This is an example of a small contemporary dining room in Toronto with white walls and light hardwood floors.

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

The Big Bang dining table is based on our classic Vega table, but with a surprising new twist. Big Bang is extendable to accommodate more guests, with center storage for two fold-out butterfly table leaves, tucked out of sight. Collapsed, Big Bang measures 50”x50” to accommodate daily life in our client’s small dining nook, but expands to either 72” or 94” when needed. Big Bang was originally commissioned in white oak, but is available in all of our solid wood materials. Several coats of hand-applied clear finish accentuate Big Bangs natural wood surface & add a layer of extra protection. The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe… and this table, expanded. Material: White Oak Collapsed Dimensions: 50”L x 50”W x 30”H Extendable Dimensions: (1) 72" or (2) 94" Tabletop thickness: 1.5” Finish: Natural clear coat Build & Interior design by SD Design Studio, Furnishings by Casa Fox Studio, captured by Nader Essa Photography.

This single family home had been recently flipped with builder-grade materials. We touched each and every room of the house to give it a custom designer touch, thoughtfully marrying our soft minimalist design aesthetic with the graphic designer homeowner’s own design sensibilities. One of the most notable transformations in the home was opening up the galley kitchen to create an open concept great room with large skylight to give the illusion of a larger communal space.

Photo of a small midcentury dining room in Raleigh with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Built in banquette seating in open style dining. Featuring beautiful pendant light and seat upholstery with decorative scatter cushions.
Design ideas for a small beach style dining room in Sunshine Coast with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Dining room featuring light white oak flooring, custom built-in bench for additional seating, horizontal shiplap walls, and a mushroom board ceiling.

This elegant dining space seamlessly blends classic and modern design elements, creating a sophisticated and inviting ambiance. The room features a large bay window that allows ample natural light to illuminate the space, enhancing the soft, neutral color palette. A plush, tufted bench in a rich teal velvet lines one side of the dining area, offering comfortable seating along with a touch of color. The bespoke bench is flanked by marble columns that match the marble archway, adding a luxurious feel to the room. A mid-century modern wooden dining table with a smooth finish and organic curves is surrounded by contemporary chairs upholstered in light gray fabric, with slender brass legs that echo the bench's elegance. Above, a statement pendant light with a cloud-like design and brass accents provides a modern focal point, while the classic white ceiling rose and intricate crown molding pay homage to the building's historical character. The herringbone patterned wooden floor adds warmth and texture, complementing the classic white wainscoting and wall panels. A vase with a lush arrangement of flowers serves as a centerpiece, injecting life and color into the setting. This space, ideal for both family meals and formal gatherings, reflects a thoughtful curation of design elements that respect the building's heritage while embracing contemporary style.

