New This Week: For an Uncluttered Dining Room, Try Contemporary Style
These 3 projects new to Houzz show how clean lines and forms help create a visually powerful space
Even if you don’t often use your dining room, you still pass by it several times a day. Having a visually clean, uncluttered look would be ideal in any case, which is why contemporary style, with its attention to line and form, works well for dining rooms. Here, three modern homes show how going with this style can create an airy and inviting space.
Designer secret: “Look around and see if you have any artifacts and art pieces that will enhance the room,” Davis says. “In this case, the owner had a nice collection of African art that was a great counterpoint to the modern industrial furniture.”
Also on the team: Michael Miller of Phase2 Builders (general contractor); Derek Hanson (photographer)
Dining table: custom by Alex Porbe of Incite Design and Lisa Spindler Photography; dining chairs: Robert Josten; chandelier: vintage, from an old Art Deco hotel in New York; bar cart: vintage
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Also on the team: Michael Miller of Phase2 Builders (general contractor); Derek Hanson (photographer)
Dining table: custom by Alex Porbe of Incite Design and Lisa Spindler Photography; dining chairs: Robert Josten; chandelier: vintage, from an old Art Deco hotel in New York; bar cart: vintage
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2. Packed With Storage
Designer: Edward Soos of Studio G+S Architects
Location: San Francisco
Size: 196 square feet (18.2 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request: A custom storage wall that draws inspiration from Finnish architect-designer Alvar Aalto’s wavy Savoy vase
Contemporary cure: MDF cabinets painted in white conversion varnish fit nicely with the modern open plan and post and beam construction of the 1916 warehouse.
Special features: Wavy-front drawers and cabinet doors carved by a CNC router; Finnish glassware; MWE library ladder; LEM Piston bar stools
Designer: Edward Soos of Studio G+S Architects
Location: San Francisco
Size: 196 square feet (18.2 square meters); 14 by 14 feet
Homeowners’ request: A custom storage wall that draws inspiration from Finnish architect-designer Alvar Aalto’s wavy Savoy vase
Contemporary cure: MDF cabinets painted in white conversion varnish fit nicely with the modern open plan and post and beam construction of the 1916 warehouse.
Special features: Wavy-front drawers and cabinet doors carved by a CNC router; Finnish glassware; MWE library ladder; LEM Piston bar stools
Designer secret: “It was nice having the perspective of time on our side,” says designer Edward Soos. “We came back to the space after the initial project was completed and felt the storage unit really should contrast with the original design palette and the existing structure. It all works together well.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “Getting the routed door fronts to come out cleanly and retain strength took some coordination between our office and the fabricator,” Soos says. “We wound up making two test panels before launching into production.”
Also on the team: Dale Duncan Woodworks (cabinets); J Reilly Construction (general contractor)
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“Uh-oh” moment: “Getting the routed door fronts to come out cleanly and retain strength took some coordination between our office and the fabricator,” Soos says. “We wound up making two test panels before launching into production.”
Also on the team: Dale Duncan Woodworks (cabinets); J Reilly Construction (general contractor)
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3. Clean and Clear
Designer: Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs
Location: Los Angeles
Homeowners’ request: A unique, uncluttered and somewhat masculine space that feels timeless and thoughtful for a large ranch-style house with an open floor plan
Contemporary cure: A mix of black and brass finishes in minimalist forms
Special features: Large slab live-edge dining table and classic Wishbone chairs; vintage rug; brass globe light fixture. “[It] balances out the weight of the table with ethereal and sculptural forms,” says designer Natalie Myers of the light fixture.
Designer: Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs
Location: Los Angeles
Homeowners’ request: A unique, uncluttered and somewhat masculine space that feels timeless and thoughtful for a large ranch-style house with an open floor plan
Contemporary cure: A mix of black and brass finishes in minimalist forms
Special features: Large slab live-edge dining table and classic Wishbone chairs; vintage rug; brass globe light fixture. “[It] balances out the weight of the table with ethereal and sculptural forms,” says designer Natalie Myers of the light fixture.
Designer secret: “Creating a second overhead lighting location that allowed for double vision when it came to the chandeliers is an unexpected designer secret that takes the space from ho-hum to truly memorable,” Myers says.
“Uh-oh” moment: “Finding a slab for the live-edge table took months,” Myers says. “I didn’t think it would happen, as we rejected about a dozen or so potential slabs. Finally, my clients saw a floor sample, and that was the slab they fell in love with.”
Table: Croft House; light fixture: Dutton Brown Design; rug: Kaya Kilims
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So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Decorate With Intention: Design Your Ideal Dining Room
“Uh-oh” moment: “Finding a slab for the live-edge table took months,” Myers says. “I didn’t think it would happen, as we rejected about a dozen or so potential slabs. Finally, my clients saw a floor sample, and that was the slab they fell in love with.”
Table: Croft House; light fixture: Dutton Brown Design; rug: Kaya Kilims
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So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Decorate With Intention: Design Your Ideal Dining Room
Designer: Mark Davis of Mark Davis Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 169 square feet (15.7 square meters); 13 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request: Add identity and personality through eclectic modern furnishings and artwork
Contemporary cure: An industrial dining table and chairs, and a vintage chandelier
Special features: Buffet cabinet original to the building. “We absolutely wanted to preserve that piece to help tell the story of the building’s history,” says architect Mark Davis.