Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style dining room in Charleston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Contemporary Fireplace Design in Andersonville

Habitar Design

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.

Nelson Cabin

CAST architecture

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, concrete floors, a wood stove, a metal fireplace surround and grey floor.

Lake House Renovation in Framingham, MA

Bee's Knees Design, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Boston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Menlo Park - new traditional house

JPM Construction

JPM Construction offers complete support for designing, building, and renovating homes in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and surrounding mid-peninsula areas. With a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and professionalism, our clients can expect premium end-to-end service. The promise of JPM is unparalleled quality both on-site and off, where we value communication and attention to detail at every step. Onsite, we work closely with our own tradesmen, subcontractors, and other vendors to bring the highest standards to construction quality and job site safety. Off site, our management team is always ready to communicate with you about your project. The result is a beautiful, lasting home and seamless experience for you.

Hardwood Floors Installation Project

User

This is an example of a transitional open plan dining in Miami with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Wayne, PA Home Remodel

Rudloff Custom Builders

JMB Photoworks RUDLOFF Custom Builders, is a residential construction company that connects with clients early in the design phase to ensure every detail of your project is captured just as you imagined. RUDLOFF Custom Builders will create the project of your dreams that is executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsman, while creating lifetime client relationships that are build on trust and integrity. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area including West Chester, Gladwynne, Malvern, Wayne, Haverford and more. As a 6 time Best of Houzz winner, we look forward to working with you on your next project.

Inglenook Grove

Riverwood Homes of Colorado

Photo of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Denver with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Waterfront

Carolyn Thayer interiors

Cary Hazlegrove photography
Mid-sized beach style separate dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and beige floor.

Ridge Oak Residence

McKinney York Architects

This property came with a house which proved ill-matched to our clients’ needs but which nestled neatly amid beautiful live oaks. In choosing to commission a new home, they asked that it also tuck under the limbs of the oaks and maintain a subdued presence to the street. Extraordinary efforts such as cantilevered floors and even bridging over critical root zones allow the design to be truly fitted to the site and to co-exist with the trees, the grandest of which is the focal point of the entry courtyard. Of equal importance to the trees and view was to provide, conversely, for walls to display 35 paintings and numerous books. From form to smallest detail, the house is quiet and subtle.

Dinesen Douglas Finished with Custom Color Natural Oil

Hayasa Flooring Design, Inc

Mid-sized modern open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Contemporary Shingle Style

Brooks and Falotico Associates, Inc.

Jane Beiles
Photo of a contemporary dining room in New York with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Suburban Contemporary

Holly Henderson Interior Design

Tom Lee
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Milwaukee with beige walls, ceramic floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Keene

User

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Other with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern Indoor-Outdoor Living with a Pacific Rim Influence

Allen Construction

Vaulted ceilings in the living room, along with numerous floor to ceiling, retracting glass doors, create a feeling of openness and provide 1800 views of the Pacific Ocean. Elegant, earthy finishes include the Santos mahogany floors and Egyptian limestone. Architect: Edward Pitman Architects Builder: Allen Constrruction Photos: Jim Bartsch Photography

NOTTING HILL MAISONETTE No 1

STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS

The kitchen units, by Mowlem & Co, are located to either side of the chimney breast in the rear room. A neutral colour scheme, with some reflective finishes, has carefully been chosen to complement the parquet flooring and our clients' furniture and artworks. Photography: Bruce Hemming

Elk Park Ranch Main House Dining

Fusion Interiors

This used to be a sunroom but we turned it into the Dining Room as the house lacked a large dining area for the numerous ranch guests. The antler chandelier was hand made in Pagosa Springs by Rick Johnson. We used linen chairs to brighten the room and provide contrast to the logs. The table and chairs are from Restoration Hardware. The Stone flooring is custom and the fireplace adds a very cozy feel during the colder months. Tim Flanagan Architect Veritas General Contractor Finewood Interiors for cabinetry Light and Tile Art for lighting and tile and counter tops.

Ático en Madrid

Inés Benavides

Comedor y biblioteca
Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in Madrid with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

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...

Mount Pleasant, Washington DC Residence

Design Milieu

Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Large midcentury open plan dining in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a metal fireplace surround, a ribbon fireplace and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with a Stone Fireplace Surround and a Metal 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!