Choosing Dining - Photos & Ideas

Medfield Renovation Project

JL Caccamo Design

Photography by Samara Vise
Example of a classic kitchen design in Boston

Lake House Contemporary

Maya Williams Design

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept gray floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with white walls

Lux on the Lake

Kenman Design Group, LLC

Lux on the Lake, where the kitchen flows effortlessly into everyday life. The quartzite waterfall island anchors the space with seating for four, while sculptural brass pendants draw the eye upward. Beyond, a sunlit breakfast nook framed by black steel windows invites slow mornings and lingering conversations. White oak, natural stone, and soft leather seating come together in a space designed not just for cooking, but for connection.

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Wayzata Cottage Home - New Construction

Grace Hill Design

Spacecrafting
Open concept kitchen - large traditional u-shaped dark wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

Blue, White, Orange Kitchen

Tracey Stephens Design, LLC

Wing Wong/Memories TTL
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized transitional u-shaped slate floor and gray floor eat-in kitchen idea in New York with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, brick backsplash, paneled appliances and a peninsula

black box life

DIGSdesign

gathering room seating with stacked stone textured tile fireplace. dogtrot on the left. panoramic doors on right.
Inspiration for a modern home design remodel in Charlotte

Start with Space and Size

Furniture Row

Before choosing a style, start with the basics. Measuring your dining area and understanding how you use the space ensures your table feels balanced, comfortable, and easy to live with. Consider how many people sit at the table every day, how often you host, and how much room you need to move around comfortably. Following the rule of three feet of clearance on all sides helps create a dining space that feels open, functional, and welcoming—whether you’re hosting a crowd or enjoying everyday meals.

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Millersburg, OH

Schlabach Woodworks21 Reviews

Franklin County's Reclaimed Wood Professionals

Define Your Style with Material

Furniture Row

The material of your dining table sets the tone for the entire room. From the warmth and versatility of wood to the light, modern feel of glass, or the bold elegance of stone and metal, each option brings a distinct look and level of durability. Choosing the right material helps express your personal style while supporting how you use the space. Look to the materials you’re naturally drawn to in your favorite interiors—they’re often the best guide for creating a dining room that feels both intentional and inviting.

Your Huntley, IL Neighbor’s Kitchen Renovation

Advance Design Studio, Ltd.

