Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

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.

Dining Room Feels

Stalburg Design

This multi-functional dining room is designed to reflect our client's eclectic and industrial vibe. From the distressed fabric on our custom swivel chairs to the reclaimed wood on the dining table, this space welcomes you in to cozy and have a seat. The highlight is the custom flooring, which carries slate-colored porcelain hex from the mudroom toward the dining room, blending into the light wood flooring with an organic feel. The metallic porcelain tile and hand blown glass pendants help round out the mixture of elements, and the result is a welcoming space for formal dining or after-dinner reading!

Classic Beauty in Rye

JWH Design and Cabinetry LLC

Custom banquette around the corner includes concealed storage on the ends for easy access. Space planning and cabinetry: Jennifer Howard, JWH Cabinet Installation: JWH Construction Management Photography: Tim Lenz.

A Little More Room

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc.

This is part of the flexible open-plan area, flowing seamlessly between the kitchen, living room, and dining room. There is enough room here to host 24 people for dinner, and an intimate enough space for just two. Photography courtesy of Jeffrey Totaro.

115-year old House Renovation in the Fan

VMAX LLC

Mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Richmond with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Dining Room

Karen Kempf Interiors

Reagan Taylor Photography
Photo of a transitional dining room in Milwaukee with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

White-Cream Kitchen Remodel with Shiplap & Rustic Beams

The Cleary Company

Existing tumbled limestone tiles were removed from the fireplace & hearth and replaced with new taupe colored brick-like 2x8 ceramic tile. A new reclaimed rustic beam installed for mantle. To add even more architectural detail to the fireplace painted shiplap boards were installed over existing drywall. Marshall Skinner, Marshall Evan Photography

Historic Glam

HSH Interiors

Suzanna Scott Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Long Beach Midcentury Modern

Soko Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Modern Blueberry Farm and House

Flavin Architects

Flavin Architects collaborated with Ben Wood Studio Shanghai on the design of this modern house overlooking a blueberry farm. A contemporary design that looks at home in a traditional New England landscape, this house features many environmentally sustainable features including passive solar heat and native landscaping. The house is clad in stucco and natural wood in clear and stained finishes and also features a double height dining room with a double-sided fireplace. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Trickle Creek Watermark Showhome Featuring Cosmopolitan Naked

Divine Flooring

Trickle Creek Homes
Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Calgary with light hardwood floors, white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and beige floor.

Nob Hill: French Victorian

ROM architecture studio

French-inspired kitchen remodel Architect: Carol Sundstrom, AIA Contractor: Phoenix Construction Photography: © Kathryn Barnard
Photo of a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Seattle with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Kitsilano Urban Cottage

Simply Home Decorating

This tiny home is located on a treelined street in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. We helped our client create a living and dining space with a beach vibe in this small front room that comfortably accommodates their growing family of four. The starting point for the decor was the client's treasured antique chaise (positioned under the large window) and the scheme grew from there. We employed a few important space saving techniques in this room... One is building seating into a corner that doubles as storage, the other is tucking a footstool, which can double as an extra seat, under the custom wood coffee table. The TV is carefully concealed in the custom millwork above the fireplace. Finally, we personalized this space by designing a family gallery wall that combines family photos and shadow boxes of treasured keepsakes. Interior Decorating by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography

Mid Century / Scandanavian Townhouse

Sarah Goesling - Goesling Group

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and wallpaper.

Warm contemporary Kitchen and living room in Arcadia

Metropolis Drafting and Construction Inc

Complete overhaul of the common area in this wonderful Arcadia home. The living room, dining room and kitchen were redone. The direction was to obtain a contemporary look but to preserve the warmth of a ranch home. The perfect combination of modern colors such as grays and whites blend and work perfectly together with the abundant amount of wood tones in this design. The open kitchen is separated from the dining area with a large 10' peninsula with a waterfall finish detail. Notice the 3 different cabinet colors, the white of the upper cabinets, the Ash gray for the base cabinets and the magnificent olive of the peninsula are proof that you don't have to be afraid of using more than 1 color in your kitchen cabinets. The kitchen layout includes a secondary sink and a secondary dishwasher! For the busy life style of a modern family. The fireplace was completely redone with classic materials but in a contemporary layout. Notice the porcelain slab material on the hearth of the fireplace, the subway tile layout is a modern aligned pattern and the comfortable sitting nook on the side facing the large windows so you can enjoy a good book with a bright view. The bamboo flooring is continues throughout the house for a combining effect, tying together all the different spaces of the house. All the finish details and hardware are honed gold finish, gold tones compliment the wooden materials perfectly.

Mt Washington Ave 45

NICHE home styling

This is an example of an eclectic open plan dining in Los Angeles with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Luttrell Street #1

Open Door Architecture

Denise Retallack Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Terravita Residence

Cathy Kominsky Interiors

Custom Artwork found together with the Designer graces the Wall of the Dining Room
Small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Phoenix with yellow walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

Traditional Dining Room

Photo of a traditional separate dining room in Boston with a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace surround.

All Fireplaces Dining Room Design Ideas with a Tile 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!