Decorating & Design
December 20, 2019
Vote For House & Home’s Best Dining Room Of 2019!
This year’s crop of delectable dining rooms set the stage for any kind of get-together — no starched linen tablecloths required. Cast your vote for the one that makes you want to angle for an invite, and possibly (no, definitely) ask for seconds.
Voting is now closed. Thank you to all who participated!
January: A Scandi-Style Dining Room
The fresh white-painted paneling in this Vancouver dining room has a distinctly Nordic air. A Carrara marble-topped dining table’s traditional turned legs are made of china, for a unique twist on a Scandi look.
February: A Cool & Contemporary Dining Room
A dramatic circular divider keeps the dining room in this artful Toronto home feeling airy. The sculptural table, chairs and artwork carry through the gallery-like vibe of this mod space.
March: A Social, Hip Dining Room
The custom dining room plays a central role at dinner parties in the sophisticated home of these Toronto homeowners — both foodies who entertain often. Vintage Mies van der Rohe cantilever chairs echo the curved shapes of the table and pendants.
April: A “Traditional With A Twist” Dining Room
Silvery blue grasscloth wallpaper and ombré drapery make the dining room in this new-build Toronto home feel cozy. Pilasters and ceiling mouldings establish a traditional character, while the beaded chandelier injects a beachy, St. Tropez vibe.
May: A Light-Filled Coastal Dining Room
Designers Tommy Smythe and Linsday Mens Craig of Sarah Richardson Design divided one large formal dining room in this Connecticut seaside home into a sitting area, using contrasting rugs and light fixtures.
June: A Cocooning Country Dining Room
A stone fireplace enhances the rustic atmosphere in the living and dining area of designer Melody Duron. Hand-hewn beams, a humble bench and a farm table amp up the authentic charm of this country home, located north of Toronto in Mulmur, Ontario.
July: A Sleek Cottage Dining Room
This Muskoka dining area is the hub of this bustling family cottage. The table is topped by Guanacaste wood, hand-finished with a live edge for a naturalistic effect that suits the woodsy setting.
August: A Luxe Lake House Dining Room
Slim, circular pendants don’t block the lush view in this scenic Muskoka lake house. The custom dining table is sized for dinner parties, and there’s no need for decorating to the nines when the floor-to-ceiling windows double as picture frames to the outdoors.
September: A Compact Parisian Dining Room
Jackie Kai Ellis — the founder of Apt La Fayette, an online platform which promotes everyday beauty — nailed the concept to perfection in the dining room of her quaint Paris apartment. She made the base of the table using wood from the hardware store and found a glass top online, but it’s the room’s high ceilings, intricate mouldings and ornate antique plate warmer (left) that really wow.
October: A Historic Palm Beach Dining Room
A sense of streamlined glamour plays out in this Southern Florida dining room, where the ceiling is embellished with ornate plaster rosettes. Contemporary lighting and vintage furniture, including Arflex chairs from the 1960s and a 1970s Paul Evans sideboard, injects a modern spirit.
November: An English-Style Heritage Dining Room
A homespun harvest table suits floral and interior designer Cynthia Zamaria and her husband Graham Loughton’s casual approach to entertaining. In this historic Georgian home in Port Dover, Ontario, diners can savor a view of the fireplace and a tree dressed simply for the holidays.
December: A Clean, Convivial Dining Room
A round table ringed by chairs — upholstered in a light blue crushed velvet — creates a calming effect in the dining room of this Toronto family. “A round dining table is the most social for entertaining,” observed designer Erin Coe. “You can have a conversation without leaning over anyone’s plate.”