Mediterranean dining room in San Luis Obispo with white walls, terra-cotta floors, no fireplace and orange floor.

Andrea Pietrangeli http://andrea.media/
Photo of a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Providence with blue walls, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

Gentleman's Quarters - Oakland Hills Modern

LMB Interiors

Kitchen/dining room: Colorful statement rug by STARK Photo credit: Eric Rorer While we adore all of our clients and the beautiful structures which we help fill and adorn, like a parent adores all of their children, this recent mid-century modern interior design project was a particular delight. This client, a smart, energetic, creative, happy person, a man who, in-person, presents as refined and understated — he wanted color. Lots of color. When we introduced some color, he wanted even more color: Bright pops; lively art. In fact, it started with the art. This new homeowner was shopping at SLATE ( https://slateart.net) for art one day… many people choose art as the finishing touches to an interior design project, however this man had not yet hired a designer. He mentioned his predicament to SLATE principal partner (and our dear partner in art sourcing) Danielle Fox, and she promptly referred him to us. At the time that we began our work, the client and his architect, Jack Backus, had finished up a massive remodel, a thoughtful and thorough update of the elegant, iconic mid-century structure (originally designed by Ratcliff & Ratcliff) for modern 21st-century living. And when we say, “the client and his architect” — we mean it. In his professional life, our client owns a metal fabrication company; given his skills and knowledge of engineering, build, and production, he elected to act as contractor on the project. His eye for metal and form made its way into some of our furniture selections, in particular the coffee table in the living room, fabricated and sold locally by Turtle and Hare. Color for miles: One of our favorite aspects of the project was the long hallway. By choosing to put nothing on the walls, and adorning the length of floor with an amazing, vibrant, patterned rug, we created a perfect venue. The rug stands out, drawing attention to the art on the floor. In fact, the rugs in each room were as thoughtfully selected for color and design as the art on the walls. In total, on this project, we designed and decorated the living room, family room, master bedroom, and back patio. (Visit www.lmbinteriors.com to view the complete portfolio of images.) While my design firm is known for our work with traditional and transitional architecture, and we love those projects, I think it is clear from this project that Modern is also our cup of tea. If you have a Modern house and are thinking about how to make it more vibrantly YOU, contact us for a consultation.

Doheny

Bonura Building Inc.

This is an example of a large eclectic open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, terra-cotta floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and orange floor.

Space and Design

Rick Ricozzi Photography

Rick Ricozzi Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room in Wilmington with white walls, a standard fireplace, a metal fireplace surround and turquoise floor.

Dining Room with farmhouse table

Joni Spear Interior Design

We had the table custom-made locally with antique barn wood. The iconic black Anziano Chairs are by Donghia and the Bernhardt chairs are upholstered in a gray flannel fabric.

米田の家

AY/ARCHI 山本彰記建築設計事務所

ﾀﾞｲﾆﾝｸﾞからﾘﾋﾞﾝｸﾞを見る天井高さの操作で落ち着いた居場所をつくりだす
Photo of a small kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, orange floor, wood and wallpaper.

Various

Coastal Chic

Photo of a mid-sized modern separate dining room in San Diego with white walls, medium hardwood floors and turquoise floor.

2018 | Lake Forest Freshen Up: Living Room + Dining Room

Robin's Nest Interiors

LIVING ROOM This week’s post features our Lake Forest Freshen Up: Living Room + Dining Room for the homeowners who relocated from California. The first thing we did was remove a large built-in along the longest wall and re-orient the television to a shorter wall. This allowed us to place the sofa which is the largest piece of furniture along the long wall and made the traffic flow from the Foyer to the Kitchen much easier. Now the beautiful stone fireplace is the focal point and the seating arrangement is cozy. We painted the walls Sherwin Williams’ Tony Taupe (SW7039). The mantle was originally white so we warmed it up with Sherwin Williams’ Gauntlet Gray (SW7019). We kept the upholstery neutral with warm gray tones and added pops of turquoise and silver. We tackled the large angled wall with an oversized print in vivid blues and greens. The extra tall contemporary lamps balance out the artwork. I love the end tables with the mixture of metal and wood, but my favorite piece is the leather ottoman with slide tray – it’s gorgeous and functional! The homeowner’s curio cabinet was the perfect scale for this wall and her art glass collection bring more color into the space. The large octagonal mirror was perfect for above the mantle. The homeowner wanted something unique to accessorize the mantle, and these “oil cans” fit the bill. A geometric fireplace screen completes the look. The hand hooked rug with its subtle pattern and touches of gray and turquoise ground the seating area and brings lots of warmth to the room. DINING ROOM There are only 2 walls in this Dining Room so we wanted to add a strong color with Sherwin Williams’ Cadet (SW9143). Utilizing the homeowners’ existing furniture, we added artwork that pops off the wall, a modern rug which adds interest and softness, and this stunning chandelier which adds a focal point and lots of bling! The Lake Forest Freshen Up: Living Room + Dining Room really reflects the homeowners’ transitional style, and the color palette is sophisticated and inviting. Enjoy!

Buena St. Modern Design Family Home Berkeley, CA

Home Healing Renovations

Small modern kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with grey walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace and orange floor.

The Old School Hall

Paul Stevens Architecture

This is an example of a transitional open plan dining in Wiltshire with white walls, a wood stove, orange floor and exposed beam.

Sunsets on the Shore

Connecticut Kitchen Design

Connecticut Kitchen Design also created a hutch piece for the adjacent dining room, built into a niche in the wall.
Large traditional open plan dining in Bridgeport with light hardwood floors, orange floor, white walls and no fireplace.

Falmouth Residence

PAUL WEBER Architecture

Inspiration for a beach style dining room in Boston with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and orange floor.

Casual Dining Room

LK Design NC

Elegant dining room featuring custom draperies.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Raleigh with beige walls, light hardwood floors, orange floor and wallpaper.

Multi-Family Brownstone

vonDALWIG

This is an example of a contemporary dining room in New York with white walls, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

63rd Avenue Residence

EL Studio

Pepper Watkins
Design ideas for a contemporary dining room in DC Metro with turquoise floor.

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton
Inspiration for a midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

New North Jersey Tuscan

Heinold Home Improvement LLC

Large mediterranean separate dining room in New York with terra-cotta floors, beige walls, no fireplace and orange floor.

C. Sicilia

THE ROOM & CO interiorismo

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Barcelona with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

Holland Park - Living/Dining Room

Hal Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in London with white walls, medium hardwood floors and orange floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Orange Floor and Turquoise Floor

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!