diningroom

Living walls. Mossy plants and succulents are natural choices to fill a green living wall like the one shown here. For the best results, hire a garden pro who specializes in living walls to design a planter to fit the space and light conditions of your bathroom.

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Atop the shower stall. If your bathroom has a partial wall separating the shower from the rest of the space, consider positioning a vine-like or trailing plant on top, where it can drape down the wall. Try a spider plant or the more unusual-looking Crescent succulent vine, shown here.

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A chandelier in the dining room should hang 30 to 36 inches above the dining table. The width of the chandelier should be at least one half the width of the table.

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Amy Lau Design SaveEmail Instead of rice paper, natural grasscloth in an earthy tan adds texture and warmth. The vertical lines repeat throughout the space in the sliding doors of the floating buffet, accent chair and accessories.

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Coordinating panels top these double cross grid doors. Notice how well they accommodate the high ceiling and add drama to this stunning contemporary dining room. The chairs echo the lines.

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The large pass-through keeps the kitchen from feeling claustrophobic. A secretary desk the homeowners brought with them from their suburban home serves as a discreet workstation and provides more storage in the main living space.

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Use this illustration as a simple guide to assist in selecting furnishings and planning arrangements. Important elements are: Room width Room length Table shape Table size Chair type Chair size Cabinet type (sideboard or hutch) Cabinet size Circulation clearances

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Contemporary. Smaller-scale furnishings in modern designs will suit contemporary tastes well, as illustrated in this room. This layout also supports a sideboard, but its table is a fixed rectangular plank style with bentwood chairs and rush seating that give respectful allusion to traditional fashion. A modern glass chandelier replaces the traditional crystal type shown in the previous photo. A dimension of 36 to 42 inches (91 to 107 centimeters) around the entire table allows for chairs to be occupied with space for others to pass. If your table is 36 in. (91 cm) wide and 72 in. (183 cm) long, this scheme will work in a room that is as little as 11 ft. (3.4 m) wide by 12 ft. (3.6 m) long, considering a 2-ft. (61-cm) depth for the sideboard.

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