Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with light hardwood floors, white walls, a concrete fireplace surround and planked wall panelling.

Kitchen/Dining

Drift Interiors

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Wollongong with white walls, light hardwood floors and a two-sided fireplace.

Yarrawarrah Private Residence

Michelle Viret Design

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

High Barnet – redesign of a ground floor

JLV Design Ltd

The room was used as a home office, by opening the kitchen onto it, we've created a warm and inviting space, where the family loves gathering.
This is an example of a large contemporary separate dining room in London with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, beige floor and coffered.

Elegant Farmhouse Project

Alison Giese Interiors

The family dining room was refreshed with a burlap wallpaper, a custom farm table, and classic windsor chairs.
Inspiration for a large dining room in Austin with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and beige floor.

Preisgekrönte Altbausanierung, fotografiert für das KAMINZIMMER in Kassel

Andreas Zapfe, Objektphotographie

Andreas Zapfe, www.objektphoto.com
Photo of a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Munich with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Moseley Victorian semi-detached house, Birmingham

Rumi Bunya Design Ltd

Mid-sized eclectic open plan dining in West Midlands with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

Meant to Be(ach)

GLDESIGN

Photo of a large beach style separate dining room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor and planked wall panelling.

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.

ZONA GIORNO DAL MOOD SCANDINAVO

Andrea Vertua Architetto

Zona giorno open-space in stile scandinavo. Toni naturali del legno e pareti neutre. Una grande parete attrezzata è di sfondo alla parete frontale al divano. La zona pranzo è separata attraverso un divisorio in listelli di legno verticale da pavimento a soffitto. La carta da parati valorizza l'ambiente del tavolo da pranzo.

Mount Vernon View

Wiedemann Architects LLC

View of living area and dining area from kitchen. The windows in this space provide a 270 degree views of the river.
This is an example of a large country dining room in DC Metro with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and exposed beam.

séjour et cuisine

Laurence Dassonville - Création d'intérieurs

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Marseille with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and beige floor.

Pella Windows & Doors

Timberline Windows & Doors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and beige floor.

Built-in Dry Bar

VMAX LLC

Photography Anna Zagorodna
Small midcentury separate dining room in Richmond with blue walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

MARTA AMETLLER STUDIO

Maria Pujol Fotógrafa

Interiorismo: Marta Ametller Studio Fotografía: Maria Pujol
Contemporary open plan dining in Barcelona with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, beige walls and beige floor.

Menlo Park - new traditional house

JPM Construction

JPM Construction offers complete support for designing, building, and renovating homes in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, and surrounding mid-peninsula areas. With a focus on high-quality craftsmanship and professionalism, our clients can expect premium end-to-end service. The promise of JPM is unparalleled quality both on-site and off, where we value communication and attention to detail at every step. Onsite, we work closely with our own tradesmen, subcontractors, and other vendors to bring the highest standards to construction quality and job site safety. Off site, our management team is always ready to communicate with you about your project. The result is a beautiful, lasting home and seamless experience for you.

South Slope Townhouse

Etelamaki Architecture

Mikiko Kikuyama
Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in New York with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Fireplaces using Buechel Stone

Buechel Stone Corp

This beautiful fireplace and interior walls feature Buechel Stone's Fond du Lac Tailored Blend in coursed heights. Fond du Lac Cut Stone is used over the doorways and for the bush hammered header of the fireplace. Click on the tags to see more at www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Fond-du-Lac-Ta... & www.buechelstone.com/shoppingcart/products/Fond-du-Lac-Cu...

Ranch House Renovation

Koch Architects

This is an example of a modern dining room in San Francisco with a stone fireplace surround, white walls, light hardwood floors and a ribbon fireplace.

Great room

SF Modern

This portion of the great room showcases the grand piano at the front of the house, flanked by the living room, dining room and study off to one side.

All Fireplace Surrounds Dining Room Design Ideas with Light Hardwood 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!