Photo of a scandinavian dining room in Other.

We were asked to resolve a problem with the layout of a house in the Whitehall Park Conservation Area in Islington. The house had wonderful high ceilings and well proportioned reception rooms, but the kitchen was very compromised. It was housed in an old side return extension and accessed through a warren of other rooms. It was too small and low, didn’t relate well to the dining room and was cut off from the other rooms in the house, accessed down a small flight of steps. The owners wanted a generous, multifunctional family space where they could enjoy time together. Our solution was to take out the side wall of the rear reception room, reconstruct the side return completely and join the two spaces to create a lateral kitchen dining space. Behind this space the old dining room, with less access to natural light, became a utility room, cloakroom and music room. We flipped the kitchen into the old reception room and lowered the floor to create one seamless room level with the garden. This gave the kitchen a huge ceiling height and meant we could increase the size of the French doors which open out onto the garden, making them very grand and a real focal point of the room. The extension itself has a fully glazed roof to bring the most amount of light into the space, including electrically opening rooflights for ventilation. To avoid the dining room being overlooked by the neighbours upper windows, we designed a series of louvres made of oak to line the underside of the roof. These allow filtered light into the extension whilst maintaining a sense of privacy and enclosure. They are openable to allow the glass to be cleaned and we used them to inform the rest of the interior. The extension contrasts to the more traditional kitchen area with its high ceilings and ornate cornice, using oak panels as a lining around the walls. The opening into the kitchen forms a datum line, above which the oak is clad in battens to create texture and tie into design of the louvres. A bench containing storage runs all the way around the dining room and a large pivot window frames views from the music room into the garden. The window can be fully opened to connect the dining room to the outside. The rear wall of the dining room is finished in natural clay plaster, continuing the warm earthy tones of the oak cladding. Externally we used a traditional yellow stock brick so the extension feels like it belongs to the house, but we used the brick in a sawtooth bond, laying them at 45 degrees to create a triangular pattern which create interesting shadows throughout the day.

Scandi open plan living

Atelier 83

Photo of a scandinavian dining room in London.

安城市　東端町の家

株式会社kotori

SE構法の構造材を現しとした勾配天井の先には薪ストーブを設置。冬季はストーブの炎を眺めながらのんびり過ごします。向かって左側には建物で囲まれた中庭があり、カーテン等を設置する必要がないので室内にいながら庭木に咲く花や新緑、紅葉に雪景色など、常に季節を感じることができます。
Inspiration for a large scandinavian open plan dining in Other with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a wood stove, a tile fireplace surround, wallpaper and wallpaper.

Appartement Guimard

ATELIER FB

Scandinavian dining room in Paris.

КП "Ромашки"

artELLE-design

Large scandinavian separate dining room in Moscow with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and a ribbon fireplace.

Före och efter homstaging No. 8

Stage4u - inredning & homestaging

Design ideas for a scandinavian dining room in Gothenburg.

Muswell Hill House

Jones Associates Architects

Gareth Gardner
Inspiration for a scandinavian dining room in London with white walls and light hardwood floors.

modelroom　「まどろみ」

charanomics.llc

This is an example of a scandinavian dining room in Tokyo.

Calle Diputación

THE ROOM & CO interiorismo

Eric Pamies
Scandinavian dining room in Barcelona with white walls and brown floor.

Umbau_Renovierung Erdgeschoss

Susanne Kissaun - sk Interior Design

Es sollte ein offenes, freundliches Konzept mit klaren Linien aber gemütlichen Aspekten entworfen werden.
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Munich with a wood stove.

ダイニングキッチン_モデルハウス

アイトフース株式会社

Inspiration for a small scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in Other with white walls and no fireplace.

PH 3½-3 Glass Pendant / PH 3½-3 グラスペンダント

ルイスポールセンジャパン株式会社

Design: ポール・ヘニングセン
Inspiration for a scandinavian dining room in Tokyo.

ダイニングキッチン

有限会社　Be-Leaf　

Inspiration for a scandinavian dining room in Other.

Yoakley Road

Bradley Van Der Straeten

Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in London with white walls, slate floors and no fireplace.

14.造作収納いっぱいのグリーンガルバのお家

株式会社フジサワ建設

This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Other with white walls, light hardwood floors, brown floor, wallpaper and wallpaper.

FOTOS ENAMORATS

CLASH BCN Singular Spaces

Inspiration for a scandinavian dining room in Barcelona.

Interior Design - Luxemburg Gardens Townhouse

My-Studio Ltd

A table space to gather people together. The dining table is a Danish design and is extendable, set against a contemporary Nordic forest mural.
Inspiration for an expansive scandinavian kitchen/dining combo in London with concrete floors, grey floor, green walls, no fireplace and wallpaper.

Esszimmer-Ideen

BoConcept Frankfurt

This is an example of a mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in Frankfurt with grey walls and light hardwood floors.

Modern Surf

Sarah & Friends Interiors

Scandinavian dining room in San Francisco.

Scandinavian Brown Dining Room Design Ideas

A Scandinavian 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 Scandinavian 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 Scandinavian 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 Scandinavian 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!