Adding custom storage was a big part of the renovation of this 1950s home, including creating spaces to show off some quirky vintage accessories such as transistor radios, old cameras, homemade treasures and travel souvenirs (such as these little wooden camels from Morocco and London Black Cab).

Farmhouse Kitchen

Covenant LLC

Seating area featuring built in bench seating and plenty of natural light. Table top is made of reclaimed lumber done by Longleaf Lumber. The bottom table legs are reclaimed Rockford Lathe Legs.

Southborough Road

West & Reid Ltd

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in London with linoleum floors and grey floor.

Woodside Guest House

Cathy Schwabe Architecture

Great Room, Living + Dining Room and Porch of Guest House. Cathy Schwabe, AIA.Designed while at EHDD Architecture. Photograph by David Wakely
Photo of a contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with slate floors and grey floor.

Designs Featuring Hunter Douglas

Hunter Douglas

Mid-sized transitional separate dining room in New York with white walls, slate floors, no fireplace and multi-coloured floor.

Bathroom Vanities

We Got Lites

Our Drops of Rain Design is a modern phenomenon. Fine strands of cable cascade creating a dense pattern of faceted crystal spheres. The crystal floats as if to defy gravity, and like a sky of glistening raindrops, this spectacular innovation in crystal lighting gives the impression of great opulence and fashion forward thinking. Each faceted crystal sphere is suspended by its own wire strand that is sturdy enough to hang the crystal, yet thin enough that it almost disappears.

SCHÖNER WOHNEN Haus

Burkhard Heß

Foto: Heiner Orth
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary separate dining room in Stuttgart with white walls and slate floors.

Country Residence

Erskine Associates LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized country separate dining room in New York with white walls and slate floors.

Crisp Architects

Sun Room. Dining Area of Sunroom -Photographer: Rob Karosis
Inspiration for a traditional dining room in New York with slate floors and black floor.

Fruit Box

nimtim Architects

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in London with linoleum floors, grey floor and exposed beam.

Hunter Douglas Design Gallery

FB Rugs

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Other with white walls, slate floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Paradise in the Pines

Red Rock Pools and Spas and Red Rock Contractors

All Cedar Log Cabin the beautiful pines of AZ Elmira Stove Works appliances Photos by Mark Boisclair
This is an example of a large country open plan dining in Phoenix with slate floors, brown walls and grey floor.

North Bay Residence

Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects

Photographer: Jay Goodrich This 2800 sf single-family home was completed in 2009. The clients desired an intimate, yet dynamic family residence that reflected the beauty of the site and the lifestyle of the San Juan Islands. The house was built to be both a place to gather for large dinners with friends and family as well as a cozy home for the couple when they are there alone. The project is located on a stunning, but cripplingly-restricted site overlooking Griffin Bay on San Juan Island. The most practical area to build was exactly where three beautiful old growth trees had already chosen to live. A prior architect, in a prior design, had proposed chopping them down and building right in the middle of the site. From our perspective, the trees were an important essence of the site and respectfully had to be preserved. As a result we squeezed the programmatic requirements, kept the clients on a square foot restriction and pressed tight against property setbacks. The delineate concept is a stone wall that sweeps from the parking to the entry, through the house and out the other side, terminating in a hook that nestles the master shower. This is the symbolic and functional shield between the public road and the private living spaces of the home owners. All the primary living spaces and the master suite are on the water side, the remaining rooms are tucked into the hill on the road side of the wall. Off-setting the solid massing of the stone walls is a pavilion which grabs the views and the light to the south, east and west. Built in a position to be hammered by the winter storms the pavilion, while light and airy in appearance and feeling, is constructed of glass, steel, stout wood timbers and doors with a stone roof and a slate floor. The glass pavilion is anchored by two concrete panel chimneys; the windows are steel framed and the exterior skin is of powder coated steel sheathing.

Dining

Rethink Design Studio

Designer, Joel Snayd. Beach house on Tybee Island in Savannah, GA. This two-story beach house was designed from the ground up by Rethink Design Studio -- architecture + interior design. The first floor living space is wide open allowing for large family gatherings. Old recycled beams were brought into the space to create interest and create natural divisions between the living, dining and kitchen. The crisp white butt joint paneling was offset using the cool gray slate tile below foot. The stairs and cabinets were painted a soft gray, roughly two shades lighter than the floor, and then topped off with a Carerra honed marble. Apple red stools, quirky art, and fun colored bowls add a bit of whimsy and fun. Wall Color: SW extra white 7006 Cabinet Color: BM Sterling 1591 Floor: 6x12 Squall Slate (local tile supplier)

Intarsie

Fabi Architekten BDA part gmbb

H.Stolz
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Munich with white walls, linoleum floors and grey floor.

Hampton lane

Studio V Interior Design

Mid-sized mediterranean separate dining room in San Diego with beige walls, slate floors and no fireplace.

Hampton house

Роман Леонидов / Архитектурное бюро

Алексей Князев
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Moscow with white walls, slate floors and grey floor.

Fox Mill Four Seasons Addition

Matthew James Carpentry & Design Inc.

Inspiration for a country dining room in Chicago with slate floors, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

The Collector's Condo

Simply Home Decorating

The homeowners of this condo sought our assistance when downsizing from a large family home on Howe Sound to a small urban condo in Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver. They asked us to incorporate many of their precious antiques and art pieces into the new design. Our challenges here were twofold; first, how to deal with the unconventional curved floor plan with vast South facing windows that provide a 180 degree view of downtown Vancouver, and second, how to successfully merge an eclectic collection of antique pieces into a modern setting. We began by updating most of their artwork with new matting and framing. We created a gallery effect by grouping like artwork together and displaying larger pieces on the sections of wall between the windows, lighting them with black wall sconces for a graphic effect. We re-upholstered their antique seating with more contemporary fabrics choices - a gray flannel on their Victorian fainting couch and a fun orange chenille animal print on their Louis style chairs. We selected black as an accent colour for many of the accessories as well as the dining room wall to give the space a sophisticated modern edge. The new pieces that we added, including the sofa, coffee table and dining light fixture are mid century inspired, bridging the gap between old and new. White walls and understated wallpaper provide the perfect backdrop for the colourful mix of antique pieces. Interior Design by Lori Steeves, Simply Home Decorating. Photos by Tracey Ayton Photography

Transitional Dining Room

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in Other with grey walls, linoleum floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Linoleum Floors and Slate 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!