Grade II Listed Georgian Townhouse - Dining Room

Photo of a large transitional separate dining room in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and panelled walls.

Lovely in La Jolla

Margaret Dean at Design Studio West

Built in hutch designed by Margaret Dean, Design Studio West and supplied by Rutt Custom Cabinetry. Lighting and furniture by homeowner. Floor was existing and refinished.

Chadds Ford Cottage

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Elegant traditional dining room with off-white walls, hardwood flooring, custom millwork including built-in cabinetry with glass-paned arched doors and crown molding

Mid Century Modern Addition

Kipnis Architecture + Planning

This is the addition to a early 1960's split level. The addition encloses a family room and dining room. The dining room is defined by the higher ceiling. Daylighting is brought further into the interior by the use of a light shelf, which bounces the daylighting off of it and reflects it up onto the ceiling of the taller space. The overhang that the light shelf is made from blocks out the high summer sun, while still admitting the low winter sun for passive solar gain. The existing home's exterior was is located at the far left. http://www.kipnisarch.com Kipnis Architecture + Planning

Queens Gate Terrace

Burbeck Interiors ltd

Transitional dining room in London with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Dry Bar at Dining Room

Pleasant Barn Road

Dry bar in dining room. Custom millwork design with integrated panel front wine refrigerator and antique mirror glass backsplash with rosettes.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Front Entry/Formal Dining

NSPJ Architects

Design ideas for an expansive mediterranean open plan dining in Kansas City with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

South End Brownstone

DANE AUSTIN INTERIOR DESIGN Boston & Cambridge

Dane and his team were originally hired to shift a few rooms around when the homeowners' son left for college. He created well-functioning spaces for all, spreading color along the way. And he didn't waste a thing. Project designed by Boston interior design studio Dane Austin Design. They serve Boston, Cambridge, Hingham, Cohasset, Newton, Weston, Lexington, Concord, Dover, Andover, Gloucester, as well as surrounding areas. For more about Dane Austin Design, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/south-end-brownstone

Brentwood Midcentury Residence

Natalie Myers

Marisa Vitale
Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in Los Angeles with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and brown floor.

Party Barn

Vernon Wentz

The lighting design in this rustic barn with a modern design was the designed and built by lighting designer Mike Moss. This was not only a dream to shoot because of my love for rustic architecture but also because the lighting design was so well done it was a ease to capture. Photography by Vernon Wentz of Ad Imagery

MIll Valley in the Trees

Suzanne Childress Design

Design ideas for a large open plan dining in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

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

Inglenook Grove

Riverwood Homes of Colorado

Mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Denver with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Willowsford - Lot 44 - Timberneck Model

Van Metre Homes

Mid-sized transitional open plan dining in DC Metro with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors and a standard fireplace.

Balwyn Art Deco

Colour Confidence Interiors

Original Tudor Revival with Art Deco undertones has been given new life with the client's love for French Provincial, the stunning French Oak double herringbone parquetry floor and the open plan kitchen. This fireplace is one of three in this home and originally had a collection of built-ins above it which were removed to simplify the space as a walk-way through to the new open-plan kitchen/living area. the original fireplace surround was kept with most of the brick now painted a crisp white and new black marble hearth still waiting to arrive. I imagine many family meals had in this now open and light space with easy access to the Kitchen and Butlers Pantry and overlooking the Alfresco and Pool-house.

Biltmore Forest Lower Level

ACM Design

Design ideas for an expansive transitional kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Carmel Beach House

Eric Miller Architects, Inc.

Photo by: Russell Abraham
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in San Francisco with medium hardwood floors, white walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Open plan kitchen dining room

Mia Karlsson Interior Design Ltd

This is an example of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in London with medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and multi-coloured walls.

Classic Transitional

MICHAEL WHALEY INTERIORS, INC

Chocolate brown lacquer walls over chinoiserie fretwork on antiqued mirror set a glamorous tone in this Dining Room. Photo by Phillip Ennis
Photo of a large traditional separate dining room in New York with brown walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and medium hardwood floors.

Shooting Star Dining/Living

FRAME design co.

Bright and classy dining and living room space. Grace Home Design. Photo Credit: David Agnello
Design ideas for a country open plan dining in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

All Fireplaces Dining Room Design Ideas with Medium 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!