One of the biggest differences between formal and functional dining rooms is where the room is located within your home. Formal dining rooms tend to be a completely separate room, often with pocket doors, French doors or ornate double doors, to further sequester them from the rest of the house. Casual dining rooms often share space with the kitchen or living room and are wide open. Even separate casual dining rooms tend to have open doorways, instead of closable doors. The purpose of a formal dining room is for elegant dinners, classy social gatherings and meals almost ceremonial in nature with proper etiquette and fine embellishments. A functional dining room isn't even always used for eating situations. They often serve dual purposes that make them even more utilitarian, such as a homework area for the kids or gaming table for family night.

This garden was designed to provide large terrace spaces that do not impose on the natural woodland setting. Natural flagstone is dry set in an irregular pattern with planted joints to help soften the overall appearance. The flagstone terraces weave around the trees, creating separate outdoor rooms for entertaining, dining, or lounging on a hammock. Boulders placed throughout the garden, provide terracing between patios and create sculptural supports for the grill. As part of the boulder terracing, a fire pit is located where it can be enjoyed from both levels of the terrace. The plantings are carefully selected to provide a full range of interest that is both shade and deer tolerant. A later phase of this installation includes a swimming pool that ties in with the overall woodland theme.

Builder: Stevens Associates Builders Interior Designer: Pleats Interior Design Photographer: Bill Hebert A home this stately could be found nestled comfortably in the English countryside. The “Simonton” boasts a stone façade, towering rooflines, and graceful arches. Sprawling across the property, the home features a separate wing for the main level master suite. The interior focal point is the dramatic dining room, which faces the front of the house and opens out onto the front porch. The study, large family room and back patio offer additional gathering places, along with the kitchen’s island and table seating. Three bedroom suites fill the upper level, each with a private bathroom. Two loft areas open to the floor below, giving the home a grand, spacious atmosphere.

Steve Pomerleau
Example of a trendy pool design in Detroit

One of the biggest differences between formal and functional dining rooms is where the room is located within your home. Formal dining rooms tend to be a completely separate room, often with pocket doors, French doors or ornate double doors, to further sequester them from the rest of the house. Casual dining rooms often share space with the kitchen or living room and are wide open. Even separate casual dining rooms tend to have open doorways, instead of closable doors. The purpose of a formal dining room is for elegant dinners, classy social gatherings and meals almost ceremonial in nature with proper etiquette and fine embellishments. A functional dining room isn't even always used for eating situations. They often serve dual purposes that make them even more utilitarian, such as a homework area for the kids or gaming table for family night.

This garden was designed to provide large terrace spaces that do not impose on the natural woodland setting. Natural flagstone is dry set in an irregular pattern with planted joints to help soften the overall appearance. The flagstone terraces weave around the trees, creating separate outdoor rooms for entertaining, dining, or lounging on a hammock. Boulders placed throughout the garden, provide terracing between patios and create sculptural supports for the grill. As part of the boulder terracing, a fire pit is located where it can be enjoyed from both levels of the terrace. The plantings are carefully selected to provide a full range of interest that is both shade and deer tolerant. A later phase of this installation includes a swimming pool that ties in with the overall woodland theme.

Alloy Homes Incorporated noted that this 3-storey home is part of a three-unit freehold townhouse development on a very tight triangular site in a dense, urban neighbourhood. They explained that this project was used to create a new gateway into the neighbourhood, and to act as a buffer between existing homes and nearby incompatible uses and added that the, “front façade defines a new, welcoming residential street edge.” The build features large, full height windows on the front façade offer leafy views down Gladstone Road. The ground level contains a separate live/work space off the front foyer and an attached garage facing the alley. The third floor contains three bedrooms that take advantage of unexpected valley, skyline and mountain views. The interior detailing is bright, modern and efficient. Skylights and large windows wash the home with natural light. Open riser stairs and full-height glass interior walls contribute to a sense of openness and make the living spaces feel large despite the tight urban context.

