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.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

C&R Remodeling

This mid century modern home boasted irreplaceable features including original wood cabinets, wood ceiling, and a wall of floor to ceiling windows. C&R developed a design that incorporated the existing details with additional custom cabinets that matched perfectly. A new lighting plan, quartz counter tops, plumbing fixtures, tile backsplash and floors, and new appliances transformed this kitchen while retaining all the mid century flavor.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

This is an example of a large midcentury open plan dining in Austin with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and wood.

Birch Knoll Restoration

k YODER design, LLC

In the dining room, kYd designed all new walnut millwork and custom cabinetry to match the original buffet. Sky-Frame sliding doors/windows via Dover Windows and Doors; Element by Tech Lighting recessed lighting; Lea Ceramiche Waterfall porcelain stoneware tiles; leathered ash black granite slab buffet counter

Mid-Century Modern Vancouver Special

PlaidFox Studio

This terracotta feature wall is one of our favourite areas in the home. To create interest in this special area between the kitchen and open living area, we installed wood pieces on the wall and painted them this gorgeous terracotta colour. The furniture is an eclectic mix of retro and nostalgic pieces which are playful, yet sophisticated for the young family who likes to entertain.

Midcentury Dining Room

Design ideas for a large midcentury kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, grey floor and wood.

Midtown Midmod

Hammersmith Structures

Photo of a midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Denver with white walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and wood.

Eat-in Kitchen

Vicki Simon Interior Design

breakfast area in kitchen with exposed wood slat ceiling and painted paneled tongue and groove fir wall finish. Custom concrete and glass dining table.

Los Gatos Treehouse

Cathie Hong Interiors

This 1960s home was in original condition and badly in need of some functional and cosmetic updates. We opened up the great room into an open concept space, converted the half bathroom downstairs into a full bath, and updated finishes all throughout with finishes that felt period-appropriate and reflective of the owner's Asian heritage.

Roscommon House

Neil Cownie Architect Pty Ltd

The living room provides direct access to the covered outdoor area. The living room is open both to the street and to the owners privacy of their back yard. The room is served by the warmth of winter sun penetration and the coll breeze cross ventilating the room.

San Rafael Mid Century Modern

User

Design ideas for a midcentury dining room in San Francisco with white walls, grey floor, exposed beam and wood.

Bespoke Homes LLC Projects

Bespoke Homes LLC

Mid century modern kitchen with beautiful custom matchbox walnut cabinets on the island and painted on the uppers. Tall wood ceilings and a stunning mid century slat wall to give privacy but still bring in the light.

Balcones

Soledad Builders, LLC

In lieu of a formal dining room, our clients kept the dining area casual. A painted built-in bench, with custom upholstery runs along the white washed cypress wall. Custom lights by interior designer Joel Mozersky.

Cedar Island Residence

Scott Edwards Architecture

This is an example of a midcentury open plan dining in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wood.

West Seattle Mid-Century

Board & Vellum

Photos by Tina Witherspoon.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Seattle with white walls, light hardwood floors and wood.

Gene Zema Remodel

Sugi Moss Architects

This is an example of a midcentury dining room in Seattle with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, vaulted and wood.

East Vancouver Fireplace & Living Room

Construct by Nuthatch

Custom dining room fireplace surround featuring authentic Moroccan zellige tiles. The fireplace is accented by a custom bench seat for the dining room. The surround expands to the wall to create a step which creates the new location for a home bar.

Dining

Beth Howley Creative LLC

Large midcentury open plan dining in Grand Rapids with grey walls, light hardwood floors and wood.

Del Mar Meadow House

McCulley Design Lab

Midcentury open plan dining in San Diego with medium hardwood floors, exposed beam and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Envy in Oakland

Lauren's Interiors

Inspiration for a midcentury open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, concrete floors, grey floor, exposed beam and wood.

Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas with Wood

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!