A Beachy Basement Design Perfect for Entertaining

We started with a blank slate on this basement project where our only obstacles were exposed steel support columns, existing plumbing risers from the concrete slab, and dropped soffits concealing ductwork on the ceiling. It had the advantage of tall ceilings, an existing egress window, and a sliding door leading to a newly constructed patio. This family of five loves the beach and frequents summer beach resorts in the Northeast. Bringing that aesthetic home to enjoy all year long was the inspiration for the décor, as well as creating a family-friendly space for entertaining. Wish list items included room for a billiard table, wet bar, game table, family room, guest bedroom, full bathroom, space for a treadmill and closed storage. The existing structural elements helped to define how best to organize the basement. For instance, we knew we wanted to connect the bar area and billiards table with the patio in order to create an indoor/outdoor entertaining space. It made sense to use the egress window for the guest bedroom for both safety and natural light. The bedroom also would be adjacent to the plumbing risers for easy access to the new bathroom. Since the primary focus of the family room would be for TV viewing, natural light did not need to filter into that space. We made sure to hide the columns inside of newly constructed walls and dropped additional soffits where needed to make the ceiling mechanicals feel less random. In addition to the beach vibe, the homeowner has valuable sports memorabilia that was to be prominently displayed including two seats from the original Yankee stadium. For a coastal feel, shiplap is used on two walls of the family room area. In the bathroom shiplap is used again in a more creative way using wood grain white porcelain tile as the horizontal shiplap “wood”. We connected the tile horizontally with vertical white grout joints and mimicked the horizontal shadow line with dark grey grout. At first glance it looks like we wrapped the shower with real wood shiplap. Materials including a blue and white patterned floor, blue penny tiles and a natural wood vanity checked the list for that seaside feel. A large reclaimed wood door on an exposed sliding barn track separates the family room from the game room where reclaimed beams are punctuated with cable lighting. Cabinetry and a beverage refrigerator are tucked behind the rolling bar cabinet (that doubles as a Blackjack table!). A TV and upright video arcade machine round-out the entertainment in the room. Bar stools, two rotating club chairs, and large square poufs along with the Yankee Stadium seats provide fun places to sit while having a drink, watching billiards or a game on the TV. Signed baseballs can be found behind the bar, adjacent to the billiard table, and on specially designed display shelves next to the poker table in the family room. Thoughtful touches like the surfboards, signage, photographs and accessories make a visitor feel like they are on vacation at a well-appointed beach resort without being cliché.

Contempo British Colonial

Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello

Photo of a mid-sized transitional separate dining room in San Diego with white walls, vinyl floors, brown floor, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Dining Room with Coretec Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Advanced Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Grand Rapids with beige walls, vinyl floors and brown floor.

Armstrong - Duality Vinyl Sheet Flooring

All About Flooring

Inspiration for a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Other with red walls, vinyl floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Casual Modern | Portland Kitchen Remodel

Mountainwood Homes

Many walls were removed in this 1967 Portland home to create a completely open-concept floorplan that ties the kitchen, dining, living room, and entry together.

Catura Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | New Carlisle, Ohio

Flooret

A rich, even, walnut tone with a smooth finish. This versatile color works flawlessly with both modern and classic styles.
Inspiration for a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Columbus with beige walls, vinyl floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Mid-Century Beach Bungalow

Suncrest Home Builders

Photo of a small contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Tampa with grey walls, vinyl floors and brown floor.