After six years of living in their Huntley IL home, Chris and Meghan were tired of their dark, dingy, outdated kitchen and it was finally time for a long-anticipated change. “The kitchen is the place where we live, it’s where we do everything,” Meghan said. “It was important that it be a space where we wanted to be.” Meghan loves cooking and enjoys including their girls in healthy meal prepping, this led them to want a brighter, more enjoyable kitchen with increased functionality and improved storage. For Chris especially, the laundry room was an entirely dysfunctional eyesore. “We had a washer and a dryer, but it was all kind-of cobbled together!” Chris said. “There were always laundry piles everywhere, we weren’t really sure what we wanted to do in there, but it was time for us to make a change.” The mess of the space was stressful every time they walked in the door from the garage each day. Kids’ backpacks and shoes piled up haphazardly in the makeshift boot-bench closet left the family feeling disorganized and stressed. They needed space for folding clothes and locker cubbies to help keep the family organized. Having known Christine and Todd in the Huntley community for years, Chris and Meghan were familiar with their work. “We already trusted them personally and having seen their projects for years we knew they did top notch work. After we reviewed the initial round of designs, we knew that hiring them was definitely the right choice,” Meghan and Chris said. Although Chris had done a lot of work in their home himself, the kitchen and laundry room renovation was such a large undertaking that he didn’t want to steal time away from his family to spend what would surely be many long weekends doing the job himself. “That would not have been a wise choice for us,” Chris laughed. “Our designer, Michelle was very, very, easy to work with; anything we wanted to see or weren’t sure about, she went above and beyond to make this easy for us. She was easy to get hold of and always quick to respond,” the couple said. Michelle pulled ideas that mirrored the couple’s taste and style and was adept at directing the couple to limited choices that didn’t overwhelm them and kept the process moving. “I have a hard time making decisions. Michelle made the decision-making process so easy. I loved how she listened to what I liked and then presented three great options for me to choose from,” Meghan said. The main objectives for the kitchen were better storage solutions, they wanted the space to reflect their lifestyle and taste, and they wanted it to last for years with low maintenance. One of the first steps in creating a more functional kitchen was relocating the refrigerator, creating an improved workflow for the busy family. “We didn’t know that we could even move the refrigerator to a new location where it is now, that was something that we never would have thought of,” Chris said. “The new refrigerator location makes the kitchen feel so much bigger. We didn’t add any space, but our whole kitchen with the new design just seems like it’s so much larger than before!” Meghan said. The perimeter mist colored cabinets helped warm and brighten the entire room, while the graphite colored cabinets on the island added contrast. Using this fresh, clean color palette satisfied the couple’s desire for a bright space that was the exact opposite of what they had before. Organization accessories were also added to the cabinets such as a spice drawer tray and roll outs to create hidden convenience. “I absolutely love the hidden spices – it makes cooking so much more enjoyable!” Chris said. “And all the pull outs, and the double trash bin, who would think you could get so excited about organization!” the couple said in unison. One thing they hated in their original kitchen was how dark the space felt. Added lighting on the ceiling with the new light fixtures combined with the lighter cabinetry colors throughout solved this problem. “Our new kitchen has this warm, almost cozy feeling that our old kitchen never had, it’s just a space that I love spending my time in now,” Meghan said. The light airy feeling was accentuated with the use of floating white shelves on either side of the decorative range hood. “We have so much cabinetry space, the new design is amazing we actually have more storage space than we will ever need,” Meghan said. The island was extended to create more work surface and added space for stool seating. “The new island changes how we live. Now the kids can be in the kitchen with us, doing homework, eating breakfast, and the three of us have special dinners there when Chris is working late,” Meghan said. The Carrara Marmi Quartz countertops were chosen because they are, not only beautiful, but are made from hard-working material that doesn’t require maintenance. The white subway tile backsplash that wraps to the ceiling behind the focal point cooktop range/hood compliments the crisp white countertops perfectly, while brushed brass hardware and light fixtures keep the design fresh and new. The couple had a few fears at the beginning of the project, as most homeowners do. Their biggest fear was being out of their kitchen and laundry room for an extended time. The crew made it very easy for the family to work in a limited space keeping the washer and dryer hooked up the majority of the time, and also getting appliances working with minimal downtime. “They above and beyond accommodated us to get us through the process,” Meghan said. “They did a great job making sure we were as comfortable as possible throughout the process,” Chris added. “Our project manager DJ did a great job. He was very good at updating us on schedule changes, getting guys in as quickly as possible. Everyone that stepped in the house was nice and did great work,” said Chris. They thought Advance’s carpenter was phenomenal and were impressed when he took a conceptual idea from a photograph and worked with designer Michelle to create a one of a kind range/hood that has become the topic of conversation with friends and family who visit the new kitchen. “He was in our house literally every day for several weeks. He was easy to work with and good at what he did,” Meghan and Chris said. The focal point of the kitchen; a hand-crafted, custom-built ventilation hood was clad with handpicked reclaimed barnwood. Advance Design’s carpenter built the framework and the cladding to create a one-of-a-kind design element that the couple loves. “I think it was especially fun for him to create something unique from scratch, showcasing his talent in this area,” Meghan said. “I love that my kitchen is not like everyone else’s. I got to pick out the wood on my hood and watch it being built and was able to choose what pieces of wood went where on it. It’s totally unique.” Red Oak flooring was toothed-in throughout the kitchen and the rest of the first floor anywhere changes were made. Then the whole floor was refinished to tone down the orange undertones in the existing floor stain, ultimately changing the color complexion of the entire first floor. The result is a completely new feeling to the entire home. Renovating the laundry room was extremely important to Meghan and Chris, but they had trouble visualizing what the possibilities were for the seemingly small space. Michelle produced beautiful 3D illustrations that helped them envision the space in a whole new way. “I must have told Michelle 100 times that I am a visual person, seeing the designs in 3D made it so easy to make decisions and see what we could really do with our space,” Meghan said. A dividing wall and doorway were removed between the existing laundry room and hallway formerly containing a coat closet, providing space to design specialized graphite colored cabinetry matching the kitchen island to house custom storage cubbies for each family member. Adding the tall utility cabinetry in the new laundry area helped solve the storage issue, tucking away cleaning supplies, household items, and even the cat got its own cubby. “I love how everything is now hidden in its own space. I can’t tell you how much I hated coming home and seeing everything sitting around on counters,” Chris said. Electrical outlets were planned for the inside of utility cabinets, so devices could charge in hidden locations. Stacking the washer and dryer allowed for wider countertop space to provide a folding area and a special space for clothes to hang. “The way I do laundry has been completely transformed! I can actually fold clothes and hang them now right out of the washer and dryer,” Meghan said. “The end result in the kitchen and the laundry/mud room was an updated light and bright space, with a smarter work flow that better meets the needs of this family,” Michelle said. “I would totally recommend Advance Design,” Meghan said. “Sometimes I sit and just look at my kitchen and laundry room and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here!’ It’s an understatement to say we love our new space.”

