Lakefront living is not often luxurious and conscious of size. The “Emmett” design achieves both of these goals in style. Despite being ideal for a narrow waterfront lot, this home leaves nothing wanting, offering homeowners three full floors of modern living. Dining, kitchen, and living areas flank the outdoor patio space, while three bedrooms plus a master suite are located on the upper level. The lower level provides additional gathering space and a bunk room, as well as a “beach bath” with walkout access to the lake.

Ridge View Residence

Kuhn Riddle Architects

New Construction for a young family with traditional American and Japanese backgrounds. Photo Credits: David Stansbury
Asian dining room in Boston with green walls.

IH Project

English Traditions Inc.

Laxstyles
Mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Cincinnati with beige walls and medium hardwood floors.

Traditional Dining Room

Inspiration for a traditional dining room in Atlanta with beige walls.

Compact Contemporary

Bohannon Design Team

This fresh and fun dining area is filled with natural light. Wendy designed these contemporary space saving built ins and banquette for our client.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Dallas with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and grey floor.

Ironwood Estate Redux

Kendle Design Collaborative

Photography by Illya
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Phoenix with medium hardwood floors, beige walls, no fireplace and beige floor.

Coastal Living on Fox Island

Tamara Rosenbloom Design LLC

My clients purchased a grand home on a spectacular waterfront setting, but the interior felt dark and drab. Our challenge was to turn the existing home into a high end Hampton-style residence without major construction. We choose to focus on color, contrast and texture, changing almost every surface in the home and reversing the contrast to make the home light and airy. We invested the construction expense on elements crucial to style and function. Removing a row of out of scale upper cabinetry in the kitchen and replacing it with 3 double hung windows expands the view to 180 degrees and floods the room with light. To create symmetry and balance in the kitchen, we moved the cooktop and centered the sink. The wine cellar entry opened awkwardly into the kitchen and there was no pantry, so we modified the wine cellar and moved the door for better flow, allowing for a large pantry. On the opposite end of the great room, we balanced the fireplace with cabinetry and tall wainscoting. The floors were stained dark espresso while all other trim and cabinetry went a bright white. It took 14 tries to get the perfect wall color – a pale beige/color reminiscent of sand. The blue and white furniture and details pull the entire space together and creates a sophisticated yet casual feel. Photos by Steve Armstrong www.cascadepromedia.com

Harvey Cedars

Serenity Design

All furniture and accessories were bought at Serenity Design. If you are interested in purchasing anything you see in our photographs please contact us at the store 609-494-5162. Many of the items can be shipped throughout the country. Photographs by John Martinelli

2013 Spring Parade Of Homes

Highmark Builders

Professionally Staged by Ambience at Home http://ambiance-athome.com/ Professionally Photographed by SpaceCrafting http://spacecrafting.com

Santa Ponsa Villa

Curve Interior Design Ltd

Curve Interior Design Ltd
Design ideas for a mediterranean dining room in Manchester with beige walls and a two-sided fireplace.

Lake House

Gallery Interiors and Rockford Kitchen Design

Designed by Gallery Interiors/Rockford Kitchen Design, Rockford, MI
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Grand Rapids with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Ryokan (Japanese Guest House) Interior

Daedal Woodworking

A view into the garden through the round window, known as a 'Marumado'. Also showing a detail view of the George Nakashima inspired dining table.
Photo of a mid-sized asian dining room in Chicago with green walls and carpet.

My Houzz: French Country Meets Southern Farmhouse Style in Georgia

Corynne Pless

North Carolina Mountain Home

User

Friendly warm dining room for this family mountain home
This is an example of a mid-sized country open plan dining in Charlotte with beige walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Custom Home

Shoreline Construction and Development

Dining area with antler chandelier
Country open plan dining in Charleston with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Closter Project

Michael Mariotti Interior Design

Photographer - Phillip Ennis
Design ideas for a traditional dining room in New York with beige walls.

Taylor Run

Modern Antiquity, LLC

Breakfast Area, Elizabeth Coombs
This is an example of a traditional dining room in DC Metro with beige walls.

Traditional Dining Room

Photo of a traditional dining room in New York with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Back Bay Project

Ben Gebo Photography

This is an example of a transitional dining room in Boston with beige walls.

Private Residence Pebble Beach

Andrea Bartholick Pace Interior Design

Rick Pharaoh
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean kitchen/dining combo in Other with a standard fireplace, beige walls and ceramic floors.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Beige Walls and Green Walls

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!