Small eclectic dining room in Cornwall with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

Old Oyster Retreat House in Palmetto Bluff South Carolina

Allison Ramsey Architects

Country open plan dining in Atlanta with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Butler's Pantry with Dining Room Beyond

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

This is an example of a small transitional separate dining room in Chicago with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Burnwick Road

Melissa Mathe Interior Design, LLC

Inspiration for a country kitchen/dining combo in Richmond with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Entertaining Great Room

The Phinery

Converted this small room off the kitchen into a hip entertaining space. The counter height console table from Restoration Hardware works well for displaying appetizers and having casual meals. Room also functions well for kids - providing a great space near the kitchen for doing homework. Custom artwork was painted to pull in the colors of the brick fireplace surround and beige/gray tones of the draperies and floors. A vintage pendant light, greenery, and candles complete the space.

Interior Renovation in West Chester, PA

Rudloff Custom Builders

We call this dining room modern-farmhouse-chic! As the focal point of the room, the fireplace was the perfect space for an accent wall. We white-washed the fireplace’s brick and added a white surround and mantle and finished the wall with white shiplap. We also added the same shiplap as wainscoting to the other walls. A special feature of this room is the coffered ceiling. We recessed the chandelier directly into the beam for a clean, seamless look. This farmhouse style home in West Chester is the epitome of warmth and welcoming. We transformed this house’s original dark interior into a light, bright sanctuary. From installing brand new red oak flooring throughout the first floor to adding horizontal shiplap to the ceiling in the family room, we really enjoyed working with the homeowners on every aspect of each room. A special feature is the coffered ceiling in the dining room. We recessed the chandelier directly into the beams, for a clean, seamless look. We maximized the space in the white and chrome galley kitchen by installing a lot of custom storage. The pops of blue throughout the first floor give these room a modern touch. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Maple Glen- Dining Room

LDa Architecture & Interiors

TEAM Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Builder: Old Grove Partners, LLC. Landscape Architect: LeBlanc Jones Landscape Architects Photographer: Greg Premru Photography

Los Gatos Residence

RUFproject

Dining Room & Kitchen Photo by David Eichler
Mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Traditional Dining Room

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional separate dining room in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace surround.

Southern Comfort: Bellaire Showcase Home

Stone Acorn Builders

This is an example of a traditional separate dining room in Houston with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Mastro Residence

James Glover Home, Inc.

Design ideas for a beach style kitchen/dining combo in Orange County with medium hardwood floors, a brick fireplace surround and a wood stove.

Traditional Kitchen Phoenix

Caine & Company

This remodel was for a family that purchased a new home and just moved from Denver. They wanted a traditional design with a few hints of contemporary and an open feel concept with the adjoining rooms. We removed the walls surrounding the kitchen to achieve the openness of the space but needed to keep the support so we installed an exposed wooden beam. This brought in a traditional feature as well as using a reclaimed piece of wood for the brick fireplace mantel. The kitchen cabinets are the classic, white style with mesh upper cabinet insets. To further bring in the traditional look, we have a white farmhouse sink, installed white, subway tile, butcherblock countertop for the island and glass island electrical fixtures but offset it with stainless steel appliances and a quartz countertop. In the adjoining bonus room, we framed the entryway and windows with a square, white trim, which adds to the contemporary aspect. And for a fun touch, the clients wanted a little bar area and a kegerator installed. We kept the more contemporary theme with the stainless steel color and a white quartz countertop. The clients were delighted with how the kitchen turned out and how spacious the area felt in addition to the seamless mix of styles. Photos by Rick Young

Dining Room Breakfront & Wet Bar

Great Rooms Building Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Chicago with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Jersey City Townhouse

WDesignè

The gut renovation of this historic home included interior an exterior work: new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, doors & windows and custom millwork. This beautiful home was published on Rue Magazine. http://ruemag.com/home-tour-2/historic-charm-meets-contemporary-elegance-in-jersey-city-nj

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Modern Farmhouse in Minnetonka

Destiny Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor and grey walls.

Classic Urban

Vernon Wentz

This is a wonderful mid century modern with the perfect color mix of furniture and accessories. Built by Classic Urban Homes Photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery

Walnut Creek Modern Farmhouse (Larkey Park)

The Home Co.

Marcell Puzsar, Bright Room Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized country open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Pembridge Crescent, Notting Hill, London, W11

Domus Nova

Naturally, many of the pieces were sourced from Portobello Road. “I love 1970s lighting, and so I spent hours on the Portobello Road sourcing original lights,” says the owner. “I also made the large mirror using an old picture frame from one of the local shops, spraying it and getting a mirror put in. Similarly with the glass cabinet – it was a cheap purchase which I sprayed entirely black aside from the back which was painted purple. I also inserted a blue light into it, and now it’s my favourite piece". The EXIT sign is from Islington – perfect for when guests overstay their welcome.

Mid Century Modern Meets 2020

Fox Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury separate dining room in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Medium Hardwood Floors and a Brick Fireplace Surround

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!