Dining Room Ideas

Transitional dining room photo in Orlando

The mid-century modern design trend is a throwback to the design style of primarily the 1950s and 60s when lighting was a source of beauty as well as illumination. The Harrow 1-Light Pendant utilizes a stunning shape, a matte finish and gold accents to bring mid-century modern design into your home. The curved clear glass shade has a mid-century shape while the matte black finish and gold accent socket has a modern touch. Instead of hanging from a chain or wire, the Harrow Pendant is suspended from a hanging bar that is separated into four equal pieces to adjust the height so you can place it where you need it most. Check out the other items in the Harrow collection - with a wall sconce and a semi-flush mount ceiling light you can decorate your whole home with one trendy style.

Mountain style dining room photo in Other

Architecture, Construction Management, Interior Design, Art Curation & Real Estate Advisement by Chango & Co. Construction by MXA Development, Inc. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the home tour feature in Domino Magazine

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

Lori Dennis Interior Design SoCal Contractor Construction Mark Tanner Photography
Example of a large classic medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room design in Los Angeles with blue walls

Kimberly Muto
Example of a mid-sized country ceramic tile and black floor kitchen/dining room combo design in New York with blue walls and no fireplace

Dining room - contemporary dining room idea in New York

ORIJIN STONE exclusive Baltic™ Bluestone natural stone custom veneer on fireplace surround. Photo by Spacecrafting
Trendy light wood floor and brown floor great room photo in Minneapolis with a stone fireplace, white walls and a standard fireplace

Modern Cottage Style Kitchen built with eco materials and finishes. Photo by SoYoung Mack
Dining room - transitional dining room idea in San Francisco

John Christensen
Enclosed dining room - transitional medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Detroit with yellow walls

This blue and white dining room, adjacent to a sitting area, occupies a large enclosed porch. The home was newly constructed to feel like it had stood for centuries. The dining porch, which is fully enclosed was built to look like a once open porch area, complete with clapboard walls to mimic the exterior. The 19th Century English farm table is from Ralf's antiques. The Swedish inspired Louis arm chairs, also 19th Century, are French. The solid brass chandelier is an 18th Century piece, once meant for candles, which was hard wired. Motorized grass shades, sisal rugs and limstone floors keep the space fresh and casual despite the pedigree of the pieces. All fabrics are by Schumacher.

Aged Finish does an excellent job of replicating the sense of family heirloom furniture. On select cabinets and the featured hutch in this kitchen, the finish adds to the already intricate design of the door, as does adding corbels. In an open floor plan like this, the finish also does a good job tying spaces together.

Dining room - transitional dining room idea in Chicago

This project was a complete renovation. It was the first project a newlywed couple did together. In one of the first meetings we all agreed we loved the Osborne and Little striped polka dot fabric (pillow on the chairs and sofa). The room grew from there. A main objective was to enhance the view of Central Park all the way to the Palisades. We kept the walls light and the upholstery monochromatic, except for a dash of off white in the Hugues Chevalier (Ying Armchair). The area rug is large and almost square we had it made by Royce wool carpets. Joanne and Bill Riley custom designed it. The background was kept the blue of the upholstery further grounding the space yet keeping it quiet enough with only red and gold accents (there are actually 9 colors in the rug, but they are the same hues as the 3 main colors) The wood of the dining area adds a solid feel. (Table and chairs by Stanley furniture) Along the long wall is a 20' built-in with a Costa Smerelda granite counter top, as. storage space is at a premium in NYC. There is enough room for a small bar area on the left, dining area storage in the middle and to the far right. Also, in the middle is a 50" TV that comes up out of the granite and audio equipment. Above the built-in are wall to wall mirrors with glass shelves hanging from them. This keeps an open and spacious feel. The accessories keep it welcoming. The wall sconces (also on the mirrors) are by Currey and Co. The large crown molding and the high gloss ceiling add to the subtle drama. The small custom wood cabinet is made of Claro Walnut with ebonized Ash legs and handles by Hubel Handcrafted. It sits between the window and the door keeping you centered in the space. All in all an easy space to enjoy!

Inspiration for a transitional dark wood floor and brown floor enclosed dining room remodel in New York with gray walls

Example of a small country great room design in Los Angeles with blue walls and no fireplace

Dining room - transitional dining room idea in Other

Dimension: 95" L X 22" D X 38" H Showcasing simplicity, the Scranton Ocean Blue Two Tone Solid Wood 4 Drawer Extra Long 95" Sideboard Cabinet is a functional and sturdy piece of furniture for your dining area. The dining room large buffet is handcrafted with two kinds of woods – Teak and solid wood, giving it adequate sturdiness to be witnessed by generations. The blue sideboard is bold and handsome to elevate traditional and transitional room decor. You can even use it as a practical yet accent item in your modern space for a distinct flair. It features four frieze drawers and two large cabinets with eight shelves to stow away dining essentials such as cutlery, dinnerware, linens, and serveware. The top is made of solid Teak wood while the rest of the body is constructed out of solid wood, finished in distressed blue. The specks and spots on the wood give it time-worn look, which gets further enhanced with the antique looking hand-wrought metal hardware. This dining room large blue sideboard cabinet is handcrafted from 100% solid Teak wood and solid wood, in the distressed blue finish. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Two large cabinets • Four spacious drawers • Classic metal hardware • Two Tone wood Extra long blue 95" sideboard Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.