Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Macpherson St BRONTE

Denby Dowling Interiors

Photo of a midcentury dining room in Sydney.

New build

Arch Design Space

Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in Other.

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OUR 1st METRO SHACK! ~ 04 McGunnigle Shack ~

mishack.

Design ideas for a midcentury dining room in Perth.

Terrell Hills Mid Century Modern Project

Haven Design and Construction

One functional challenge was that the home did not have a pantry. MCM closets were historically smaller than the walk-in closets and pantries of today. So, we printed out the home’s floorplan and began sketching ideas. The breakfast area was quite large, and it backed up to the primary bath on one side and it also adjoined the main hallway. We decided to reconfigure the large breakfast area by making part of it into a new walk-in pantry. This gave us the extra space we needed to create a new main hallway, enough space for a spacious walk-in pantry, and finally, we had enough space remaining in the breakfast area to add a cozy built-in walnut dining bench. Above the new dining bench, we designed and incorporated a geometric walnut accent wall to add warmth and texture.

Axiom Desert House

Resource Furniture

Resource Furniture worked with Turkel Design to furnish Axiom Desert House, a custom-designed, luxury prefab home nestled in sunny Palm Springs. Resource Furniture provided the Square Line Sofa with pull-out end tables; the Raia walnut dining table and Orca dining chairs; the Flex Outdoor modular sofa on the lanai; as well as the Tango Sectional, Swing, and Kali Duo wall beds. These transforming, multi-purpose and small-footprint furniture pieces allow the 1,200-square-foot home to feel and function like one twice the size, without compromising comfort or high-end style. Axiom Desert House made its debut in February 2019 as a Modernism Week Featured Home and gained national attention for its groundbreaking innovations in high-end prefab construction and flexible, sustainable design.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

Kelly Martin Interiors

This remodel was located in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. The dining room features authentic mid century modern furniture and a colorful Louis Poulsen pendant.

Notting Hill

GRANT WHITE DESIGN LTD

Inspiration for a small midcentury open plan dining in London with medium hardwood floors, brown floor and beige walls.

Project Modern Midcentury

Jackie James LLC

Live Edge Wood and Brass Table, Midcentury gray chairs, Sputnik Chandelier and a Pink Kilim Rug.
Photo of a small midcentury open plan dining in Dallas with white walls, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mid-century Modern Dining Room

Saccaro USA

Dining room features a variety of Saccaro Signature collections. The DIVA round dining table with BRASILEIRINHA dining chairs. The FIFTY buffet and PARIS floor lamp. Also, our natural cowhide rug. Barry Grossman | www.grossmanphoto.com

Open Plan Living/Dining

De Mattei Construction

Photographer: Tyler Chartier
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, dark hardwood floors and a tile fireplace surround.

Mid Century Portland

Risa Boyer Architecture

Lincoln Barbour
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury open plan dining in Portland with concrete floors and multi-coloured floor.

Botanic House, Chiswick, London

Yoko Kloeden Design

Large midcentury dining room in London with white walls and medium hardwood floors.

Flowing Courtyard Eichler

Klopf Architecture

Located in Palo Alto's flood zone, this Eichler home underwent a phased renovation thoughtfully redesigned to accommodate a growing family of five, with an emphasis on school proximity and nearby grandparents. The bedroom wing was completely reconfigured, including a new front addition as a guest suite for grandparents, expanding the house to five bedrooms and three baths. Taller 9-foot ceilings were introduced in some areas, enhancing the overall openness—a lofty goal for an Eichler. The tranquil courtyard, a favorite spot for the family, was redesigned to allow parents to watch the kids while cooking. The backyard became a relaxing lounging area connected to the living room. Once dark living spaces were modernized by removing a low-hanging beam in the kitchen, adding skylights for natural light, and eliminating the fireplace to create a more functional entertainment space. Finally, new landscaping reflecting the client's heritage and some of the home's architectural elements, creates a harmonious indoor-outdoor flow. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA and Angela Alexander Interior Architecture: Klopf Architecture Bathroom Materials and Light Fixture Selection: Lucile Glessner Landscape Architect: Thuilot and Associates Photography: ©2024 Mariko Reed Year Completed: 2024 Location: Palo Alto, CA

Iconic Collectors

10.Studio

This is an example of a midcentury dining room in Miami.

Mid Century Modern Cozy

Natalia Avalos Interiors LLC

Design ideas for a midcentury dining room in San Francisco.

Mid-Century Reinvention

cutlerschulze

This captivating mid-century modern dining nook is located within a meticulously restored Gregory Ain home. It seamlessly integrates the dining area into the open floor plan, featuring a built-in banquette with plush cushions for comfortable seating. The round Saarinen tulip table and iconic chairs create a classic mid-century aesthetic, while the warm wood tones of the cabinetry and paneling add to the inviting ambiance. Natural light floods the space through expansive windows and clerestory windows, highlighting the vibrant geometric artwork and enhancing the overall airy and spacious feel of this iconic architectural style.

Buckleigh Way

The Gentleman Architect Ltd

Inspiration for a midcentury dining room in London.

Terrell Hills Mid Century Modern Project

Haven Design and Construction

The clients' reproduction Frank Lloyd Wright Floor Lamp and MCM furnishings complete this seating area in the dining room nook. This area used to be an exterior porch, but was enclosed to make the current dining room larger. In the dining room, we added a walnut bar with an antique gold toekick and antique gold hardware, along with an enclosed tall walnut cabinet for storage. The tall dining room cabinet also conceals a vertical steel structural beam, while providing valuable storage space. The walnut bar and dining cabinets breathe new life into the space and echo the tones of the wood walls and cabinets in the adjoining kitchen and living room. Finally, our design team finished the space with MCM furniture, art and accessories.

Midcentury Dining Room Design Ideas

A midcentury dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your midcentury dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your midcentury dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for midcentury dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!

MV home

IN 26 STUDIO

Design ideas for a midcentury dining room in Rome.