Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Virginia Highlands Home

WAKE + LOOM DESIGN

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury separate dining room in Los Angeles with grey walls, no fireplace and light hardwood floors.

Mid-Century Modern Sacramento Home

Benning Design Construction

Photo of a midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Sacramento with grey walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and grey floor.

Northgate Breakfast Room

CarsonSpeer Builders

This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. The vertical grain fir ceilings were reclaimed, refinished, and reinstalled. The floors were a special epoxy blend to imitate terrazzo floors that were so popular during this period. The quartz countertops waterfall on both ends and the handmade tile accents the backsplash. Reclaimed light fixtures, hardware, and appliances put the finishing touches on this remodel. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios

Highland Park Mid Century Remodel

Jennifer Garner Interiors

Photography: Michael Hunter
Design ideas for a large midcentury separate dining room in Austin with a standard fireplace, grey walls, medium hardwood floors and a concrete fireplace surround.

Mid Century MOD Austin Remodel

Becca Stephens Interiors

Molly Winters Photography
Photo of a small midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Austin with grey walls and ceramic floors.

Mid Century Modern - Eichler Renovation

Urbanism Designs

Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in San Francisco with grey walls.

Mid Century Modern Masterpiece | Candler Park - Atlanta, GA

Minhnuyet Hardy Interiors

Christina Wedge
Inspiration for a large midcentury separate dining room in Atlanta with grey walls and medium hardwood floors.

Maintained MidCentury Modern Ranch With Original Elements

Better Living SoCal

A view beyond the Dining Table shows the original cabinets in the kitchen. OCModHomes.com
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

My Houzz: A Mid-Century Marvel Revived in Long Beach

Tara Bussema

Photo by Tara Bussema © 2013 Houzz Dining room art: 1963 "Family of Birds" Serigraph on Cloth by David Weidman, Inretrospect; lamp: Nelson saucer pendant, Modernica; dining table and chairs: '50s teak dining set, Inretrospect Paint: Waterby by Vista Paint

Showroom Photos

We Got Lites

Photo of a midcentury dining room in New York with grey walls.

Mid Century Modern Home

Riverdell Construction, Inc.

Jesse Smith
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Portland with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and no fireplace.

DINING ROOM, WESTCHESTER NY

Natasha Habermann Studio

Natasha Habermann
Small midcentury separate dining room in New York with grey walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and beige floor.

Updated Mid-Century Post and Beam

Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors

Dining Room Remodel. Custom Dining Table and Buffet. Custom Designed Wall incorporates double sided fireplace/hearth and mantle and shelving wrapping to living room side of the wall. Privacy wall separates entry from dining room with custom glass panels for light and space for art display. New recessed lighting brightens the space with a Nelson Cigar Pendant pays homage to the home's mid-century roots. photo by Chuck Espinoza

Clyde Hill Midcentury

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

This remodel of a midcentury home by Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers is an embrace of nostalgic ‘50s architecture and incorporation of elegant interiors. Adding a touch of Art Deco French inspiration, the result is an eclectic vintage blend that provides an elevated yet light-hearted impression. Photography by Andrew Giammarco.

Midcentury Modern Reborn

Tom Bassett-Dilley Architect, Ltd.

This 1960 house was in need of updating from both design and performance standpoints, and the project turned into a comprehensive deep energy retrofit, with thorough airtightness and insulation, new space conditioning and energy-recovery-ventilation, triple glazed windows, and an interior of incredible elegance. While we maintained the foundation and overall massing, this is essentially a new house, well equipped for a new generation of use and enjoyment.

Urban, Creative, City Living

Blake Civiello Architecture

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Los Angeles with grey walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Sophisticated Mid-Century Dining

NICHEdg

The coral accent pillow and color art add a dose of color to the design. The dark espresso glass table matches the flooring creating an airy feel to open up the petite space. Photo: NICHEdg

Custom Furniture: Ravenswood Residence

Inspired Interiors

Expansive midcentury open plan dining in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Elephant and Castle

Diego Correa Interior Design

Enzo Mercedes
Inspiration for a small midcentury dining room in London with grey walls, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas with Grey Walls

A midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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!