Inspiration for a country dining room in London with brown walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Manhattan Beach Hill Section Home

Siri Berting Photography

Inspiration for a large mediterranean dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Modern Ski Escape

Locati Architects

Modern dining room in Other with medium hardwood floors and vaulted.

Seminole Place

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Complete kitchen renovation featuring open plan, leather finish quartzite countertops, white oak and paint grade cabinets, decorative tile, bronze fixtures, custom Italian range and hood.

Modern Coastal Beach House

Three Sparrows Interior Design

Beach style open plan dining in Providence with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, timber, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Bayadere

Devco Homes

Photo of a country dining room in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood.

Poplar - Modern MCM

Melinamade - Residential Design + Interiors

A Mid Century modern home built by a student of Eichler. This Eichler inspired home was completely renovated and restored to meet current structural, electrical, and energy efficiency codes as it was in serious disrepair when purchased as well as numerous and various design elements being inconsistent with the original architectural intent of the house from subsequent remodels.

Gorgeous Los Gatos Remodel

Spaces By Juliana Linssen, Inc.

Mid-sized arts and crafts open plan dining in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

MLL | Balanced Contradictions

PLUS ULTRA studio

Foto: Federico Villa Studio
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Milan with beige walls, medium hardwood floors and vaulted.

Residential Projects

Cardinal Custom Construction, Inc.

Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and vaulted.

Grade II* Listed Medieval Barn Conversion, Cornwall

The Bazeley Partnership

One of the only surviving examples of a 14thC agricultural building of this type in Cornwall, the ancient Grade II*Listed Medieval Tithe Barn had fallen into dereliction and was on the National Buildings at Risk Register. Numerous previous attempts to obtain planning consent had been unsuccessful, but a detailed and sympathetic approach by The Bazeley Partnership secured the support of English Heritage, thereby enabling this important building to begin a new chapter as a stunning, unique home designed for modern-day living. A key element of the conversion was the insertion of a contemporary glazed extension which provides a bridge between the older and newer parts of the building. The finished accommodation includes bespoke features such as a new staircase and kitchen and offers an extraordinary blend of old and new in an idyllic location overlooking the Cornish coast. This complex project required working with traditional building materials and the majority of the stone, timber and slate found on site was utilised in the reconstruction of the barn. Since completion, the project has been featured in various national and local magazines, as well as being shown on Homes by the Sea on More4. The project won the prestigious Cornish Buildings Group Main Award for ‘Maer Barn, 14th Century Grade II* Listed Tithe Barn Conversion to Family Dwelling’.

New Sliding Window in Gorgeous Dinette - Renewal by Andersen NJ / NYC

Renewal by Andersen of NJ-NY Metro

Black sliding window installed in beautiful kitchen dinette. This gorgeous dining area off a larger kitchen looks stylish with its farm style table, wood floors and new black sliding window with grilles and bright white trim. Find out more about having your windows replaced with Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey, New York City, Staten Island and The Bronx.

Berkeley Lake Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Mid Century refresh

Jennifer Ryan Design

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury dining room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

Modern Prairie in the Country

SKD Architects

Saari & Forrai Photography Briarwood II Construction
Inspiration for a large modern kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

New Custom Modern Single Family Residence in Lafayette California

MESH dbs

fredrik brauer
Mid-sized modern dining room in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and vaulted.

Riverside Transitional Modern Home

Osada Construction

Design ideas for a mid-sized kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and vaulted.

Lake Wendouree

Nat Twaits Building

Inspiration for a contemporary open plan dining in Geelong with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Open Concept Mountain Modern Retreat

Red Door Interiors

Design ideas for a country dining room in Boise with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

MCM Gem

Dunn Development, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury dining room in Nashville with medium hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace and vaulted.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Medium Hardwood Floors and Vaulted

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!