This beautiful North Vancouver home belongs to a nature-loving and health-conscious couple, Emma and Vince (names changed), their two young children, and their dog, Jasper. When they contacted us about renovating and furnishing their kitchen and family room, we walked in and saw a world of potential waiting to be uncovered. Before: Larkhall Crescent Home: Like many original North Vancouver homes, the interior was definitely dated. We encountered late ‘80s finishes in powder pink and teal green, old carpet, and a kitchen that wasn’t maximized to suit this family’s modern-day lifestyle. However, the size of the rooms offered us a ton of space with which to get creative. Knowing our clients’ love of cooking, need for work spaces (Emma and Vince both work remotely), and growing family, we developed a design concept that would increase usable space, optimize storage, and create intimacy in this large area. As for the style, we were inspired by their European roots, inventing a new and modern take on “Belgian Farmhouse” style. Now, the home is truly one-of-a-kind. After: Warm & Cozy Family Room: Fresh, bright, and comfortable, this living area has been transformed! We started with the fireplace as a focal point, selecting aged brick tiles for added texture and a crisp wood mantle. The taupe-coloured sectional infuses the room with visual warmth and serves the added purpose of separating the family room from the kitchen. Emma and Vince were also keen on using non-toxic materials in their home, and we were happy to oblige. To meet their needs, we sourced natural wood elements and sought out Canadian-made products - that adhere to high health standards - whenever possible. Look closer at the elements of this space, and you will find this stunning, honeycomb-patterned rug in earthy gold, beige, and charcoal tones. It’s plush to the touch and full of visual texture that brings this room’s colour palette together. We sourced these two-tone chairs with caning, petrified wood side table, black sconces, and botanical prints in greyscale from local artist, Heather Johnston. We topped off the space with this dark wood and rattan console that offers storage facing the kitchen and presents an opportunity to display cherished items. The result is a cozy lounging space brimming with comfort and functionality. It’s perfect for enjoying quality family time, or Emma can simply slide the coffee table away to make room for her morning yoga practice. Now, let’s turn around and give some attention to the kitchen. Do you remember what the original kitchen looked like? If not, scroll back up, because the transformation is shocking… Moody & Welcoming Kitchen for Healthy Living: This kitchen looks very different from how it started, right? Though we didn’t touch any walls, the kitchen has almost doubled in usable space! We created a long, extended island with storage, an outlet for small appliances, and seating for comfortable prep, after-school snacking, or mingling among friends. On the other side of the island, the family has even more storage and an integrated dishwasher within easy reach of the sink, perfect for quick clean-up. From this angle, you can also see the expansive custom Shaker cabinetry in white and the integrated double ovens. These facilitate their cooking experience and gave us the opportunity to add an additional surprise… A coffee garage station and more hidden storage! Keeping these items located along the perimeter allows them to be accessed by the family or their guests without someone getting under the cook’s feet. These are the little details that make everyday life easier and more enjoyable. Moving deeper into the kitchen, the seamless induction cooktop topped with a freestanding concealed hood fan commands attention in a soft yet prominent way. The natural wood accent mirrors the fireplace mantle, and the choice of off-black wood-grain cabinets not only continues our black-and-white colour palette but adds a sense of depth and contrast. The corner sink is located to the right and perfectly positioned with a view of their thriving backyard. To invite more of this family’s character into the space, we mixed metals for interest — matte black, dark pewter, and warm brass — and created open shelves in white oak for their plants and decor. You can also glimpse the tumbled edge of the backsplash tile, which echoes the rustic brick of the fireplace. It adds that farmhouse charm while still feeling timeless and sophisticated. Last but not least, we designed this dining banquette in the bay window (with integrated bench storage, of course), where the family can share a meal together, the kids can do homework, or Emma and Vince can work and enjoy a change of scenery from their offices. Like the other spaces in the home, it was designed to be beautiful, multi-functional, and long-lasting. Praise from Our Clients: It is clear that we love this home, but what did our clients have to say? “Lori is a visionary and masters execution to the finest detail all at the same time. When she first met us to know more about who we are and how we live, she could right away envision how we could use the space in our kitchen and living room…The results exceeded our expectations. Lori and her team were also a delight to work with — coordination with all the trades, fast problem-solving, regular updates, professional and friendly attitude of her entire team — made it the dream team. Thank you SHD for making our space so beautiful!” In turn, we are so grateful for this family’s trust, their open communication, and for being wonderful people with whom to work. (So, thank you!)

Design ideas for a country dining room in Huntington with beige walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Photo of a scandinavian dining room in Paris with light hardwood floors.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Phoenix with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and vaulted.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional dining room in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in Other with multi-coloured walls, light hardwood floors, wallpaper and wood walls.

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.

Inspiration for a large transitional dining room in New York with light hardwood floors, beige walls and beige floor.

Reclaimed beams and vaulted ceilings with finish carpentry details including v-groove and board and batten add character to this dining area, while the wide plank pine flooring hints at the house's historic origin. Mimi sits at her favorite seat on the custom-made banquette, where she has a better view of whats cooking in the kitchen!

This is an example of a beach style dining room in Boston with white walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

This is an example of a transitional dining room in Philadelphia with white walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.