Contemporary wall lights, open plan dining area leading onto garden with sliding doors, family home, Ealing.
This is an example of an expansive contemporary kitchen/dining combo in London with white walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

The Bedford House

Lori Dennis Interior Design

Modern Dining Room in an open floor plan, sits between the Living Room, Kitchen and Backyard Patio. The modern electric fireplace wall is finished in distressed grey plaster. Modern Dining Room Furniture in Black and white is paired with a sculptural glass chandelier. Floor to ceiling windows and modern sliding glass doors expand the living space to the outdoors.

Glass and Metal Barn Doors with Custom Painted Glass

Art Glass and Metal

I created these large metal and glass barn doors to give optional privacy between a large kitchen and a living room in a custom home in San Diego. This sleek modern style of glass and metal work is a departure from my usual nature and fine art based work. The resulting look is a combination of Japanese screen panels with mid century modern design into a sleek, functional and stylish finished product. The glass is custom colored to match the amazing matching colored Florentine finish on the walls throughout the home. These large door panels telescope back to leave the entire room open or closed for entertaining while the kitchen is preparing food for the guests while they are dining. Contact me here if you would like something similar for your home or business.

Modern Outdoor Living Dining Room

Wolf Design Studio

Nick Springett Photography
Design ideas for an expansive contemporary open plan dining in Los Angeles with white walls, porcelain floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

A Familys Fort Lauderdale Beach Retreat

Rossi Interiors, Inc.

Rick Gomez Photography
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary open plan dining in Miami with porcelain floors.

Luxury Apartment Eat In Kitchen

Studio ST Architects, P.C.

This bight corner eat-in kitchen is the center of family life. A banquet bench has custom storage and view of the city. Saarinen yellow and white Tulip chairs

Mountain Modern

Pearson Design Group

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary dining room in Other with beige walls, concrete floors, a two-sided fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Old Westbury Neoclassical

Chango

The walls of this formal dining room have all been paneled and painted a crisp white to set off the stark gray used on the upper part of the walls, above the paneling. Ceilings are coffered and a dramatic large pendant lamp is placed centered in the paneled ceiling. A silk light grey rug sits proud under a 12' wide custom dining table. Reclaimed wood planks from Canada and an industrial steel base harden the soft lines of the room and provide a bit of whimsy. Dining benches sit on one side of the table, and four leather and nail head studded chairs flank the other side. The table comfortably sits a party of 12.

Westlake Hideaway

Ashby Collective

Design ideas for an expansive midcentury open plan dining in Austin with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

Atherton Estate Luxury Home by Markay Johnson Construction

Markay Johnson Construction

Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Project Details: This uniquely American Shingle styled home boasts a free flowing open staircase with a two-story light filled entry. The functional style and design of this welcoming floor plan invites open porches and creates a natural unique blend to its surroundings. Bleached stained walnut wood flooring runs though out the home giving the home a warm comfort, while pops of subtle colors bring life to each rooms design. Completing the masterpiece, this Markay Johnson Construction original reflects the forethought of distinguished detail, custom cabinetry and millwork, all adding charm to this American Shingle classic. Architect: John Stewart Architects Photographer: Bernard Andre Photography

Ida Pl Greenwood Village, CO

Lion StoneWorks

This dry bar is the perfect mix of style and function! The light wood cabinets add a warm, natural vibe and offer plenty of storage.
Inspiration for an expansive midcentury dining room in Denver with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, timber and planked wall panelling.

Madrone Ridge

Ann Lowengart Interiors

Ann Lowengart Interiors collaborated with Field Architecture and Dowbuilt on this dramatic Sonoma residence featuring three copper-clad pavilions connected by glass breezeways. The copper and red cedar siding echo the red bark of the Madrone trees, blending the built world with the natural world of the ridge-top compound. Retractable walls and limestone floors that extend outside to limestone pavers merge the interiors with the landscape. To complement the modernist architecture and the client's contemporary art collection, we selected and installed modern and artisanal furnishings in organic textures and an earthy color palette.

Newport Home - Dining Room

AR Homes | Nashville

Dining room of Newport.
Expansive contemporary open plan dining in Nashville with white walls, medium hardwood floors and vaulted.