One of the biggest differences between formal and functional dining rooms is where the room is located within your home. Formal dining rooms tend to be a completely separate room, often with pocket doors, French doors or ornate double doors, to further sequester them from the rest of the house. Casual dining rooms often share space with the kitchen or living room and are wide open. Even separate casual dining rooms tend to have open doorways, instead of closable doors. The purpose of a formal dining room is for elegant dinners, classy social gatherings and meals almost ceremonial in nature with proper etiquette and fine embellishments. A functional dining room isn't even always used for eating situations. They often serve dual purposes that make them even more utilitarian, such as a homework area for the kids or gaming table for family night.

Paint by Sherwin Williams Body Color - Wool Skein - SW 6148 Flex Suite Color - Universal Khaki - SW 6150 Downstairs Guest Suite Color - Silvermist - SW 7621 Downstairs Media Room Color - Quiver Tan - SW 6151 Exposed Beams & Banister Stain - Northwood Cabinets - Custom Truffle Stain Gas Fireplace by Heat & Glo Flooring & Tile by Macadam Floor & Design Hardwood by Shaw Floors Hardwood Product Kingston Oak in Tapestry Carpet Products by Dream Weaver Carpet Main Level Carpet Cosmopolitan in Iron Frost Beverage Station Backsplash by Glazzio Tiles Tile Product - Versailles Series in Dusty Trail Arabesque Mosaic Beverage Centers by U-Line Corporation Refrigeration Products - U-Line Corporation Slab Countertops by Wall to Wall Stone Corp Main Level Granite Product Colonial Cream Downstairs Quartz Product True North Silver Shimmer Windows by Milgard Windows & Doors Window Product Style Line® Series Window Supplier Troyco - Window & Door Window Treatments by Budget Blinds Lighting by Destination Lighting Interior Design by Creative Interiors & Design Custom Cabinetry & Storage by Northwood Cabinets Customized & Built by Cascade West Development Photography by ExposioHDR Portland Original Plans by Alan Mascord Design Associates

This garden was designed to provide large terrace spaces that do not impose on the natural woodland setting. Natural flagstone is dry set in an irregular pattern with planted joints to help soften the overall appearance. The flagstone terraces weave around the trees, creating separate outdoor rooms for entertaining, dining, or lounging on a hammock. Boulders placed throughout the garden, provide terracing between patios and create sculptural supports for the grill. As part of the boulder terracing, a fire pit is located where it can be enjoyed from both levels of the terrace. The plantings are carefully selected to provide a full range of interest that is both shade and deer tolerant. A later phase of this installation includes a swimming pool that ties in with the overall woodland theme.

Alloy Homes Incorporated noted that this 3-storey home is part of a three-unit freehold townhouse development on a very tight triangular site in a dense, urban neighbourhood. They explained that this project was used to create a new gateway into the neighbourhood, and to act as a buffer between existing homes and nearby incompatible uses and added that the, “front façade defines a new, welcoming residential street edge.” The build features large, full height windows on the front façade offer leafy views down Gladstone Road. The ground level contains a separate live/work space off the front foyer and an attached garage facing the alley. The third floor contains three bedrooms that take advantage of unexpected valley, skyline and mountain views. Interior detailing is bright, modern and efficient. Skylights and large windows wash the home with natural light. Open riser stairs and full-height glass interior walls contribute to a sense of openness and make the living spaces feel large despite the tight urban context.

Eric Rorer
Example of a transitional living room design in San Francisco

Alloy Homes Incorporated noted that this 3-storey home is part of a three-unit freehold townhouse development on a very tight triangular site in a dense, urban neighbourhood. They explained that this project was used to create a new gateway into the neighbourhood, and to act as a buffer between existing homes and nearby incompatible uses and added that the, “front façade defines a new, welcoming residential street edge.” The build features large, full height windows on the front façade offer leafy views down Gladstone Road. The ground level contains a separate live/work space off the front foyer and an attached garage facing the alley. The third floor contains three bedrooms that take advantage of unexpected valley, skyline and mountain views. Interior detailing is bright, modern and efficient. Skylights and large windows wash the home with natural light. Open riser stairs and full-height glass interior walls contribute to a sense of openness and make the living spaces feel large despite the tight urban context.

