19 Designer-Approved Dining Rooms Worthy Of A Fancy Meal

DISHY DINING

The double-domed chandelier evokes a quiet sense of drama over the dining table. “It has a micro-cement look and a wabi-sabi vibe,” says designer Iman Lalji of the organic fixture, which contrasts the glam vignette below it. The table base and chairs sport gold details, while “white shears bring softness,” notes the designer.

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Fun & Playful

“I wanted something super dramatic for the dining room,” says Louis. “This high-contrast, colour-blocked mural has all the tones we used throughout the home.” Designer Vy Tran suggested the vertical stacked tiles at the base for a nice balancing effect. Moss green chairs echo the emerald ones in the living room and are contrasted with rattan styles for interest. Louis says the pendant light gives the room a playful “wink” and admits he made an exception for the art. “It’s small and I’m usually a stickler about scale, but I broke my own rule because this felt unexpected, and I love the hit of the hot pink.”

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Views on Views

The dining room chandelier features big brass droplets, making it look almost like a mobile. Both the chandelier and the curtains were hung quite high, to emphasize the height of the ceiling and to ensure that nothing interferes with the view. More views are on offer inside. Whether in the dining room looking to the kitchen or vice versa, there is a sense of continuity and flow.

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Dynamic dining room

Disparate treasures acquired over time form a harmonious whole in Style at Home editor-in-chief Erin McLaughlin’s dramatic, dynamic dining room.

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Jewel tones

A Parsons-style table, contemporary artwork and a mod chandelier lend the dining room’s more traditional elements a fresh feel. 

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Contemporary meets classic

“I was hesitant to choose upholstered dining chairs,” says one of the homeowners, who found great caned bentwood alternatives. She did indulge her love of marble here: “We weren’t brave enough to do marble kitchen counters, but this tabletop felt less risky.” 

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Lakeside living

A contemporary pendant light illuminates an antique dining table, which Cory imported from Belgium. “Mixing natural tones, textures and various eras pulls the dining area together,” he says. “The chairs are slip-covered in machine-washable Belgian linen, so they’re easy  to keep clean.”

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Small but mighty

“This corner dining space is tucked beneath a sloped ceiling, so it feels really intimate,” says designer Amanda Richardson. In addition to contemporary chairs, it has a banquette. “You can play cards or sit around the dining table talking for hours.” Rough-hewn edges on the table give the space an approachable look. So does the naturalistic chandelier.

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Mid-century loft

Wishbone chairs, which the owners purch­ased in an online auction, are set around a new table and lend the dining area a mid­century air. 

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Old meets new

“This dining room is a perfect demonstration of the tension I was looking for,” says designer Louis Duncan-He, who paired the couple’s original antique dining table with midcentury-inspired chairs for a fresh feel. “I found this beautiful mural with a dreamy sort of landscape and juxtaposed it with a very sculptural, modern light fixture. Throw in the combination of the exposed brick and coffered ceiling, and it all plays together so beautifully."

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Pattern Play

The dining room is a hymn to texture and pattern, with embroidered grasscloth wallpaper, dupioni silk drapes with beaded trim, and an inventive mix of dining chairs. Designer Gillian Gillies says, “The end chairs are green mohair, which continues the greens from the adjoining spaces, while the side chairs are ivory bouclé to complement the curtains and wallpaper.” The pendant has a lighthearted feel.

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Perfect mix of library and living space

Reminding Robyn (pictured right) of gardens in Provence, the table base, an oversized urn, was the jumping-off point for the dining room’s palette. 

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Soft and subtle

The dining alcove is the home’s precious gem. To emphasize its circular shape, designer Lauren Woods commissioned a custom round table of white oak, which she set on a bleached jute rug. “Then we added that larger-than-life chandelier. It has over 40 bulbs!” says Lauren. The drapes and wallpaper are both linen. 

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Stylish Contrast

“Keely really wanted to have a black wall in the living room and dining area, and I was all for it,” says designer Cara Hansen, who chose the same black that’s on the kitchen island for subtle continuity. She also painted all the trim and the fireplace mantel to make a strong monochromatic statement. The sideboard, dining table and chairs nicely offset the dramatic wall and are from the owners’ previous home. Keely says: “The table sits up to eight comfortably and lets us all engage together. The best part is the Lazy Susan in the middle! It makes for fun fondue nights.”

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It's all about balance

The dining room’s understated palette of greens and off-whites feels complex thanks to layers of colour and texture in the fabrics and accessories. “Everything works because the room has that balance of sophistication and simplicity, and then a few organic and playful details,” designer Jessica Cinnamon says. Moody artworks – one heavy with cloud, the other sparkly, like light refracted by raindrops – breathe intrigue into the quiet space.

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Table talk

“The client entertains a lot, so she wanted enough space for large groups to be seated,” says designer Alison Connor. The dining set was created by a local furniture builder. “We wanted to keep the space feeling wide open and airy, so we opted for a floating credenza in white oak,” she says. Nano doors at the end of the table make for easy pre-dinner gatherings in the backyard.

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It's all in the details

“We wanted to add charm into the dining room, so we created a very special sideboard with scalloped ornamentation,” says designer Elyssa Maldoff, who added character to the space with arched doorways and painted panelling. Lovely as it is, the room is virtually indestructible. The chair seats are covered in performance fabric and the table is purposefully stained a dark tone to keep it kid friendly. In the servery, a sink and stocked bar make entertaining a breeze. The stone countertop is a remnant from the bigger slab in the kitchen.

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Wallpaper works wonders

In the dining room, a staccato-patterned wallpaper print contrasts with designer Cynthia Soda’s clever take on wainscotting. “I wanted a modern take on beadboard, so we applied vertical slats to the drywall, spaced at wider-than-traditional intervals,” she says. The black oak table and blue velvety chairs pair neatly with the clients’ longtime console, which Cynthia customized by removing the existing top cabinet.

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Brand-new direction

One of this home’s biggest challenges was the dining room. “It was quite dark and shaped like a box,” says designer Michaela Burns, so she decided to take the look sassy and sculptural, giving overscaled bouclé seating centre stage beneath a brassy chandelier. A glossy sideboard faced in faux onyx provides display and serving space. A metal cabinet visually links to the one in the great room, while a statement fireplace turns up the heat.

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