle divide from the dining area. Lots of houseplants in attractive monochrome pots. Brightly accessorised wooden dining table

Transitional Kitchen and Dining Room Renovation in West Chester, PA

Rudloff Custom Builders

This kitchen and dining room remodel gave this transitional/traditional home a fresh and chic update. The kitchen features a black granite counters, top of the line appliances, a wet bar, a custom-built wall cabinet for storage and a place for charging electronics, and a large center island. The blue island features seating for four, lots of storage and microwave drawer. Its counter is made of two layers of Carrara marble. In the dining room, the custom-made wainscoting and fireplace surround mimic the kitchen cabinetry, providing a cohesive and modern look. RUDLOFF Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016 and 2017. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017 and 2018, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: JMB Photoworks

Contemporary Remodel

Janet Brooks Design

Mark Boisclair
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Phoenix with white walls, limestone floors and a wood fireplace surround.

Neptune - Newport Beach

Wabi Sabi Interior Design & Development

Design ideas for a small beach style kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Dining Area

Storylines Interior Design

Photographer: Flaviu Pop
Photo of a modern dining room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Transitional Charlotte Home

Alison Hall, RA

This is an example of a large transitional open plan dining in Charlotte with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

The Half Level House

Barak Mizrachi Architects

Barak Mizrachi Architects Photo by, Johann Lourens
This is an example of an industrial dining room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Dining Area

Storylines Interior Design

Flaviu Pop
Design ideas for a modern dining room in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

The Modern Wolfden

Wolfgang Pichler Design Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized modern open plan dining in Other with white walls, concrete floors, a ribbon fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and grey floor.

Fireplace Mantle / Living Room / Dining Room

ING Construction

Malibu, CA - Complete Home Remodel Installation of hardwood floors, base molding, windows, wood blinds, French doors, recessed lighting and a fresh paint to finish.

Vibrant Victorian

James John Flynn

Photo of a mid-sized modern separate dining room in Chicago with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Kitchen Remodel in Historic Home in Wilmington, DE

Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio

Kitchen/dining combo in Wilmington with grey walls, a standard fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

Blue Dining Room Design Ideas with a Wood Fireplace Surround

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!