View to double-height dining room
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Mulholland Drive- Bel Air

Rande Leaman Interior Design

The formal dining room looks out to the spacious backyard with French doors opening to the pool and spa area. The wood burning brick fireplace was painted white in the renovation and white wainscoting surrounds the room, keeping it fresh and modern. The dramatic wood pitched roof has skylights that bring in light and keep things bright and airy.

Newbiggen St

An Artful Life

This is an example of a large scandinavian open plan dining in Essex with white walls, laminate floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

lake-house- Dining Room

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Danny Piassick
Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with beige walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Chestnut Hill

J. Stewart Designs

Design ideas for a large country open plan dining in Jackson with white walls, concrete floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey floor.

Beach Park Drive Residence

design styles architecture

This custom built 2-story French Country style home is a beautiful retreat in the South Tampa area. The exterior of the home was designed to strike a subtle balance of stucco and stone, brought together by a neutral color palette with contrasting rust-colored garage doors and shutters. To further emphasize the European influence on the design, unique elements like the curved roof above the main entry and the castle tower that houses the octagonal shaped master walk-in shower jutting out from the main structure. Additionally, the entire exterior form of the home is lined with authentic gas-lit sconces. The rear of the home features a putting green, pool deck, outdoor kitchen with retractable screen, and rain chains to speak to the country aesthetic of the home. Inside, you are met with a two-story living room with full length retractable sliding glass doors that open to the outdoor kitchen and pool deck. A large salt aquarium built into the millwork panel system visually connects the media room and living room. The media room is highlighted by the large stone wall feature, and includes a full wet bar with a unique farmhouse style bar sink and custom rustic barn door in the French Country style. The country theme continues in the kitchen with another larger farmhouse sink, cabinet detailing, and concealed exhaust hood. This is complemented by painted coffered ceilings with multi-level detailed crown wood trim. The rustic subway tile backsplash is accented with subtle gray tile, turned at a 45 degree angle to create interest. Large candle-style fixtures connect the exterior sconces to the interior details. A concealed pantry is accessed through hidden panels that match the cabinetry. The home also features a large master suite with a raised plank wood ceiling feature, and additional spacious guest suites. Each bathroom in the home has its own character, while still communicating with the overall style of the home.

West Sonoma County Farmhouse

JMA (Jim Murphy and Associates)

Erhard Pfeiffer
Photo of an expansive country open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Below Buchanan

Ventures Design

Below Buchanan is a basement renovation that feels as light and welcoming as one of our outdoor living spaces. The project is full of unique details, custom woodworking, built-in storage, and gorgeous fixtures. Custom carpentry is everywhere, from the built-in storage cabinets and molding to the private booth, the bar cabinetry, and the fireplace lounge. Creating this bright, airy atmosphere was no small challenge, considering the lack of natural light and spatial restrictions. A color pallet of white opened up the space with wood, leather, and brass accents bringing warmth and balance. The finished basement features three primary spaces: the bar and lounge, a home gym, and a bathroom, as well as additional storage space. As seen in the before image, a double row of support pillars runs through the center of the space dictating the long, narrow design of the bar and lounge. Building a custom dining area with booth seating was a clever way to save space. The booth is built into the dividing wall, nestled between the support beams. The same is true for the built-in storage cabinet. It utilizes a space between the support pillars that would otherwise have been wasted. The small details are as significant as the larger ones in this design. The built-in storage and bar cabinetry are all finished with brass handle pulls, to match the light fixtures, faucets, and bar shelving. White marble counters for the bar, bathroom, and dining table bring a hint of Hollywood glamour. White brick appears in the fireplace and back bar. To keep the space feeling as lofty as possible, the exposed ceilings are painted black with segments of drop ceilings accented by a wide wood molding, a nod to the appearance of exposed beams. Every detail is thoughtfully chosen right down from the cable railing on the staircase to the wood paneling behind the booth, and wrapping the bar.