Breaking Beautiful White Kitchen

House of L

Jason Miller, Pixelate
Eat-in kitchen - large transitional u-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Cleveland with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, paneled appliances and two islands

Farmhouse Transformed

River Valley Landscapes

This project presented unique opportunities that are not often found in residential landscaping. The homeowners were not only restoring their 1840's era farmhouse, a piece of their family’s history, but also enlarging and updating the home for modern living. The landscape designers continued this idea by creating a space that is a modern day interpretation of an 1840s era farm rather then a strict recreation. The resulting design combines elements of farm living from that time, as well as acknowledging the property’s history as a horse farm, with staples of 21st century landscapes such as space for outdoor living, lighting, and newer plant varieties. Guests approach from the main driveway which winds through the property and ends at the main barn. There is secondary gated driveway just for the homeowners. Connected to this main driveway is a narrower gravel lane which leads directly to the residence. The lane passes near fruit trees planted in broken rows to give the illusion that they are the remains of an orchard that once existed on the site. The lane widens at the entrance to the gardens where there is a hitching post built into the fence that surrounds the gardens and a watering trough. The widened section is intended as a place to park a golf cart or, in a nod to the home’s past, tie up horses before entering. The gravel lane passes between two stone pillars and then ends at a square gravel court edged in cobblestones. The gravel court transitions into a wide flagstone walk bordered with yew hedges and lavender leading to the front door. Directly to the right, upon entering the gravel court, is located a gravel and cobblestone edged walk leading to a secondary entrance into the residence. The walk is gated where it connects with the gravel court to close it off so as not to confuse visitors and guests to the main residence and to emphasize the primary entrance. An area for a bench is provided along this walk to encourage stopping to view and enjoy the gardens. On either side of the front door, gravel and cobblestone walks branch off into the garden spaces. The one on the right leads to a flagstone with cobblestone border patio space. Since the home has no designated backyard like most modern suburban homes the outdoor living space had to be placed in what would traditionally be thought of as the front of the house. The patio is separated from the entrance walk by the yew hedge and further enclosed by three Amelanchiers and a variety of plantings including modern cultivars of old fashioned plants such as Itea and Hydrangea. A third entrance, the original front door to the 1840’s era section, connects to the patio from the home’s kitchen, making the space ideal for outdoor dining. The gravel and cobblestone walk branching off to the left of the front door leads to the vegetable and perennial gardens. The idea for the vegetable garden was to recreate the tradition of a kitchen garden which would have been planted close to the residence for easy access. The vegetable garden is surrounded by mixed perennial beds along the inside of the wood picket fence which surrounds the entire garden space. Another area designated for a bench is provided here to encourage stopping and viewing. The home’s original smokehouse, completely restored and used as a garden shed, provides a strong architectural focal point to the vegetable garden. Behind the smokehouse is planted lilacs and other plants to give mass and balance to the corner and help screen the garden from the neighboring subdivision. At the rear corner of the garden a wood arbor was constructed to provide a structure on which to grow grapes or other vines should the homeowners choose to. The landscape and gardens for this restored farmhouse and property are a thoughtfully designed and planned recreation of a historic landscape reinterpreted for modern living. The idea was to give a sense of timelessness when walking through the gardens as if they had been there for years but had possibly been updated and rejuvenated as lifestyles changed. The attention to materials and craftsmanship blend seamlessly with the residence and insure the gardens and landscape remain an integral part of the property. The farm has been in the homeowner’s family for many years and they are thrilled at the results and happy to see respect given to the home’s history and to its meticulous restoration.

