I love a dining room along with all the formality, bells and whistles that come with it. However, I can also appreciate that it's not always possible or practical to have a dedicated room that you usually pass on the way to somewhere else namely, the kitchen counter.
So, if we prefer to eat in the kitchen or in a nook off it, how to add some of the oomph, but without the formality of a dining room? If you're looking for inspiration to step-up your dining situation, here’s are some of my favorite contemporary and traditional layouts that can take you from everyday dining to hosting a gathering.
An eyecatching chandelier or pendant fixture is the statement piece to bring drama and glamour to your dining experience...Design Doreen Chambers Interiors
The kitchen island has been with us for quite awhile, however there's something to be said for opting for a dining table instead, which to me invites more of a sense of occasion than pulling up to the counter...Photography Tony Vu
Photography Leslee Mitchell
A chic alternative to the rectangular table and chair set-up is a banquette with an oval table and it's easy to add extra seating...photography Manuel Rodriguez
This bench and chair combo is invitingly cozy and not overly fussy...photography Tara Donne
Design Celerie kemble
If a chandelier’s not an option, take advantage of the wall to display a collection of ceramics perhaps, or a bold artwork
This is one of my favorite dining rooms because its pops of orange leather dining chairs and stenciled floor make it so dynamic...there’s all manner of design inspo here...photography One Kings Lane
If you have space for a dining room but it's long and narrow opt for a trestle table which takes up less space than a regular dining table - scale down the florals and excessive accessories to avoid a cluttered look...photography Tony Vu
Traditional brown dining chairs take on a new lease on life after being painted classic black that pop against the lacquered white dining table...Photography Ngoc Minh Ngo
Mix your periods - here's an eclectic mix of Vintage iron chairs and bench, Swedish farmhouse table and an English corner cabinet...Photography Pieter Estersohn
This dining room does double duty as a library giving incentive to use it more than just occasionally...Design Mica Ertegun for Mac ll