Custom Residence

Zoltan Construction LLC

Zoltan Construction, Roger Wade Photography
This is an example of an expansive traditional kitchen/dining combo in Orlando with multi-coloured walls, dark hardwood floors and a brick fireplace surround.

Belvedere Spec Home

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

Photo of a large transitional open plan dining in Atlanta with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and beige floor.

Danville Remodel

Fiorella Design, LLC

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and grey walls.

Keeping Room

Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects

The Dining Room was restored to its original appearance with new custom paneling and reclaimed antique pine flooring. Robert Benson Photography
Design ideas for an expansive country separate dining room in New York with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Classic Country Residence

Cath Tonkin Interiors

The Conservatory room is sun-filled year round and is a perfect entertaining space. Outdoor furniture and fabrics in classic style and colours create a relaxed atmosphere. the woodfired oven is a hand for a quick pizza or a roast dinner.

Sea Glass

SV Design

A desire for a more modern and zen-like environment in a historical, turn of the century stone and stucco house was the drive and challenge for this sophisticated Siemasko + Verbridge Interiors project. Along with a fresh color palette, new furniture is woven with antiques, books, and artwork to enliven the space. Carefully selected finishes enhance the openness of the glass pool structure, without competing with the grand ocean views. Thoughtfully designed cabinetry and family friendly furnishings, including a kitchenette, billiard area, and home theater, were designed for both kids and adults.

Beacon Hill Brownstone

TOMHILL STUDIO

The Dining space flows from the Kitchen where retractable glass doors open to the private urban garden. A built-in bar is topped with salvaged wood from the 200 yr old floor joists that were removed when the first floor was lowered. The original fireplace has been modified to function as a pizza oven.

Breakfast Nook Double-Sided Fireplace

Eldan Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts open plan dining in New York with grey walls, a two-sided fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

A New Look for a 1904 Classic Beach House

Sally Scott Interior Designer

A lovely traditional dining room, a nod to the historic architecture of the 1908 home. An imported handmade area rug is the foundation of the room. Scalamandre floral linen drapery fabric adds elegance and pops of color. Grass cloth wallpaper provides interesting texture and a suitable backdrop for the Client's original art.

Traditional Dining Room

This is an example of a traditional open plan dining in New York with medium hardwood floors, white walls, a two-sided fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

East Hampton Post-Modern

Chango

Interior Design & Furniture Design by Chango & Co. Photography by Raquel Langworthy See the story in My Domaine
Mid-sized beach style open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Contemporary Kitchen Diner

Timothy James Interiors

THE COMPLETE RENOVATION OF A LARGE DETACHED FAMILY HOME This project was a labour of love from start to finish and we think it shows. We worked closely with the architect and contractor to create the interiors of this stunning house in Richmond, West London. The existing house was just crying out for a new lease of life, it was so incredibly tired and dated. An interior designer’s dream. A new rear extension was designed to house the vast kitchen diner. Below that in the basement – a cinema, games room and bar. In addition, the drawing room, entrance hall, stairwell master bedroom and en-suite also came under our remit. We took all these areas on plan and articulated our concepts to the client in 3D. Then we implemented the whole thing for them. So Timothy James Interiors were responsible for curating or custom-designing everything you see in these photos OUR FULL INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE INCLUDING PROJECT COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Our brief for this interior design project was to create a ‘private members club feel’. Precedents included Soho House and Firmdale Hotels. This is very much our niche so it’s little wonder we were appointed. Cosy but luxurious interiors with eye-catching artwork, bright fabrics and eclectic furnishings. The scope of services for this project included both the interior design and the interior architecture. This included lighting plan , kitchen and bathroom designs, bespoke joinery drawings and a design for a stained glass window. This project also included the full implementation of the designs we had conceived. We liaised closely with appointed contractor and the trades to ensure the work was carried out in line with the designs. We ordered all of the interior finishes and had them delivered to the relevant specialists. Furniture, soft furnishings and accessories were ordered alongside the site works. When the house was finished we conducted a full installation of the furnishings, artwork and finishing touches.

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Brick 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!