Tonal Harmony Dining Room

Drewett Works

With adjacent neighbors within a fairly dense section of Paradise Valley, Arizona, C.P. Drewett sought to provide a tranquil retreat for a new-to-the-Valley surgeon and his family who were seeking the modernism they loved though had never lived in. With a goal of consuming all possible site lines and views while maintaining autonomy, a portion of the house — including the entry, office, and master bedroom wing — is subterranean. This subterranean nature of the home provides interior grandeur for guests but offers a welcoming and humble approach, fully satisfying the clients requests. While the lot has an east-west orientation, the home was designed to capture mainly north and south light which is more desirable and soothing. The architecture’s interior loftiness is created with overlapping, undulating planes of plaster, glass, and steel. The woven nature of horizontal planes throughout the living spaces provides an uplifting sense, inviting a symphony of light to enter the space. The more voluminous public spaces are comprised of stone-clad massing elements which convert into a desert pavilion embracing the outdoor spaces. Every room opens to exterior spaces providing a dramatic embrace of home to natural environment. Grand Award winner for Best Interior Design of a Custom Home The material palette began with a rich, tonal, large-format Quartzite stone cladding. The stone’s tones gaveforth the rest of the material palette including a champagne-colored metal fascia, a tonal stucco system, and ceilings clad with hemlock, a tight-grained but softer wood that was tonally perfect with the rest of the materials. The interior case goods and wood-wrapped openings further contribute to the tonal harmony of architecture and materials. Grand Award Winner for Best Indoor Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home This award-winning project was recognized at the 2020 Gold Nugget Awards with two Grand Awards, one for Best Indoor/Outdoor Lifestyle for a Home, and another for Best Interior Design of a One of a Kind or Custom Home. At the 2020 Design Excellence Awards and Gala presented by ASID AZ North, Ownby Design received five awards for Tonal Harmony. The project was recognized for 1st place – Bathroom; 3rd place – Furniture; 1st place – Kitchen; 1st place – Outdoor Living; and 2nd place – Residence over 6,000 square ft. Congratulations to Claire Ownby, Kalysha Manzo, and the entire Ownby Design team. Tonal Harmony was also featured on the cover of the July/August 2020 issue of Luxe Interiors + Design and received a 14-page editorial feature entitled “A Place in the Sun” within the magazine.

5th Avenue Estate Home Boca Raton

Interiors by Steven G

Custom Italian Furniture from the showroom of Interiors by Steven G, wood ceilings, wood feature wall, Italian porcelain tile
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary dining room in Miami with beige walls, porcelain floors and wood.

Olive Mill

Renga Michael Flooring, Inc.

This is a light rustic European White Oak hardwood floor.
Design ideas for an expansive transitional open plan dining in Santa Barbara with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround, brown floor and timber.

Sonoma Private Residence

Salt Shed Design Build

Modern farmohouse interior with T&G cedar cladding; exposed steel; custom motorized slider; cement floor; vaulted ceiling and an open floor plan creates a unified look

Transitional Shingle | Fall 2019 Parade of Homes

Homes by Tradition

Design ideas for an expansive transitional dining room in Minneapolis.

WaterSound Beach Gulf Front Living: 210 Coopersmith Lane

The Beach Group Properties, LLC

The dining areas boast vaulted ceilings with many windows to fill the space with natural light.
Inspiration for an expansive shabby-chic style kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

The Westminster at Willow Creek Farms

Landmark Homes

This grand 2-story home with first-floor owner’s suite includes a 3-car garage with spacious mudroom entry complete with built-in lockers. A stamped concrete walkway leads to the inviting front porch. Double doors open to the foyer with beautiful hardwood flooring that flows throughout the main living areas on the 1st floor. Sophisticated details throughout the home include lofty 10’ ceilings on the first floor and farmhouse door and window trim and baseboard. To the front of the home is the formal dining room featuring craftsman style wainscoting with chair rail and elegant tray ceiling. Decorative wooden beams adorn the ceiling in the kitchen, sitting area, and the breakfast area. The well-appointed kitchen features stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with decorative crown molding, Hanstone countertops with tile backsplash, and an island with Cambria countertop. The breakfast area provides access to the spacious covered patio. A see-thru, stone surround fireplace connects the breakfast area and the airy living room. The owner’s suite, tucked to the back of the home, features a tray ceiling, stylish shiplap accent wall, and an expansive closet with custom shelving. The owner’s bathroom with cathedral ceiling includes a freestanding tub and custom tile shower. Additional rooms include a study with cathedral ceiling and rustic barn wood accent wall and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The 2nd floor boasts 3 additional bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, and a loft that overlooks the living room.

Expansive Dining Room Design Ideas

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!