2012: This Arts and Crafts style house draws from the most influential English architects of the early 20th century. Designed to be enjoyed by multiple families as a second home, this 4,900-sq-ft home contains three identical master suites, three bedrooms and six bathrooms. The bold stucco massing and steep roof pitches make a commanding presence, while flared roof lines and various detailed openings articulate the form. Inside, neutral colored walls accentuate richly stained woodwork. The timber trusses and the intersecting peak and arch ceiling open the living room to form a dynamic gathering space. Stained glass connects the kitchen and dining room. The open floor plan allows abundant light and views to the exterior, and also provides a sense of connection and functionality. A pair of matching staircases separates the two upper master suites, trimmed with custom balusters. Architect :Wayne Windham Architect - http://waynewindhamarchitect.com/ Builder: Buffington Homes - http://buffingtonhomes.com/ Interior Designer : Kathryn McGowan Land Planner: Sunnyside Designs

This beautiful kitchen had so many amenities to showcase! The great scaled pendant lights, the large island, the open dining adjacent to the kitchen for overflow entertaining, high glass in the custom cabinets with the height of the ceiling...the inviting high arch that separated the spaces! We chose to do wood beams in the family room to tie in the color of the cabinets and show off the large scale of the home. We loved this kitchen/family room space!!

The angled ceiling is accented by the dramatic tall cabinets with window-pane topped doors. The shiny steel chimney style hood creates a focal point accented by the stunning marble and onyx back-splash installed horizontally on the walls. The smooth cook-top is so sleek it blends seamlessly into the honed granite counter top. Designed by Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC This project was featured in the Palace Theatre's Kitchen Tour and was part of a talented collaborative effort including but not limited to the teams at L. Newman Associates/Paul Mansback Inc., RE Marble and Granite, Capital Kitchens and Delicious Kitchens & Interiors, LLC.

This garden was designed to provide large terrace spaces that do not impose on the natural woodland setting. Natural flagstone is dry set in an irregular pattern with planted joints to help soften the overall appearance. The flagstone terraces weave around the trees, creating separate outdoor rooms for entertaining, dining, or lounging on a hammock. Boulders placed throughout the garden, provide terracing between patios and create sculptural supports for the grill. As part of the boulder terracing, a fire pit is located where it can be enjoyed from both levels of the terrace. The plantings are carefully selected to provide a full range of interest that is both shade and deer tolerant. A later phase of this installation includes a swimming pool that ties in with the overall woodland theme.

This new construction home was designed with a brick & stonework exterior and six vehicle parking. We built the kitchen with an exposed beam ceiling, an abundance of countertop and cabinets space and it comes equipped with stainless steel appliances. The living space has hardwood flooring throughout. The family room features built-in bookshelves surrounding the fireplace. The master bath was designed with a standalone tub and separate walk-in shower along with his and her vanities. The outdoor living space features an outdoor kitchen and outdoor fireplace under a covered coffered ceiling and features a stone-flooring patio.

Builder: Stevens Associates Builders Interior Designer: Pleats Interior Design Photographer: Bill Hebert A home this stately could be found nestled comfortably in the English countryside. The “Simonton” boasts a stone façade, towering rooflines, and graceful arches. Sprawling across the property, the home features a separate wing for the main level master suite. The interior focal point is the dramatic dining room, which faces the front of the house and opens out onto the front porch. The study, large family room and back patio offer additional gathering places, along with the kitchen’s island and table seating. Three bedroom suites fill the upper level, each with a private bathroom. Two loft areas open to the floor below, giving the home a grand, spacious atmosphere.