Our Toorak project is a unified vision, the result of seamless collaboration between clients and designers. Moving away from their previous traditional style home, the homeowners desired a more contemporary look with unexpected pieces. Massimo Interiors offered a spacious feel suitable for hosting large gatherings of family and friends, where the comfortable space allows children to play and people to sit, eat and move around. Care was taken when selecting durable fabrics in order to establish a child-friendly yet sophisticated space. The European oak floorboards offset the predominantly monochromatic colour scheme, creating a light and elegant interior, complemented with the occasional classic piece. The main living area features an extra large floor rug that unifies separate seating areas for different activities. To create balance and drama, Massimo Interiors arranged two large sofas facing each other, separated by two luxurious ottomans. Near the fireplace lies a second seating area designed for reading or relaxing by the warm glow of the fire. The rich layering of different materials such as polished timber, stainless steel, marble, glass, and velvet provided contrast with the pared-back kitchen and dining areas. Accent colour, such as the aubergine fabric of the cut-velvet Louis XV French Bergere lounge chair, complements the colours of the Australian artworks, echoed in the choice of scatter cushions. The dining room boasts two oversized pendant light fittings link to the pattern on the living room ottomans. To add a touch of old-world charm, a striking portrait completes the clean and crisp space. In the master bedroom, a palette of pale gold, burnt orange, turquoise and green inspires the scatter cushions, tying the room together. Hand-blown amber glass table lamps with linen shades, establish an intimate, warm appeal. Every detail, every object and every decoration – from the fabric to the wall colour to the artworks has been curated in details.

A classic family home, Hampton's style

My Beautiful Abode

With a strict instruction to avoid a coastal theme, the brief for this home was to create a classic style that is easy for family living.
Photo of a beach style dining room in Melbourne with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and decorative wall panelling.

Links Road

Santamaria Design

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Sydney with white walls, concrete floors and grey floor.

Pavilion House

Sheri Haby Architects

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with medium hardwood floors, white walls and brown floor.

Grange House

Shane Marsh Architects

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Brisbane with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and brick walls.

Anderson Street, South Yarra

Key Piece

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Quindalup Residence

Retreat Design

Photo of a contemporary open plan dining in Perth with beige walls, concrete floors and grey floor.

Brunswick Parlour

Mihaly Slocombe

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Carlton North Art House

Camilla Molders Design

A residential interior design project by Camilla Molders Design.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

Photo of a large contemporary dining room in Miami with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

3414 Lindenwood

Coats Homes

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Johnson Cove

Vernich Interiors

Inspiration for a transitional separate dining room in Nashville with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Granger Cottage, Parade Home 2013

E Tanny Design, llc

Randall Perry
Inspiration for a traditional dining room in New York with beige walls and light hardwood floors.

Red Ledges

Studio McGee

Design ideas for a mid-sized country dining room in Salt Lake City with white walls and dark hardwood floors.

Atherton Timeless Estate

Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.

Large traditional separate dining room in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and beige walls.

GATINEAU HILLS

Marvin

Architect: Rick Shean & Christopher Simmonds, Christopher Simmonds Architect Inc. Photography By: Peter Fritz “Feels very confident and fluent. Love the contrast between first and second floor, both in material and volume. Excellent modern composition.” This Gatineau Hills home creates a beautiful balance between modern and natural. The natural house design embraces its earthy surroundings, while opening the door to a contemporary aesthetic. The open ground floor, with its interconnected spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows, allows sunlight to flow through uninterrupted, showcasing the beauty of the natural light as it varies throughout the day and by season. The façade of reclaimed wood on the upper level, white cement board lining the lower, and large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows throughout are the perfect package for this chic forest home. A warm wood ceiling overhead and rustic hand-scraped wood floor underfoot wrap you in nature’s best. Marvin’s floor-to-ceiling windows invite in the ever-changing landscape of trees and mountains indoors. From the exterior, the vertical windows lead the eye upward, loosely echoing the vertical lines of the surrounding trees. The large windows and minimal frames effectively framed unique views of the beautiful Gatineau Hills without distracting from them. Further, the windows on the second floor, where the bedrooms are located, are tinted for added privacy. Marvin’s selection of window frame colors further defined this home’s contrasting exterior palette. White window frames were used for the ground floor and black for the second floor. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Bi-Fold Door Marvin Sliding Patio Door Marvin Tilt Turn and Hopper Window Marvin Ultimate Awning Window Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door

Ocean Reef

GIL WALSH INTERIORS

A brass chandelier suspends from a bamboo ceiling over a glass topped table. Photo: Kim Sargent
Tropical open plan dining in Miami with beige walls and beige floor.

Halo Bay Retreat

Stephanie Brown Inc.

Photography by Living Maui Media
Large tropical open plan dining in Hawaii with beige walls and limestone floors.

Sand & Sea Custom Home- Carmel By the Sea, CA

Out of the Woods Inc.- Window & Door Specialists

Saroyan Masterbuilders
Large tropical kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with beige walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Vibrant Citrus-Inspired Retreat

Mackenzie Collier Interiors

James Stewart
Design ideas for a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Phoenix with white walls and ceramic floors.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Beige Walls and White 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!