This 5,200-square foot modern farmhouse is located on Manhattan Beach’s Fourth Street, which leads directly to the ocean. A raw stone facade and custom-built Dutch front-door greets guests, and customized millwork can be found throughout the home. The exposed beams, wooden furnishings, rustic-chic lighting, and soothing palette are inspired by Scandinavian farmhouses and breezy coastal living. The home’s understated elegance privileges comfort and vertical space. To this end, the 5-bed, 7-bath (counting halves) home has a 4-stop elevator and a basement theater with tiered seating and 13-foot ceilings. A third story porch is separated from the upstairs living area by a glass wall that disappears as desired, and its stone fireplace ensures that this panoramic ocean view can be enjoyed year-round. This house is full of gorgeous materials, including a kitchen backsplash of Calacatta marble, mined from the Apuan mountains of Italy, and countertops of polished porcelain. The curved antique French limestone fireplace in the living room is a true statement piece, and the basement includes a temperature-controlled glass room-within-a-room for an aesthetic but functional take on wine storage. The takeaway? Efficiency and beauty are two sides of the same coin.

Palmerston Parisian

CAB Architects

Inspiration for a modern kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Farmhouse on the Lake

SKD Architects

Saari & Forrai Photography MSI Custom Homes, LLC
Photo of a large country kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

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.

Redesign Interior

Perfect Match Homes

Dining area to the great room, designed with the focus on the short term rental users wanting to stay in a Texas Farmhouse style.
This is an example of a large kitchen/dining combo in Austin with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, brown floor, coffered and panelled 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.

Pinecrest Home Remodel Japandi Style

Janet Patterson Interior Design (JPID)

Open modern dining room with neutral finishes.
Design ideas for a large modern kitchen/dining combo in Miami with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, beige floor and panelled walls.

The Shores at Bonnet Point

RIKB Design Build

Whole house remodel in Narragansett RI. We reconfigured the floor plan and added a small addition to the right side to extend the kitchen. Thus creating a gorgeous transitional kitchen with plenty of room for cooking, storage, and entertaining. The dining room can now seat up to 12 with a recessed hutch for a few extra inches in the space. The new half bath provides lovely shades of blue and is sure to catch your eye! The rear of the first floor now has a private and cozy guest suite.

Noe Valley

Brooks McDonald Architecture

This is an example of a transitional kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Cody Road Residence

AAHA Studio

Entertainment kitchen with integrated dining table
Mid-sized modern kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, grey floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Contemporary Kitchen Diner Extension

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

Design ideas for a large contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Other with panelled walls.

Simply charming farmhouse dining room

Dulce Feito-Daly Interior Design, LLC

Simply charming farmhouse dining room. Light and fresh color palette Black stained wood craftsman-style dining table Petite dining chairs Hinkley Lighting Clarendon chandelier in bronze and matte black finishes

CMD Project River View

Chantelle McNeish Design

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Toronto with white walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and panelled walls.

Dinning 2

Gruebmeyer Builders

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional kitchen/dining combo in Columbus with blue walls, light hardwood floors, beige floor and panelled walls.

Streeterville Apartment II

Eva Quateman Interiors

Werner Straube Photography
Photo of a mid-sized transitional kitchen/dining combo in Chicago with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Modern Farmhouse Style Dining Room

ITECTDESIGN LLC.

A modern farmhouse style dining room design featuring 8-person dining set with wood legs and a marble top table. This dining room presents a neutral color palette with pops of greenery a worm-colored rug and an exposed wood beam ceiling design.

Old Yacht Club

Elliott Architects

Design ideas for a beach style kitchen/dining combo in Other with dark hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, exposed beam and panelled walls.

Hamptons Style Design-Build

Anthony James Master Builders, LLC

This custom made butlers pantry and wine center directly off the dining room creates an open space for entertaining.
This is an example of an expansive traditional kitchen/dining combo in Newark with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed and panelled walls.

Mid-Century Modern Home

Miranda Frigon Designs

Mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and panelled walls.

Farmhouse on the Lake

SKD Architects

Saari & Forrai Photography MSI Custom Homes, LLC
Large country kitchen/dining combo in Minneapolis with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, coffered and panelled walls.

Kitchen/Dining Combo Design Ideas with Panelled 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!