Dining Room
From the front entrance and living room, the homeowners can see through the dining room to the backyard via floor-to-ceiling commercial aluminum windows and sliding doors that, once again, were “specified for their slim shadow line,” Dean says.
The dining room windows and table are positioned to take full advantage of the backyard’s wooded landscape. “The homeowners have a wooded view in summer and expansive open views in winter,” Heide says. A door leads to a patio for outdoor dining. The table is walnut; the dishes are Russel Wright from the 1940s. An Alvar Aalto light fixture hangs overhead.
Off the home’s front entry, the open-concept great room combines a kitchen, dining area and living room in one space. The soothing color palette, anchored by serene gray walls, takes its cues from the nearby coast. An aged European oak floor with an all-natural hard-wax oil finish creates a warm, neutral base. Recessed ceiling details help define each area while maintaining the open vibe. “I wanted everything to flow naturally,” designer Valerie Saunders says.
The backdrop to the dining area is a library of books on travel and architecture, along with a series of drawings. The couple take inspiration from many of their travels and studies abroad.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the entire first floor with natural light, which means that the couple rarely turns on lights during the day. The window covers are all connected to a remote system so that they can better control the home’s temperature. Continuous concrete floors unite the rooms.
esigner Clare Gaskin embraced and amplified the wood stairs and white tile floors in this London dining room. The stylish pendant light and similarly hued wood legs of the dining table and chairs mix well with the crisp white walls, chair seats and tabletop. Sometimes two tones is all you need to make a room a standout.
Sea foam sensation. This Maine dining room features a killer view of the Atlantic, and the space pays homage with its walls and cabinetry painted in sea foam green. The glass-topped dining table and clear pendant lights add to the fresh, airy feel of the room.
Rustic radiance. This rustic farmhouse-inspired dining room uses a wealth of materials to create a well-layered look. Wicker Key Largo chairs, repurposed galvanized steel, burlap chandeliers and grasscloth blinds complement one another while adding multiple textures to the space.
Beachy-keen. With its access directly onto a white, sandy beach in Florida, this dining room plays up the casual chic look. Slipcovered chairs and a rustic table encourage guests to come right in from the surf and plop down for a dinner with stunning views.
Doors to the left and right of the fireplace lead to the porch and the den, respectively. The dandelion-shaped chandelier is open enough to see through, providing a clean line of sight from the kitchen to the fireplace and vice versa.
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