Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

Dining Room | Project Coolum

desculpto

Gatherings filled with family, cherished memories, and heartwarming laughter, all set against the backdrop of a meticulously crafted, serene yet carefully curated dining space.

Pavilion House

Sheri Haby Architects

Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with medium hardwood floors, white walls and brown floor.

Cremorne Residence

Jodie Carter Design

Dining room featuring built in cabinetry and seating with storage. Great little reading nook. VJ panelling in Dulux Kimberley Tree
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in Sydney with white walls, light hardwood floors and panelled walls.

Carlton North Art House

Camilla Molders Design

A residential interior design project by Camilla Molders Design.
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Melbourne with white walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Maywood Ct. Los Altos

Changras & Frey Construction Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in San Francisco with light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and exposed beam.

Manon et Vincent

Charlotte Fequet

Thomas Leclerc
Mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Paris with white walls, brown floor, light hardwood floors and no fireplace.

U-District Contemporary Tudor Remodel

RW Anderson Homes

Interior Design by ecd Design LLC This newly remodeled home was transformed top to bottom. It is, as all good art should be “A little something of the past and a little something of the future.” We kept the old world charm of the Tudor style, (a popular American theme harkening back to Great Britain in the 1500’s) and combined it with the modern amenities and design that many of us have come to love and appreciate. In the process, we created something truly unique and inspiring. RW Anderson Homes is the premier home builder and remodeler in the Seattle and Bellevue area. Distinguished by their excellent team, and attention to detail, RW Anderson delivers a custom tailored experience for every customer. Their service to clients has earned them a great reputation in the industry for taking care of their customers. Working with RW Anderson Homes is very easy. Their office and design team work tirelessly to maximize your goals and dreams in order to create finished spaces that aren’t only beautiful, but highly functional for every customer. In an industry known for false promises and the unexpected, the team at RW Anderson is professional and works to present a clear and concise strategy for every project. They take pride in their references and the amount of direct referrals they receive from past clients. RW Anderson Homes would love the opportunity to talk with you about your home or remodel project today. Estimates and consultations are always free. Call us now at 206-383-8084 or email Ryan@rwandersonhomes.com.

Coastal Modern

Lindye Galloway Interiors

Chad Mellon Photographer
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style open plan dining in Orange County with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Willowsford - Lot 44 - Timberneck Model

Van Metre Homes

Mid-sized transitional open plan dining in DC Metro with multi-coloured walls, medium hardwood floors, a standard fireplace and brown floor.

Royal York Residence

LUX Design | Interior Design Build

This dining room was designed to create a moody and cozy atmosphere. The dark blue wall colour ads an element of drama, contrasted by a gold branch sculpture on the wall and two sconces on the farther end. A heritage rustic dining table is softened by tufted cream coloured linen dining chairs and accented with gold cutlery.

HOUSE NO. 7 Isle of Tiree, Scotland

Denizen Works

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in London with white walls, light hardwood floors and a wood stove.

Mid-Century Fabulous Kitchen

Tricia Hauser Tidemann

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Minneapolis with vinyl floors, grey walls and grey floor.

Tilden Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | IL

Flooret

This LVP driftwood-inspired design balances overcast grey hues with subtle taupes. A smooth, calming style with a neutral undertone that works with all types of decor. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

Upscale Interior Design

MARGARITA BRAVO

This client wanted to have their kitchen as their centerpiece for their house. As such, I designed this kitchen to have a dark walnut natural wood finish with timeless white kitchen island combined with metal appliances. The entire home boasts an open, minimalistic, elegant, classy, and functional design, with the living room showcasing a unique vein cut silver travertine stone showcased on the fireplace. Warm colors were used throughout in order to make the home inviting in a family-friendly setting. --- Project designed by Miami interior designer Margarita Bravo. She serves Miami as well as surrounding areas such as Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, and Hallandale Beach. For more about MARGARITA BRAVO, click here: https://www.margaritabravo.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.margaritabravo.com/portfolio/observatory-park/

Modern Bohemian

Julia Katrine Designs

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Orange County with black walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wallpaper.

Transitional Dining Room

Laura Lee Home

This modestly sized dining room is open to the entry foyer and great room. The solid grey stained oak table has a curvaceous base. Upholstered dining chairs have easy care performance fabric and contrasting host chairs in teal velvet. Bold abstracted artwork mimics the pattern in the drapery fabric.

Country French Estate

Nina Williams Interiors

Photo of a mid-sized open plan dining in Miami with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Modern Craftsman Farmhouse

Allen Construction

Designer: Honeycomb Home Design Photographer: Marcel Alain This new home features open beam ceilings and a ranch style feel with contemporary elements.

Apartment C

Interior Design Stephanie Loy

Essbereich mit Bank und bunten Kissen
This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Munich with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Mid-sized Open Plan Dining 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!