Wood blinds and Allure shades are both appropriate for a dining room but function very differently. The wood blind is more traditional and is designed to tilt open and closed for varying levels of light control and privacy. (You can raise a blind up but it's a pain to do on a daily basis and there will be a portion of the window covered by the stack of slats.) Allure shades look a little more modern. They adjust for light and privacy control but can also be easily pulled all the way up and out of sight to allow in more natural light or open up your room to the view. Your choice should be based on your style and the way you want to use them. Here is a picture of each to make sure we are talking about the same products.