In the early 50s, Herbert and Ruth Weiss attended a lecture by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius hosted by MIT. They were fascinated by Gropius’ description of the ‘Five Fields’ community of 60 houses he and his firm, The Architect’s Collaborative (TAC), were designing in Lexington, MA. The Weiss’ fell in love with Gropius’ vision for a grouping of 60 modern houses to be arrayed around eight acres of common land that would include a community pool and playground. They soon had one of their own.The original, TAC-designed house was a single-slope design with a modest footprint of 800 square feet. Several years later, the Weiss’ commissioned modernist architect Henry Hoover to add a living room wing and new entry to the house. Hoover’s design included a wall of glass which opens to a charming pond carved into the outcropping of granite ledge. After living in the house for 65 years, the Weiss’ sold the house to our client, who asked us to design a renovation that would respect the integrity of the vintage modern architecture. Our design focused on reorienting the kitchen, opening it up to the family room. The bedroom wing was redesigned to create a principal bedroom with en-suite bathroom. Interior finishes were edited to create a more fluid relationship between the original TAC home and Hoover’s addition. We worked closely with the builder, Patriot Custom Homes, to install Solar electric panels married to an efficient heat pump heating and cooling system. These updates integrate modern touches and high efficiency into a striking piece of architectural history.

Roanoke Four Square Reimagined

CIRCLE Design Studio

This is an example of a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Rockwell

KitchenLab Interiors

breakfast table- Design Within Reach
Design ideas for a transitional kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with white walls.

North Richmond Estate

Monica Ford Interiors

This is an example of a country open plan dining in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Manderly Road

RPS Design

Mid-sized traditional open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and recessed.

Lakewood Remodel

Ariel Bleich Design

Transitional dining room in Austin with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and exposed beam.

The Dunes

Renovation Angel Interior Design Noosa

Built in banquette seating in open style dining. Featuring beautiful pendant light and seat upholstery with decorative scatter cushions.
Design ideas for a small beach style dining room in Sunshine Coast with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and planked wall panelling.

Butler's Pantry & Coffee Bar

Great Rooms Building Group

Large transitional kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

The Ivsbridge Project

AMANDA SHIELDS INTERIORS

This is an example of a mid-sized modern dining room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors and coffered.

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.

Clay

Ross Builders, Inc.

Dining Room
Mid-sized transitional dining room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Rénovation d'un appartement de standing

KS Aménagement

Spacieuse salle à manger avec une grande table en bois et des chaises scandinaves modernes. Moulures sur les portes blanches et au niveau des fenêtres. Beau parquet au sol.

Telegraph Hill - An Industrial Loft

Alden Miller Interiors

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

Studio Canut Lyon

Jeanne Camoin

La partie repas
Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic dining room in Lyon with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wood.

San Francisco family home

gamble + design

Inspiration for a contemporary dining room with white walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Conservatory & Kitchen Extensions

Catherine Wilman Interiors

The before and after images show the transformation of our extension project in Maida Vale, West London. The family home was redesigned with a rear extension to create a new kitchen and dining area. Light floods in through the skylight and sliding glass doors by @maxlightltd by which open out onto the garden. The bespoke banquette seating with a soft grey fabric offers plenty of room for the family and provides useful storage.

Renovation dans un appartement haussmannien de 150m² à Paris 15

PROXIMA DESIGN - Décoration & Conception d'espaces

Touche de couleur pour mettre en valeur le mobilier.
This is an example of a contemporary dining room in Paris with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and decorative wall panelling.

Lakehouse Lux

Devon Grace Interiors

This is an example of a small beach style dining room in Chicago with white walls, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Santa Monica Minimal Spanish Villa

SHAPESIDE

Small eclectic dining room in Los Angeles with white walls.

Interior Design // Newnan GA

Robyn Studios Architecture & Interiors

The client wanted to change the color scheme and punch up the style with accessories such as curtains, rugs, and flowers. The couple had the entire downstairs painted and installed new light fixtures throughout.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Red Walls and White Walls

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!