Dining Styles

Informal dining room, the skirted table can be used for a buffet style
dinner as well!!



Living/Dining open concept, great style for apartments or media rooms.


This french country  dining room takes a cue from an old French farmhouse, with a beautiful French Directoire chandelier as the focal point.


This Greenwich, CT, dining room designed by Markham Roberts makes a strong case for symmetry: The table and Gustavian chandelier are centered directly on the fireplace, and a pair of English Regency-style cabinets with Japanese lacquered panels flank it.



Designed by Betsy Burnham, this modern dining room features an eccentric yet artful collection of Nymphenburg porcelain figures. The upholstered chairs are from Artistic Frame.



This dining room, designed by Paolo Moschino, feels European, with walls painted in a custom white botanical chinoiserie pattern and the ceiling dominated by a 19th-century French bronze and crystal chandelier.



Designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, this dining room features Louis XIII-style chairs, which add sumptuousness to the dining room. He chose the stained bamboo table by Dominic Gasparoly for its strong, quiet form. The Calder-inspired mobile is from Mondo Cane.

Dining Room Styles

Bold Yet Balanced

Erinn's Tip: "When designing this room, I started with the drapery fabric, which has a repeating pattern of little white monkeys — it's very whimsical and fun. Once the drapes were pleated, the pattern became more subtle, which is nice. I contrasted the small pattern in the drapes with the large geometric rug. Finally, I selected a bold citrus fabric for the vintage Italian chairs. The three patterns are very different but work together beautifully because the scale is varied." Design by Erinn Valencich.

Spicy Spanish Style

Designer Erinn Valencich gave this room a modern twist with a fabric shade in a large-scale print and ethnic-inspired rug. Errin's Tip: "Paired with solid walls and furniture, the patterned shade and rug really pop. With a rug this bold, you wouldn't want to use patterned chairs. The shade and rug work well together because they share similar colors but don't touch."

Fresh Hues

If you crave color, take a cue from designer Shelly Riehl David. The saturated yellows and greens in this dining room create a refreshing palette while contrasting splashes of red and pink add to the pop. Erinn's Tip: "Have fun! Mixing patterns is a great way to really spice up a dining room." Personally, this is tooooo bold for my taste and the blue lamp doesn't work in this palette in my opinion. However, it does make a bold statement if you like funky!

Coppery Glow

By using a copper tone throughout, designer Erinn Valencich was able to fill this space with small and large patterns that work together to create a polished whole. Errin's Tip: The upholstered side chairs have a soft, circular pattern while the head chairs received a bolder circular pattern that demands attention. The rug has a soft, faded-over-time look that allows it to pair well with the various fabrics in the room.

Dining Room Styles

Energizing Palette


Designer Troy Beasley adds vibrant pops of red, orange and blue to this streamlined, contemporary dining room. Neutral gray walls allow the colorful accents to shine. LOVE the color pop!!! Works well with any neutral basics.

Tonal Stripes


Designer Genevieve Gorder creates a bright backdrop with a creamy tone-on-tone paint treatment. A modern, oversized drum pendant and traditional table and chairs painted charcoal gray give this dining room a modern twist.

Warm and Family Friendly


Designer Angelo Surmelis creates a warm and inviting space for entertaining with a soft yellow paint color on both the walls and ceiling. Enlarged black-and-white family photos add graphic punch while a dark-stained table and upholstered chairs create an elegant and comfortable place to linger over a home-cooked meal.

Designer Troy Beasley opts for a pair of oversized, modern pendants to illuminate this lofty dining room filled with soft grays, warm tans and a fresh pop of pear green.

A Taste for the Exotic


Designer Angelo Surmelis brings Indian flair to this space with the addition of intricately carved and painted wood panels. He adds interest to the tabletop by layering plates, napkins and chargers in varying colors and patterns.

I love the idea of mixing patterns in the dinnerware.