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.

The Thorndale at Home Towne Square

Landmark Homes

A stunning and stylish floor plan with numerous features throughout for everything you could desire in a home. A charming front porch leads you into this home where you immediately are greeted by the expansive great room with optional see-through fireplace into hearth area. The study with optional coffered ceiling could serve as 4th bedroom. The open kitchen, dining area, and hearth area allows for plenty of natural light. A secluded first-floor owner's suite with optional tray ceiling includes a private bath with double bowl vanity and expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 2 other bedrooms, a full bath, and a large loft. An optional outdoor living area, accessible from the dining area, is available as well. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)

Great Room

Lauren Shadid Architecture + Interiors

This is an example of a large country open plan dining in Denver with grey walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, brown floor and vaulted.

Young Rd Residence

Jill Litner Kaplan Interiors

Photo of a large transitional open plan dining in Boston with grey walls, a standard fireplace, a plaster fireplace surround and coffered.

Herne Hill

Cassidy Hughes Interior Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in London with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Leather District Loft

DANE AUSTIN INTERIOR DESIGN Boston & Cambridge

This design scheme blends femininity, sophistication, and the bling of Art Deco with earthy, natural accents. An amoeba-shaped rug breaks the linearity in the living room that’s furnished with a lady bug-red sleeper sofa with gold piping and another curvy sofa. These are juxtaposed with chairs that have a modern Danish flavor, and the side tables add an earthy touch. The dining area can be used as a work station as well and features an elliptical-shaped table with gold velvet upholstered chairs and bubble chandeliers. A velvet, aubergine headboard graces the bed in the master bedroom that’s painted in a subtle shade of silver. Abstract murals and vibrant photography complete the look. Photography by: Sean Litchfield --- Project designed by Boston interior design studio Dane Austin Design. They serve Boston, Cambridge, Hingham, Cohasset, Newton, Weston, Lexington, Concord, Dover, Andover, Gloucester, as well as surrounding areas. For more about Dane Austin Design, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://daneaustindesign.com/leather-district-loft

Breakfast Room with Curved Bench Seating

Orren Pickell Building Group

A curved leather bench is paired with side chairs. The chair backs are upholstered in the same leather with nailhead trim. The Window Pinnacle Clad Series casement windows are 9' tall and include a 28" tall fixed awning window on the bottom and a 78" tall casement on top.

Hickory Hill | Rustic Modern Cottage

Vision Interiors

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area and screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for a shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear-facing exercise has great views of the lake through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below.

Meal time

JWH Design and Cabinetry LLC

The cozy banquette offers seating for 6-8 with added overflow storage below. The Bar on the left and "Command Center" on the right capture every inch of storage and functionality.

518 E. Tuckey Ln

Yonker Construction

This is an example of a transitional open plan dining in Phoenix with grey walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Country Pointe Plainview - The Greenbrier

Beechwood Homes

This is an example of a transitional open plan dining in New York with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Formal Living and Dining Rooms - Hendon

Sarah Mailer Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in London with grey walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Old Beach Road

Studio M Interiors

Scott Amundson Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Minneapolis with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Va in Scena il Colore

Liadesign

Liadesign
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Milan with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and no fireplace.

Dark and Dramatic Ukrainian Village Townhouse

Elizabeth Krueger Design

Mike Schwartz
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Chicago with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and no fireplace.

BMA Villa

Spaces and Design

This is an example of a mid-sized open plan dining in Kolkata with grey walls, concrete floors and grey floor.

Noho Loft

Motiani Design

Inspiration for an industrial open plan dining in New York with grey walls, concrete floors and grey floor.

Modern Mountain Home, Stowe VT

Patterson and Smith Construction, Inc.

Susan Teara, photographer
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Burlington with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Upper West Side Transitional

Idea Space Architecture + Design

Photography by Anna Herbst
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in New York with grey walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Dorset Park - Weymouth, MA

Morr Interiors

Shelly Harrison Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional open plan dining in Boston with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Open Plan Dining Design Ideas with Grey 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!