Photo of a contemporary dining room in London with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Terrell Hills Mid Century Modern Project

In the dining room, we added a walnut bar with an antique gold toekick and antique gold hardware, along with an enclosed tall walnut cabinet for storage. The tall dining room cabinet also conceals a vertical steel structural beam, while providing valuable storage space. The original dining room cabinets had been whitewashed and they also featured many tiny drawers and damaged drawer glides that were no longer practical for storage. So, we removed them and built in new cabinets that look as if they have always been there. The new walnut bar features geometric wall tile that matches the kitchen backsplash. The walnut bar and dining cabinets breathe new life into the space and echo the tones of the wood walls and cabinets in the adjoining kitchen and living room. Finally, our design team finished the space with MCM furniture, art and accessories.

Appartement - Philippe Auguste - Paris 11

CLAAAC - architecture intérieure et décoration

Ce grand appartement familial haussmannien est situé dans le 11ème arrondissement de Paris. Nous avons repensé le plan existant afin d'ouvrir la cuisine vers la pièce à vivre et offrir une sensation d'espace à nos clients. Nous avons modernisé les espaces de vie de la famille pour apporter une touche plus contemporaine à cet appartement classique, tout en gardant les codes charmants de l'haussmannien: moulures au plafond, parquet point de Hongrie, belles hauteurs...

Appartement Boyer

Ludily

Au cœur de la place du Pin à Nice, cet appartement autrefois sombre et délabré a été métamorphosé pour faire entrer la lumière naturelle. Nous avons souhaité créer une architecture à la fois épurée, intimiste et chaleureuse. Face à son état de décrépitude, une rénovation en profondeur s’imposait, englobant la refonte complète du plancher et des travaux de réfection structurale de grande envergure. L’une des transformations fortes a été la dépose de la cloison qui séparait autrefois le salon de l’ancienne chambre, afin de créer un double séjour. D’un côté une cuisine en bois au design minimaliste s’associe harmonieusement à une banquette cintrée, qui elle, vient englober une partie de la table à manger, en référence à la restauration. De l’autre côté, l’espace salon a été peint dans un blanc chaud, créant une atmosphère pure et une simplicité dépouillée. L’ensemble de ce double séjour est orné de corniches et une cimaise partiellement cintrée encadre un miroir, faisant de cet espace le cœur de l’appartement. L’entrée, cloisonnée par de la menuiserie, se détache visuellement du double séjour. Dans l’ancien cellier, une salle de douche a été conçue, avec des matériaux naturels et intemporels. Dans les deux chambres, l’ambiance est apaisante avec ses lignes droites, la menuiserie en chêne et les rideaux sortants du plafond agrandissent visuellement l’espace, renforçant la sensation d’ouverture et le côté épuré.

Bespoke Display Unit & Wine Storage

Spires Interiors

Bespoke storage units are as popular a feature as ever, with the need to reduce clutter and organise possessions paramount. Our client approached us to create a bespoke bookcase to suit a reception room as part of a larger renovation project that encompassed an outdoor pergola, bespoke spiral staircase and bedroom renovation at their Colchester, Essex property.

Rénovation complète d'un petit appartement haussmannien

BeauJour studio

Mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, recessed and decorative wall panelling.

Ibiza Spring

Susanna Cots

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Barcelona with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and exposed beam.

Projet Madeleine

Maison Gabinel

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Paris with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Hawk’s Ridge Residence

Serious Fun Studio

Design ideas for a scandinavian dining room in Seattle with white walls, carpet, beige floor and vaulted.

Saratoga Whimsy House

Cathie Hong Interiors

This is an example of a small scandinavian open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Forever Farmhouse

GLDESIGN

Photo of a large beach style separate dining room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Applewood Acres

Pizzale Design Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

Westgate

Well Appointed Kitchens, Baths & Designs

Photo of a mid-sized transitional dining room in Kansas City with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Dolphin Cay Waterfront Remodel

Paris Flea Interiors

This Modern Coastal dining room with a solid light wood round table and custom upholstered high performance fabrics offer a casual dining experience all while enjoying the 24 acre landscaped scenery. Oversized mirrors reflect natural lighting in this space. A silver metallic cowhide enhances the atmosphere while grounding the space. Custom white and silver beaded window treatments ad depth and dimension.

MLK Home Addition

HDR Remodeling Inc.

Everything that the eye can see was not there in the beginning. This is a new dining room, living room, and outdoor addition!
Large contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Modern City Escape - Edina

Hoxie Homes & Remodeling

Photo of a contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Breakfast Nook Dining Space

Mitchell Construction Group

Breakfast nook area off the side of the kitchen and near a new living room with an entrance to the back deck
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Capitol Hill Rowhome

Megan Lynn Interiors

We re-imagined the back of the house by adding french doors with sidelights plus a transom which opens up to the exterior courtyard. The addition of a bay window provided storage for coats as there was not a great place for a coat closet on the first floor. It also created a bench seat for relaxing or putting on your shoes before heading out the door.

Somerville Home

Henley Design

Somerville Breakfast Room
Inspiration for a small transitional dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors and yellow floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Black 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!