The brief for this project involved a full house renovation, and extension to reconfigure the ground floor layout. To maximise the untapped potential and make the most out of the existing space for a busy family home. When we spoke with the homeowner about their project, it was clear that for them, this wasn’t just about a renovation or extension. It was about creating a home that really worked for them and their lifestyle. We built in plenty of storage, a large dining area so they could entertain family and friends easily. And instead of treating each space as a box with no connections between them, we designed a space to create a seamless flow throughout. A complete refurbishment and interior design project, for this bold and brave colourful client. The kitchen was designed and all finishes were specified to create a warm modern take on a classic kitchen. Layered lighting was used in all the rooms to create a moody atmosphere. We designed fitted seating in the dining area and bespoke joinery to complete the look. We created a light filled dining space extension full of personality, with black glazing to connect to the garden and outdoor living.

Two Sided Two Story Room Addition

JD Kitchens

This room is the new eat-in area we created, behind the barn door is a laundry room.
Design ideas for an expansive country kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with beige walls, laminate floors, a standard fireplace, grey floor, vaulted and decorative wall panelling.

Mulholland Drive- Bel Air

Rande Leaman Interior Design

The breakfast room looks into the kitchen and has a white brick wood burning fireplace that adds character to the space. The high pitched ceiling beams and English cottage windows bring a traditional warmth to the room. Contemporary lighting fixtures keep it fresh and echo the shape of the windows.

Heavenly Hawthorn House

Caroline Touzeau Design

Photo of a contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted and panelled walls.

Walnut Grove | Multi-Room

DMJ

This is an example of an expansive country kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Berkeley Lake Renovation

TVL Creative Ltd.

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Dining room round windows

Sophie Piesse Architect, PA

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Raleigh with blue walls, medium hardwood floors and vaulted.

The French Country

The Highpoint House

This home was meant to feel collected. Although this home boasts modern features, the French Country style was hidden underneath and was exposed with furnishings. This home is situated in the trees and each space is influenced by the nature right outside the window. The palette for this home focuses on shades of gray, hues of soft blues, fresh white, and rich woods.

Country Retreat

M-Squared Contracting Inc.

Rustic yet refined, this modern country retreat blends old and new in masterful ways, creating a fresh yet timeless experience. The structured, austere exterior gives way to an inviting interior. The palette of subdued greens, sunny yellows, and watery blues draws inspiration from nature. Whether in the upholstery or on the walls, trailing blooms lend a note of softness throughout. The dark teal kitchen receives an injection of light from a thoughtfully-appointed skylight; a dining room with vaulted ceilings and bead board walls add a rustic feel. The wall treatment continues through the main floor to the living room, highlighted by a large and inviting limestone fireplace that gives the relaxed room a note of grandeur. Turquoise subway tiles elevate the laundry room from utilitarian to charming. Flanked by large windows, the home is abound with natural vistas. Antlers, antique framed mirrors and plaid trim accentuates the high ceilings. Hand scraped wood flooring from Schotten & Hansen line the wide corridors and provide the ideal space for lounging.

Stunning Mid-Century Remodel

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

The dining room continues the line of the kitchen island, while large black-framed windows call attention to the landscape outside. Lit shelving flanks the windows and offers showcased storage, while the window seat provides hidden storage.

Chic Colorado Contemporary

Veritas Fine Homes Inc

Evolved in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, this Colorado Contemporary home features a blend of materials to complement the surrounding landscape. This home triggered a blast into a quartz geode vein which inspired a classy chic style interior and clever use of exterior materials. These include flat rusted siding to bring out the copper veins, Cedar Creek Cascade thin stone veneer speaks to the surrounding cliffs, Stucco with a finish of Moondust, and rough cedar fine line shiplap for a natural yet minimal siding accent. Its dramatic yet tasteful interiors, of exposed raw structural steel, Calacatta Classique Quartz waterfall countertops, hexagon tile designs, gold trim accents all the way down to the gold tile grout, reflects the Chic Colorado while providing cozy and intimate spaces throughout.

Sovereign Oaks #51

Brent Campbell, Architect

Design ideas for a country kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Mastering Mid-Century Modern

Meadowlark Design+Build

A custom-built wood insert into the ceiling transom opens up the space and adds interest. White finishes create the perfect backdrop for Mid-century furnishings in the whole-home renovation and addition by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Professional photography by Jeff Garland.

Contemporary Dining Room Remodel in Hermosa Beach

Periana Architecture

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with light hardwood floors, beige floor, white walls, no fireplace and vaulted.

Coastal Charm

Nate + Jessica | Trove Homes

Design ideas for a beach style kitchen/dining combo in Kansas City with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and vaulted.

Dining Room/Family Room Transformation

JDI Construction NW

Cozy Family room and dining room with lots of open shelving.
This is an example of a large traditional kitchen/dining combo in Portland with white walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and vaulted.

Lions Bay Post and Beam

Simply Home Decorating

The new owners of this 1974 Post and Beam home originally contacted us for help furnishing their main floor living spaces. But it wasn’t long before these delightfully open minded clients agreed to a much larger project, including a full kitchen renovation. They were looking to personalize their “forever home,” a place where they looked forward to spending time together entertaining friends and family. In a bold move, we proposed teal cabinetry that tied in beautifully with their ocean and mountain views and suggested covering the original cedar plank ceilings with white shiplap to allow for improved lighting in the ceilings. We also added a full height panelled wall creating a proper front entrance and closing off part of the kitchen while still keeping the space open for entertaining. Finally, we curated a selection of custom designed wood and upholstered furniture for their open concept living spaces and moody home theatre room beyond. This project is a Top 5 Finalist for Western Living Magazine's 2021 Home of the Year.

Dining Room

Bosanac Builders

Design ideas for a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in Auckland with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor and vaulted.

Organic + Rustic

Leigh + Co Interiors

Small country kitchen/dining combo in Grand Rapids with white walls, vinyl floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Traditional Dining Room

NVS Interiors

Small traditional kitchen/dining combo in Other with beige walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor, vaulted and wallpaper.

Kitchen/Dining Combo Design Ideas with Vaulted

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!