Interior Design Work & Photos by AppleGate Interior Design
Contemporary open plan dining in San Francisco with medium hardwood floors and purple walls.

High Ridge RoadHigh Ridge Road, Hartsdale, NY Contemporary

Domus Constructors, LLC.

“Compelling.” That’s how one of our judges characterized this stair, which manages to embody both reassuring solidity and airy weightlessness. Architect Mahdad Saniee specified beefy maple treads—each laminated from two boards, to resist twisting and cupping—and supported them at the wall with hidden steel hangers. “We wanted to make them look like they are floating,” he says, “so they sit away from the wall by about half an inch.” The stainless steel rods that seem to pierce the treads’ opposite ends are, in fact, joined by threaded couplings hidden within the thickness of the wood. The result is an assembly whose stiffness underfoot defies expectation, Saniee says. “It feels very solid, much more solid than average stairs.” With the rods working in tension from above and compression below, “it’s very hard for those pieces of wood to move.” The interplay of wood and steel makes abstract reference to a Steinway concert grand, Saniee notes. “It’s taking elements of a piano and playing with them.” A gently curved soffit in the ceiling reinforces the visual rhyme. The jury admired the effect but was equally impressed with the technical acumen required to achieve it. “The rhythm established by the vertical rods sets up a rigorous discipline that works with the intricacies of stair dimensions,” observed one judge. “That’s really hard to do.”

Glencoe Family Home

Cari Giannoulias Design

Photo of an expansive transitional open plan dining in Chicago with purple walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

The Adamick Residence

Adamick Architecture

Double parlor with chandeliers and royal purple walls (IMOTO Photo)
Photo of a small traditional open plan dining in New Orleans with purple walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Curtains & Draperies

Couture Window Fashions

Photo of a large contemporary open plan dining in Other with purple walls and light hardwood floors.

Hill House

2fORM Architecture

Open concept from kitchen into living room
Inspiration for a modern open plan dining in Portland with purple walls and light hardwood floors.

Seasonal Los Altos Hills Sophisticated Chic

Spectrum Interior Design, Inc.

Mid-sized traditional open plan dining in San Francisco with purple walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Sutton Lane

Juliet Murphy Photography

Photo of a mid-sized open plan dining in London with purple walls, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Dining room

Turner Development Group

Invited Katy Perry over for dinner in this penthouse model home
Large contemporary open plan dining in Baltimore with purple walls, bamboo floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and grey floor.

Harwich Port Jewel Box

Shorebird Interiors, LLC

This dining room is an alcove off of the living room but needed to read as a distinct, separate space. We inverted the palette of the living room to achieve this and saturated the walls in a dark eggplant color. We tied the spaced together by treating the ceiling of the dining room in the wall color of the living room.

Hystrix Dining Table by Cattelan Italia

RoomService 360

Hystrix Dining Table offers the comforting symmetry of geometric lines while its smart design and style savvy demeanor are arguably the most prominent elements in the realm of modern dining. Manufactured in Italy by Cattelan Italia, Hystrix Dining Table is dramatic, introducing architecturally significant design intricacies that define its unforgettable impression.

Trump towers duplex

Shades by Design

Motorized window treatments installation. for question contact info@shadesbydesign.com
Photo of a large eclectic open plan dining in Miami with purple walls.

Desert Modern

First Impression Designs

Photo of a small modern open plan dining in Other with purple walls, concrete floors, no fireplace and grey floor.

Pied a terre

Lee Lormand Design

Lee Lormand
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Dallas with purple walls, light hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Eclectic Dining Room with Purple Accent Wall

Orren Pickell Building Group

Eclectic dining room with high-gloss table, blue velvet dining chair, purple accent wall, and arched opening to butler's pantry. Photo by Mike Kaskel.

The Whimbrel at Independence

Schell Brothers

Mid-sized traditional open plan dining in Other with purple walls, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Suffern Estate

Nicole Fuller Interiors

Grand dining room featured 23 person dining table with custom furniture and lighting by Nicole Fuller Interiors. White art deco dining chairs with dramatic custom chandelier inspired by the tree of life. Purple rugs and floor covering. The owners of this upstate New York home are a young and upbeat family who were seeking a country retreat that exuded their modern, eclectic style. The original 28,000 square foot house was over a hundred years old with elegant bones but structural issues that required the structure to be almost completely rebuilt. The goal was to create a series of unique and contemporary interiors that would layer beautifully with the original architecture of the home. Nicole Fuller created room after room of grand, eye-popping spaces that, as a whole, still function as a cozy and intimate family home.

Kahrs Hardwood Flooring

Green Building Supply

Color: Builder Oak Java
Design ideas for a small traditional open plan dining in Chicago with purple walls and dark hardwood floors.

Antoine Proulx Dining Rooms

Antoine Proulx, LLC

AP Products: DR-76A Dresser/Buffet AR-16 Armoire/Media Cabinet Photography by: Christiaan Blok
Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Phoenix with purple walls and concrete floors.

Gala Dining Room

Company C

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open plan dining in Boston with purple walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and brown floor.

Open Plan Dining Design Ideas with Purple 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!