This dining room update was part of an ongoing project with the main goal of updating the 1990's spaces while creating a comfortable, sophisticated design aesthetic. New pieces were incorporated with existing family heirlooms.

Stylish Productions
Inspiration for a beach style dining room in DC Metro with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Stunning green walls (Benjamin Moore "Night Train" #1567) surround large double hung windows and a seeded glass china cabinet. Black Chippendale chairs cozy up to the natural wood table, and a sisal rug keeps it all from being too serious.

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Traditional dining room in Raleigh with medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Transitional open plan dining in Moscow with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Photo of a transitional separate dining room in Tampa with green walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed, panelled walls and wallpaper.

Photo of a transitional dining room in Jacksonville with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

This is an example of a transitional open plan dining in Philadelphia with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

The dining alcove encircles the custom 72" diameter wood table. The tray ceiling, wainscoting and rich crown moldings add classical details. The banquette provides warm additional seating and the custom chandelier finishes the space luxuriously.

Dining in simpy lux surrounding can even make the food taster better
Large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Miami with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, beige floor and recessed.

This is an example of a large mediterranean separate dining room with blue walls, medium hardwood floors and recessed.

Design ideas for a large transitional separate dining room in Dallas with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, beige floor and recessed.

This is an example of a large transitional separate dining room in Dallas with metallic walls, medium hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace surround, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Traditional Dining room
Photo of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Minneapolis with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Formal dining room in Modern Farmhouse style home
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Seattle with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, recessed and wallpaper.

Зона столовой подчеркнута единственным в этом помещении подвесным светильником в стиле японских фонарей.
Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, grey floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Perfectly placed paneling and calming blue walls look stunning in this formal dining room. Photos: Rachel Orland
This is an example of a mid-sized country separate dining room in Chicago with blue walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, recessed and decorative wall panelling.