Mineral Drive Kitchen Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

Cramped kitchen be gone! That was the project motto and top priority. The goal was to transform the current layout from multiple smaller spaces into a connected whole that would activate the main level for our clients, a young family of four. The biggest obstacle was the wall dividing the kitchen and the dining room. Removing this wall was central to opening up and integrating the main living spaces, but the existing ductwork that ran right through the center of the wall posed a design challenge, er design opportunity. The resulting design solution features a central pantry that captures the ductwork and provides valuable storage- especially when compared to the original kitchen's 18" wide pantry cabinet. The pantry also anchors the kitchen island and serves as a visual separation of space between the kitchen and homework area. Through our design development process, we learned the formal living room was of no service to their lifestyle and therefore space they rarely spent time in. With that in mind, we proposed to eliminate the unused living room and make it the new dining room. Relocating the dining room to this space inherently felt right given the soaring ceiling and ample room for holiday dinners and celebrations. The new dining room was spacious enough for us to incorporate a conversational seating area in the warm, south-facing window alcove. Now what to do with the old dining room?! To answer that question we took inspiration from our clients' shared profession in education and developed a craft area/homework station for both of their boys. The semi-custom cabinetry of the desk area carries over to the adjacent wall and forms window bench base with storage that we topped with butcher block for a touch of warmth. While the boys are young, the bench drawers are the perfect place for a stash of toys close to the kitchen. The kitchen begins just beyond the window seat with their refrigerator enclosure. Opposite the refrigerator is the new pantry with twenty linear feet of shelving and space for brooms and a stick vacuum. Extending from the backside of the pantry the kitchen island design incorporates counter seating on the family room side and a cabinetry configuration on the kitchen side with drawer storage, a trashcan center, farmhouse sink, and dishwasher. We took careful time in design and execution to align the range and sink because while it might seem like a small detail, it plays an important role in supporting the symmetrical configuration of the back wall of the kitchen. The rear wall design utilizes an appliance garage mirrors the visual impact of the refrigerator enclosure and helps keep the now open kitchen tidy. Between the appliance garage and refrigerator enclosure is the cooking zone with 30" of cabinetry and work surface on either side of the range, a chimney style vent hood, and a bold graphic tile backsplash. The backsplash is just one of many personal touches we added to the space to reflect our client's modern eclectic style and love of color. Swooping lines of the mid-mod style barstools compliment the pendants and backsplash pattern. A pop of vibrant green on the frame of the pantry door adds a fresh wash of color to an otherwise neutral space. The big show stopper is the custom charcoal gray and copper chevron wall installation in the dining room. This was an idea our clients softly suggested, and we excitedly embraced the opportunity. It is also a kickass solution to the head-scratching design dilemma of how to fill a large and lofty wall. We are so grateful to bring this design to life for our clients and now dear friends.

Luxury Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring

Fine Floorz

Q: Which of these floors are made of actual "Hardwood" ? A: None. They are actually Luxury Vinyl Tile & Plank Flooring skillfully engineered for homeowners who desire authentic design that can withstand the test of time. We brought together the beauty of realistic textures and inspiring visuals that meet all your lifestyle demands. Ultimate Dent Protection – commercial-grade protection against dents, scratches, spills, stains, fading and scrapes. Award-Winning Designs – vibrant, realistic visuals with multi-width planks for a custom look. 100% Waterproof* – perfect for any room including kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms and basements. Easy Installation – locking planks with cork underlayment easily installs over most irregular subfloors and no acclimation is needed for most installations. Coordinating trim and molding available.

1964 Eichler Renovation and Restoration

Destination Eichler, LLC

Photo of a midcentury dining room in San Francisco with vinyl floors, grey walls and no fireplace.

Mother-In-Law Suite

McKinney Home Improvement

This unused section of the basement was converted into a beautiful, contemporary kitchen and dining area to complete our customer's Mother-In-Law Suite. An exterior door was added for garage access.

Scheming in color

May Construction, Inc.

On the next leg of the journey was the modern hybrid Farmstead style Great room. The bold black granite apron sink brings wonderful diversity, when paired with the Hale Navy Island, and Lunada Bay backsplash tile that encases the kitchen. The Breakfast nook was a wonderful added touch for this project, where the family can enjoy a wonderful meal or morning coffee together.

Dining Spaces

Karen Shea Design

Photo of a small traditional separate dining room in Orlando with brown floor, no fireplace, grey walls and vinyl floors.

Suburban Traditional

Cannarsa Structure and Design

Photo of a traditional kitchen/dining combo with decorative wall panelling, grey walls, vinyl floors and multi-coloured floor.

1950's Mid-Century Modern Beach House

Rollins Andrew Interiors

1950's mid-century modern beach house built by architect Richard Leitch in Carpinteria, California. Leitch built two one-story adjacent homes on the property which made for the perfect space to share seaside with family. In 2016, Emily restored the homes with a goal of melding past and present. Emily kept the beloved simple mid-century atmosphere while enhancing it with interiors that were beachy and fun yet durable and practical. The project also required complete re-landscaping by adding a variety of beautiful grasses and drought tolerant plants, extensive decking, fire pits, and repaving the driveway with cement and brick.

Home Update

Phil Allen Contracting

Traditional dining room in Other with vinyl floors.

Лофт в сталинке

Tatiana Nikitina Photography

Обеденная зона Дизайн проект: Семен Чечулин Стиль: Наталья Орешкова
Inspiration for a small industrial kitchen/dining combo in Saint Petersburg with white walls, vinyl floors and brown floor.

Meadowbrook Farm - The Waterford Model

Van Metre Homes

Expansive traditional open plan dining in DC Metro with brown floor, multi-coloured walls, vinyl floors, a ribbon fireplace and a wood fireplace surround.

和室

マレアハウスデザイン

Inspiration for an asian dining room in Other with beige walls, tatami floors and beige floor.

Trace Court Kitchen

Niemand Interiors LLC

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Houston with vinyl floors, beige floor and beige walls.

Dining Room Design Ideas with Vinyl Floors and Tatami 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!