Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and no fireplace.

Formal dining room transformed into a wine room
Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Other with grey walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Large contemporary separate dining room in Orlando with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Contemporary separate dining room in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Nashville with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

This is an example of a large contemporary separate dining room in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but the dining room is where the family gathers to enjoy special occasions, create and pass on traditions, and savour each other’s company free from distractions. The family behind this particular dining room enjoys doing just that. When they are not traveling the world, Matthew and Anna (names changed) love to cook meals at home with their teenage daughter, entertain family and friends, and live amongst their cherished travel souvenirs and heirlooms. Their dining room, however, was far from the perfect backdrop for these experiences. Before: Dining Room: When Matthew and Anna contacted us, they imagined a space that would comfortably seat 8 to 10 people and incorporate their beautiful inherited dining table and sideboard in a fresh, modern way. Above all, they wanted a dining room that they would feel proud to share. They worked with us to design, lightly renovate, and furnish their dining room and adjacent living space. Now, the room is nothing short of inviting and elevated. Classic Yet Contemporary Dining Room: Viewed from the living area, the dining room is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Matthew and Anna wanted dark blue for the walls, and we couldn’t have been happier to find the perfect shade for them. By leaning darker, this rich blue creates the perception of depth, making the room feel enticing, comfortable and secluded. The previous built-ins were underwhelming and lacked function, so we designed wider, taller, double sided cabinets that integrated the existing bulk-head, and then accessorized the shelves with the family’s travel finds, books, and decor. Topping these units with brass art lights not only blends contemporary and traditional styles, it also draws attention to the dining table’s modern show-stopping chandelier. You can’t miss it. Inside the dining room, the effect is equally impressive: enveloping yet spacious, warm yet cool, classic yet contemporary. We incorporated their heirloom pieces seamlessly into the design thanks to the 1:2 ratio. For every traditional piece, we introduced two more modern or contemporary pieces — clean lines, subtle curves, and lustrous brass hardware. The result is a collected yet updated look. In any room with dark walls, lighting is of the utmost importance. We placed a mirror adjacent to the window to reflect natural light throughout the room, and we kept the trim and ceiling white for brightness. To provide maximum versatility, we provided multiple light sources that can be adjusted to create different levels of light to suit any mood or occasion. These include: pot lights and a chandelier on dimmers, a sculptural trilight lamp on the sideboard, and art lights on the bookcases and above important art pieces. The built-ins have another surprise waiting inside this special dining room: Double-sided built-ins: dining room shelving and living room shelving. Rather than keep them white like we did in the living room, we painted the back wall of the book cases the same dark blue as the walls in the rest of the room. This reduces the contrast with the surrounding walls and emphasizes the white outline of the cabinets. We also love the dark blue walls’ role as a beautiful backdrop for this family’s treasures. The brass accessories and hand-painted vases and bowls feel like part of the experience. Of course, what is beauty without function? It may not look like it, but the base storage is only accessible from the dining room side. The units include deep cabinets for storing serving ware, as well as another delightful surprise: silverware drawers lined in luxurious navy velvet! Lastly, we designed this beautiful nook for their heirloom sideboard. From afar, the wall looks as if it has texture and perhaps a touch of shine. Up close, you will notice that it is actually navy blue wallpaper with tiny golden dots. This unique touch accentuates the brass in the room touches throughout the space.. The room feels curated, contemporary, and full of character. Words of Praise: Anna and Matthew were thrilled with their new dining room and with the design process itself, which is always the highest compliment. They said: “Working with Lori and her team at Simply Home Decorating was a great experience. The design they came up with was both beautiful and practical for our family. Renovations can be stressful but working with Simply Home made the process much more pleasant. “Simply Home's project management and their longstanding relationships with reliable trades meant we could relax, knowing that everything was taken care of. If an issue arose, the entire Simply Home team was quick to address it. They were excellent at communicating with us—we never felt like we didn't know what was going on. We would highly recommend working with Simply Home Decorating.” Thank you, Matthew and Anna! We are honoured to have been part of your journey and wish your family many happy memories in these new spaces. Now, is it your turn? Are you ready to uncover the hidden potential in your home? If so, contact us here to start the conversation or download my guide Uncovering the Hidden Potential in Your Home below to learn more about what we can do for you.

Inspiration for a large contemporary separate dining room in Toronto with black walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and wallpaper.

I designed and produced this small conference room for The Potomac Place Condominium in Washington, DC.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in DC Metro with grey walls, carpet and grey floor.

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary separate dining room in Houston with white walls.

This is an example of a large contemporary separate dining room in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Contemporary separate dining room in New York with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Contemporary separate dining room in Barcelona with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Guy Lockwood
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and no fireplace.

Designer, Kapan Shipman, created two contemporary fireplaces and unique built-in displays in this historic Andersonville home. The living room cleverly uses the unique angled space to house a sleek stone and wood fireplace with built in shelving and wall-mounted tv. We also custom built a vertical built-in closet at the back entryway as a mini mudroom for extra storage at the door. In the open-concept dining room, a gorgeous white stone gas fireplace is the focal point with a built-in credenza buffet for the dining area. At the front entryway, Kapan designed one of our most unique built ins with floor-to-ceiling wood beams anchoring white pedestal boxes for display. Another beauty is the industrial chic stairwell combining steel wire and a dark reclaimed wood bannister.

Inspiration for a small contemporary separate dining room in Seattle with beige walls, carpet, beige floor and no fireplace.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Mumbai with beige floor and grey walls.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.