New England Family Style House with an Eclectic Twist

Photography by Michael Biondo
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with orange walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Engineered White Oak Plank

Gaetano Hardwood Floors, Inc.

3/4" x 10" Custom Select White Oak Plank with a custom stain and finish. Photography by: The Bowman Group
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Orange County with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Modern Farmhouse Project

House of Jade Interiors

House of Jade Interiors. Modern farmhouse breakfast nook.
Design ideas for a country dining room in Salt Lake City with white walls and light hardwood floors.

Milwaukee River Condo

Edmunds Studios Photography, Inc.

Edmunds Studios Photography Amy Carman Design
Small contemporary dining room in Milwaukee with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Tribeca Loft

StudioLAB

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Ponte Vedra Beach Kitchen and Bar Renovation

Woodsman Kitchens and Floors

Stunning kitchen with quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry and custom bench combined with polar white painted maple. The main top is an exotic marble and the expansive waterfall island features a durable and modern white quartz. Also boasts a gorgeous custom hood, light oak floors, fun fabrics, woven window coverings, designer lighting and hardware and a separate wet bar with a custom peach color and polar white uppers. Everything one could need for an active family living at the coast.

Northcote House

Into interior design

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary dining room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and wallpaper.

Sant Cugat del Vallès: Un Proyecto de Luz y Amplitud

Estudio de Interiorismo Laura Martínez, S.L.

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Une meulière contemporaine à Clamart

Agence Anne Lapointe

Mid-sized contemporary dining room in Paris with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Montgomery Boho-Modern Renovation

Trace & Scale

White box dining room space with black accents in the windows, dining chairs and accessories to contrast with the white walls, light colored floors, buffet in natural materials and wood table top. The abundance of plants in the space provide a pop of green and accentuate the natural feel of the space along with the woven chandelier over the dining table.

Annette Court

Donna DuFresne Interior Design

Midcentury dining room in Portland with light hardwood floors and wood walls.

Westwood Park, San Francisco

Refined Interiors

Photo: Nick Klein © 2022 Houzz
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with blue walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Outdoor 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.

Westgate

Well Appointed Kitchens, Baths & Designs

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

Big 5 Ranch

Centre Sky Architecture Ltd

Large country kitchen/dining combo in Other with light hardwood floors and exposed beam.

CYPRESS ISLAND

HW Interiors

Inspiration for a transitional dining room in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and coffered.

Lincoln Park Japandi Loft

Devon Grace Interiors

The dining table incorporates the black marble from the coffee table in it’s pedestal legs and a rift-cut black stained oak top to maintain a simple, modern aesthetic.

Stark Punk

Colossus Mfg.

Custom screen wall lends privacy to dining room with Burke Decor round wood dining table, Hem cognac leather chairs, an oversized white pendant light, and wet bar with copper tiling.

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.

Southmoor Lane Remodel

Design 5 Seventy-One

Mid-sized transitional dining room in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Light Hardwood Floors and Brick 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!