Contemporary Kitchen and Dining Room. Modern Mediterranean Golf Retreat. Modern Art meets Italian made dining table and chairs.
Design ideas for a large contemporary dining room in Phoenix with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Queen's Gate, South Kensington

Keir Townsend

It is a common misconception that the fewer pieces of furniture and features you have in a space, the bigger it will look – this isn’t actually the case. The more zones and features you have the more it creates a perception of different areas within one room. The trick is not to have too many contrasts or palette juxtapositions but to use neutral tones in a variety of different textures and materials. A material that consists of layers of liquid metal and resin has been used to clad the fireplace surround, hand chiselled to create a crackled effect it has a textured appearance that is tactile and visually stimulating. Keir Townsend has collaborated with Italian manufacturer Laurameroni on production of the copper coffee table; it features a unique process which involves applying patinated metal strips of different widths to furniture surfaces. The velvet upholstered sofa has a matching ottoman which gives a feeling of expansive luxury and provides extra seating if required.

LAB | Tokio, Barcelona

Laboratorio de Arquitectura en Barcelona

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Barcelona with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, beige floor, decorative wall panelling, a metal fireplace surround and recessed.

Great Room And Dining Room

Germania Construction

There's space in this great room for every gathering, and the cozy fireplace and floor-the-ceiling windows create a welcoming environment.
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary open plan dining in Salt Lake City with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and wood.

Greenwich Project

Looks Lovely Limited

Inspiration for a contemporary open plan dining in London with blue walls, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

The Cresent

Neal Huston & Associates

Paula Watts
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Other with a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Umatilla

Realarchitecture Ltd

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Denver with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Kitchen

by SHnordic

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Buckinghamshire with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

Fairbanks Residence

Thomas Roszak Architecture, LLC

Photography-Hedrich Blessing Fairbanks Residence: The combination of three apartments was done to create one free flowing living space with over 4,800 SF connecting the 39th and 40th floors, with amazing views of Chicago. A new glass stair replaces an existing wood stair in the penthouse residence, and allows light to pour deep into the home and creates a calming void in the space. The glass is used as the primary structural material and only stainless steel is used for connection clips. The glass assembly of both tread and wall includes 3 layers of ½” lo-iron tempered glass with an AVB interlayer and hinge-like connector under tread and at connection to concrete to allow for rotation or vertical movement of up to one inch. The fireplace module incorporates the minimal gas and stone fireplace with hidden cabinet doors, an HVAC fan coil, and the LCD TV. The full height absolute-white kitchen wall also has a large working island in white oak that ends in an eat-in table. Solid wide plank hickory is used on the floor to compliment the rift-cut white oak cabinetry in the fireplace and kitchen, the tower’s concrete structure, and the plaster walls throughout painted in 4 different whites.

Madison Park Remodel

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Steve Keating
Contemporary open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Jenson-DeLeeuw NZE House

Paul Lukez Architecture

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Boston with white walls, porcelain floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor and vaulted.

Contemporary Dining Room

This is an example of a large contemporary open plan dining in New York with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor and white walls.

Apartment in Dublin 6

houseology

Compact white dining area with oak floor. Tulip table and ikea chairs, ikea rug. Photograph by Philip Lauterbach
Design ideas for a contemporary open plan dining in Dublin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Loft Furnishing in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg

TAKK STUDIO

Made to order dining table lit up with a large skylight. Design kitchen from Boffi italia. Large custom mirror reflects the space.
Photo of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Berlin with red walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

Dogwood Lane - Westport, CT

Vita Design Group

This is an example of a large contemporary open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Modern Mountain Home

User

Anita Lang - IMI Design - Scottsdale, AZ
Inspiration for a large contemporary dining room in Phoenix with a metal fireplace surround and black floor.

Komplettumbau und Einrichtung eines Bauernhauses

id die raumidee

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary dining room in Berlin with white walls, light hardwood floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround, white floor and recessed.

Forest Hill Renovation

Designtheory Inc.

Valerie Wilcox
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern Home | Kimberly Demmy Design

Kimberly Demmy Design

This rustic modern home was purchased by an art collector that needed plenty of white wall space to hang his collection. The furnishings were kept neutral to allow the art to pop and warm wood tones were selected to keep the house from becoming cold and sterile. Published in Modern In Denver | The Art of Living. Daniel O'Connor Photography

Valley Home

Studio 80 Interior Design

Kimberly Gavin
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Denver with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Contemporary Dining Room Design Ideas with a Metal Fireplace Surround

A contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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!