Octa Modern Italian Dining Table by Bonaldo

RoomService 360

A Bartoli design, Octa Dining Table is manufactured in Italy by Bonaldo as an “aesthetic altar” abstracted in volume with industrial design influence. A true focal point, Octa Dining Table emphasizes the dimensionality of modern design whilst preserving the unique nature of its surrounding space. With three fixed sizes to choose from, Octa Dining Table features a steel rod frame that’s available in painted matte white or matte anthracite grey, as well as in chrome or black nickel. Octa’s table top is available in matte white or anthracite grey lacquer, walnut veneer, solid walnut, or solid oak in anthracite grey stain. Octa’s table top is also available in acid etched, finger-print-proof black or white glass as well as in white or anthracite grey ceramic.

Aripeka Solid Mahogany Wood Pedestal Round Dining Table

Sierra Living Concepts Inc

Dimension: 48" L X 48" D X 30" H (Seats 4) 60" L X 60" D X 30" H (Seats 6) 72" L X 72" D X 30" H (Seats 8) 78" L X 78" D X 30" H (Seats 10) 84" L X 84" D X 30" H (Seats 12) The rustic-traditional design of our Aripeka Solid Mahogany Wood Pedestal Round Dining Table is one of the most distinct looks you’ll find. The table is available in 5 different sizes: 48", 60", 72", 78" and 84" length to choose from. The stylish design of this Mahogany wood round-top dining table is well-suited and complemented by an excellent heirloom quality courtesy of its solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship. You’ll definitely enjoy its impressive durability, great functionality, and statement-worthy aesthetics! The design starts off with a round table top with extended edges and a thick apron. This is supported by a Jacobean style pedestal that leads down to a 4-legged platform base. The sturdy construction of its design is complemented by every hand-carved detail carried out by skilled artisans. The gorgeous hand-rubbed finish coupled with the authentic Mahogany wood grain completes the whole look. You can appreciate the versatile aesthetics of this solid wood round dining table in any kind of a setting – be it in an enclosed dining room or an open-floor apartment layout. It can be paired with a number of interior design styles like traditional, transitional, contemporary, etc. However, it would look the best when matched with the six upholstered dining chairs and 4-drawer sideboard from our Aripeka Solid Mahogany Wood 8 Piece Dining Room Set. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship • Classical rustic style • Round top frame • Jacobean style central pedestal • 4-legged platform style base • Gorgeous wood grain • Beautiful hand-rubbed stain • Heirloom quality • Visually versatile • Easy maintenance Note: Our furniture is made of solid wood (not wood veneer over plywood). It is handcrafted by Master Artisans. 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.