Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, plywood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Flinders Flair

Let's Talk Kitchens & Interiors

A contemporary holiday home located on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula featuring rammed earth walls, timber lined ceilings and flagstone floors. This home incorporates strong, natural elements and the joinery throughout features custom, stained oak timber cabinetry and natural limestone benchtops. With a nod to the mid century modern era and a balance of natural, warm elements this home displays a uniquely Australian design style. This home is a cocoon like sanctuary for rejuvenation and relaxation with all the modern conveniences one could wish for thoughtfully integrated.

Custom design and build

Horizon Homes

First impression count as you enter this custom-built Horizon Homes property at Kellyville. The home opens into a stylish entryway, with soaring double height ceilings. It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. And that’s literally true with this home. With the kitchen in the centre of the ground floor, this home provides ample formal and informal living spaces on the ground floor. At the rear of the house, a rumpus room, living room and dining room overlooking a large alfresco kitchen and dining area make this house the perfect entertainer. It’s functional, too, with a butler’s pantry, and laundry (with outdoor access) leading off the kitchen. There’s also a mudroom – with bespoke joinery – next to the garage. Upstairs is a mezzanine office area and four bedrooms, including a luxurious main suite with dressing room, ensuite and private balcony. Outdoor areas were important to the owners of this knockdown rebuild. While the house is large at almost 454m2, it fills only half the block. That means there’s a generous backyard. A central courtyard provides further outdoor space. Of course, this courtyard – as well as being a gorgeous focal point – has the added advantage of bringing light into the centre of the house.

The Rosella display home

Alatalo Bros

A generous dining area joining onto kitchen and family room
Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Other with white walls, vinyl floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

Appartement Bara - Paris 06

KAST DESIGN

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Paris with white walls, a standard fireplace and wood walls.

Two sisters

Cellar Ridge Construction

This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Portland with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, beige floor, vaulted and wood.

REFORMA INTEGRAL E INTERIORISMO REYES

SMG Arquitectura y Reformas

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Madrid with white walls, multi-coloured floor, panelled walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace and a metal fireplace surround.

Hollywood Regency Dining Room

Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello

Custom molding on the walls adds depth and drama to the space. The client's bold David Bowie painting pops against the Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray walls. The organic burl wood table and the mid-century sputnik chandelier (from Arteriors) adds softness to the space. Photo by Melissa Au

séjour et cuisine

Laurence Dassonville - Création d'intérieurs

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Marseille with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Contemporaneo Sala Da Pranzo

Inspiration for a contemporary open plan dining in Milan with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Pella Windows & Doors

Timberline Windows & Doors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

MARTA AMETLLER STUDIO

Maria Pujol Fotógrafa

Interiorismo: Marta Ametller Studio Fotografía: Maria Pujol
Contemporary open plan dining in Barcelona with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, beige walls and beige floor.

Entertaining Great Room

The Phinery

Converted this small room off the kitchen into a hip entertaining space. The counter height console table from Restoration Hardware works well for displaying appetizers and having casual meals. Room also functions well for kids - providing a great space near the kitchen for doing homework. Custom artwork was painted to pull in the colors of the brick fireplace surround and beige/gray tones of the draperies and floors. A vintage pendant light, greenery, and candles complete the space.

Full Renovation in Oliphant Street, Queen's Park

GDL London

Immediately to the right from the hallway is the open-plan living and dining area which leads on to the kitchen and patio. The white-topped dark wood table sits in the centre of the room, flanked by the back wall, which features a fireplace turned into a log-holder, giving the room and ever-so-slight rustic appeal.

Fireplaces using Buechel Stone

Buechel Stone Corp

This beautiful fireplace and interior walls feature Buechel Stone's Fond du Lac Tailored Blend in coursed heights. Fond du Lac Cut Stone is used over the doorways and for the bush hammered header of the fireplace. Click on the tags to see more at www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Fond-du-Lac-Ta... & www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Fond-du-Lac-Cu...

Maison Individuelle - Rénovation, architecture d'intérieur et décoration

ROYAL ROULOTTE

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Paris with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and black walls.

Duplex Apartment Combination

JENDRETZKI LLC

This West Village is the combination of 2 apartments into a larger one, which takes advantage of the stunning double height spaces, extremely unusual in NYC. While keeping the pre-war flair the residence maintains a minimal and contemporary design.

St. Pancras Penthouse Apartment

TG-Studio

Dining Room with Living space Photographer: Philip Vile
Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in London with beige walls, a standard fireplace and light hardwood floors.

Rental Flat, Battersea

Chantel Elshout Studio

A strict budget does not mean a boring scheme.
Photo of a contemporary dining room in Gloucestershire with grey walls and a standard fireplace.

Contemporary Dining Room Design Ideas with a Standard Fireplace

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!