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.

Arts & Crafts House, Malvern

Brownlow Interior Design

Photo of a traditional dining room in Melbourne with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Contemporary Residence

User

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Melbourne with grey walls and dark hardwood floors.

Transitional Dining Room

Transitional dining room in Sydney with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

New build

schemes & spaces

Clean and contemporary dining area with feature pendants
This is an example of a large contemporary dining room in Sydney with dark hardwood floors.

MODERN GLAMOUR

MASSIMO interiors

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.

Moving Water

BANDD DESIGN

A farmhouse coastal styled home located in the charming neighborhood of Pflugerville. We merged our client's love of the beach with rustic elements which represent their Texas lifestyle. The result is a laid-back interior adorned with distressed woods, light sea blues, and beach-themed decor. We kept the furnishings tailored and contemporary with some heavier case goods- showcasing a touch of traditional. Our design even includes a separate hangout space for the teenagers and a cozy media for everyone to enjoy! The overall design is chic yet welcoming, perfect for this energetic young family. Project designed by Sara Barney’s Austin interior design studio BANDD DESIGN. They serve the entire Austin area and its surrounding towns, with an emphasis on Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, click here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/moving-water/

Formal Dining Room

Chesler Construction, Inc.

Traditional formal dining, moldings, fireplace, marble surround gas fireplace, dark hardwood floors
This is an example of a large traditional open plan dining in San Francisco with blue walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and coffered.

November 2015 Kitchen Bench Seating and Storage

AWM Carpentry LLC

Maple Built-in Banquet Seating with Storage
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Other with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Adobe Brick Veneer Home - Coronado Thin Brick Veneer

Coronado Stone Products

This beautiful project features Coronado Stone Products Adobe Brick thin veneer. Adobe Brick thin veneer is not a structural brick, so it can be directly adhered to a properly prepared drywall or plywood substrate. This allows projects to be enhanced with the alluring look and feel of full bed-depth Adobe Brick, without the need for additional wall tie support that standard full sized Adobe Brick installations require. This Adobe Brick product is featured in the color Sienna. Images were supplied by Standard Pacific Homes, Phoenix. See more Architectural Thin Brick Veneer projects from Coronado Stone Products

Dining Room

User

Photo Credit: Mark Ehlen
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with beige walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Boho Glam

Jamie Schachtel Design Group

This is an example of a small contemporary dining room in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

200 Water

Rhobin DelaCruz Designs

Luxury Residence in Dumbo
This is an example of a large modern open plan dining in New York with white walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Colonial Dining room - Chinoiserie Chic

Melinamade - Residential Design + Interiors

Updated colonial revival dining room with " Chinoiserie Chic" custom printed magnolia branches on blue grasscloth wallpaper.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in San Francisco with blue walls, brown floor, dark hardwood floors and wallpaper.

Franklin, TN Estate

Noble Johnson Architects

Banquette dining + kitchen (open to Great Room) Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
Country open plan dining in Nashville with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

JCPenney Custom Window Treatment Designs

Melissa Pearson for JCPenney Window Treatments

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Other with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Alamo Contemporary

Fiorella Design, LLC

Joy Coakley Photography
This is an example of a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Windsor Residence

Carlton Edwards

David Dietrich
This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Charlotte with a two-sided fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, beige walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Open Plan Traditional- Modern Living For Today's Family

HEYDT DESIGNS

David Duncan Livingston
Large beach style kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with dark hardwood floors.

Country Club Project Remodel

Great Neighborhood Homes

Photo of a transitional dining room in Minneapolis with dark hardwood floors.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Dark Hardwood Floors and Painted Wood Floors

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!