Lauren Smyth designs over 80 spec homes a year for Alturas Homes! Last year, the time came to design a home for herself. Having trusted Kentwood for many years in Alturas Homes builder communities, Lauren knew that Brushed Oak Whisker from the Plateau Collection was the floor for her! She calls the look of her home ‘Ski Mod Minimalist’. Clean lines and a modern aesthetic characterizes Lauren's design style, while channeling the wild of the mountains and the rivers surrounding her hometown of Boise.

Mississippi Modern

Werschay Homes

Lynnette Bauer - 360REI
Large contemporary open plan dining in Minneapolis with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Greenwhich Village

Carole Vaudable Interior Design

Large modern open plan dining in New York with beige walls, carpet, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige floor, coffered and wallpaper.

Elegant Retrohemian Chateau

Mary Hannah Interiors

This formal dining room embodies French grandeur with a modern traditional feel. From the elegant chandelier to the expansive French and German china collection, we considered the clients style and prized possessions in updating this space with the purpose of gathering and entertaining.

Blue Hills- Dining Room

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Denali Construction Landscape Architect: Michelle Crowley Landscape Architecture Photographer: Greg Premru Photography

Griffin Residence

David D. Quillin Architecture

The axis from Living Room to Dining Room to Kitchen. The windows to the right face due south to allow maximum natural light and heat in winter, while roof overhangs keep out solar gain in the summer. David Quillin, Echelon Homes

Dining Room Banquette

Jane Ellison

Dining Room Banquette Wow. The built-in banquette makes it the magnet gathering place every day and with company. Indoor outdoor velvet and faux leather lasts practically forever even with heavy use. The Tibetan scroll painting uses a Baroque style mirror frame – an eclectic yet perfect marriage. Tortoise vases, seasonal flowers and pillow complete the picture. Please come sit.

Holz. Stein. Haus.

BRÜNING INTERIORS

This is an example of an expansive contemporary open plan dining in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige floor and wood.

Mikes Addition

C&J Custom Builders Inc.

Design ideas for a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Poulsbo Dining Room

Assured Accuracy, LLC

In the dining room, the old French doors were removed and replaced with a modern, black metal French door system. This added a focal point to the room and set the tone for a Mid-Century, minimalist feel.

SAINT JEAN

Terre de brume

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Le Havre with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

SANFELICE DUPLEX APT.

Tommaso Giunchi Architetti

La sala da pranzo, tra la cucina e il salotto è anche il primo ambiente che si vede entrando in casa. Un grande tavolo con piano in vetro che riflette la luce e il paesaggio esterno con lampada a sospensione di Vibia. Un mobile libreria separa fisicamente come un filtro con la zona salotto dove c'è un grande divano ad L e un sistema di proiezione video e audio. I colori come nel resto della casa giocano con i toni del grigio e elemento naturale del legno,

Modern Mediterranean Scottsdale AZ

Tower Design Studio, ASID LEED AP

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.

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.

"green" remodel

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

Custom dining table with built-in lazy susan. Light fixture by Ingo Mauer: Oh Mei Ma.
Mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, beige floor and a metal fireplace surround.

Casual Modern | Portland Kitchen Remodel

Mountainwood Homes

Many walls were removed in this 1967 Portland home to create a completely open-concept floorplan that ties the kitchen, dining, living room, and entry together.

Dining Room Banquette

Jane Ellison

Donner du style à un appartement acheté sur plans

Anne Chemineau - Decor Interieur

Le projet : Un appartement familial en Vente en Etat Futur d’Achèvement (VEFA) où tout reste à faire. Les propriétaires ont su tirer profit du délai de construction pour anticiper aménagements, choix des matériaux et décoration avec l’aide de Decor Interieur. Notre solution : A partir des plans du constructeur, nous avons imaginé un espace à vivre qui malgré sa petite surface (32m2) doit pouvoir accueillir une famille de 4 personnes confortablement et bénéficier de rangements avec une cuisine ouverte. Pour optimiser l’espace, la cuisine en U est configurée pour intégrer un maximum de rangements tout en étant très design pour s’intégrer parfaitement au séjour. Dans la pièce à vivre donnant sur une large terrasse, il fallait intégrer des espaces de rangements pour la vaisselle, des livres, un grand téléviseur et une cheminée éthanol ainsi qu’un canapé et une grande table pour les repas. Pour intégrer tous ces éléments harmonieusement, un grand ensemble menuisé toute hauteur a été conçu sur le mur faisant face à l’entrée. Celui-ci bénéficie de rangements bas fermés sur toute la longueur du meuble. Au dessus de ces rangements et afin de ne pas alourdir l’ensemble, un espace a été créé pour la cheminée éthanol et le téléviseur. Vient ensuite de nouveaux rangements fermés en hauteur et des étagères. Ce meuble en plus d’être très fonctionnel et élégant permet aussi de palier à une problématique de mur sur deux niveaux qui est ainsi résolue. De plus dès le moment de la conception nous avons pu intégrer le fait qu’un radiateur était mal placé et demander ainsi en amont au constructeur son déplacement. Pour bénéficier de la vue superbe sur Paris, l’espace salon est placé au plus près de la large baie vitrée. L’espace repas est dans l’alignement sur l’autre partie du séjour avec une grande table à allonges. Le style : L’ensemble de la pièce à vivre avec cuisine est dans un style très contemporain avec une dominante de gris anthracite en contraste avec un bleu gris tirant au turquoise choisi en harmonie avec un panneau de papier peint Pierre Frey. Pour réchauffer la pièce un parquet a été choisi sur les pièces à vivre. Dans le même esprit la cuisine mixe le bois et l’anthracite en façades avec un plan de travail quartz noir, un carrelage au sol et les murs peints anthracite. Un petit comptoir surélevé derrière les meubles bas donnant sur le salon est plaqué bois. Le mobilier design reprend des teintes présentes sur le papier peint coloré, comme le jaune (canapé) et le bleu (fauteuil). Chaises, luminaires, miroirs et poignées de meuble sont en laiton. Une chaise vintage restaurée avec un tissu d’éditeur au style Art Deco vient compléter l’ensemble, tout comme une table basse ronde avec un plateau en marbre noir.

Hills Drive

Duet Design Group

As this home was the second we designed for this young couple, we were able to reuse the previously custom designed fireplace from their first home. The partial glass wall gives the space a more intimate feel even though it's open to the main area of the house. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield

Mission Loft | Interior Styling

Erin Roberts Design

Interior Design & Styling | Erin Roberts
Design ideas for a large scandinavian open plan dining in New York with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Metal Fireplace Surround and Beige Floor

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!