Cottages
July 26, 2022
30+ Cottage Dining Rooms That Will Make You Want To Pull Up A Chair
Breaking bread with family and friends at the dinner table is a big part of cottage living. A convivial dining area where you can rehash the day’s epic water ski wipeout while sinking your teeth into corn on the cob doesn’t require white tablecloths — just a table big enough to include everyone, including weekend guests. From rustic farmhouse tables to glamorous château dining rooms, these cottage dining areas will make you want to pull up a chair.
Keep scrolling for a look inside 30+ cottage dining rooms!
The owners of this modern farmhouse understood the importance of comfortable dining when they selected ten leather armchairs to pair with a wood trestle table in their dining room. “My husband likes new things, and I like old things,” says Colomba of the mix in styles throughout her country home.
Communal dining is at the heart of cottage living for this family, who placed their dining table in the centre of their ultramodern Whistler retreat. Designer Denise Ashmore sourced local materials and products that speak to the mountain setting.
“There’s a certain energy created by that mix of classic and contemporary,” says designer Scott Yetman of his renovated Eastern Townships château. A modern oval dining table and sleek upholstered chairs are juxtaposed by the 50-year-old home’s original vaulted ceilings.
In this renovated Quebec cottage designed by Les Ensembliers, the design duo embraced the home’s 1960s charm by choosing mid-century style furniture in the dining room. With a view of Lake Memphremagog on one side and a granite stone fireplace on the other, every seat feels like the best in the house.
This breezy Muskoka cottage designed and owned by Cory DeFrancisco, principal designer of Muskoka Living, is exactly where we’d want to enjoy our cottage meals. Who needs to transition to the sofa when you have Belgian linen–upholstered bucket chairs, perfect for those summer dinners that last into the evening.
For a more modern approach to cottage dining, this Scandi-style space features multi-colored chairs in pastel hues, modern art by Graham Gillmore and a pair of asymmetrical pendants. The open-concept layout keeps thing comfortable and casual.
““It was the modern country furniture made by skilled American craftsmen in the Hudson Valley that inspired me,” says Lynda Reeves of her lakehouse dining room. “I had a design vision for this lakehouse. It would be a house layered with both antiques and new seating, artisan-made wood pieces, mid-century modern elements, vintage rugs and a palette that sang against a backdrop of Douglas fir panelling, with its rich amber wood tones.”
This cottage dining room in Muskoka masters the modern farmhouse look with its Windsor-style chairs and trestle dining table. Black-framed windows and doors give every guest a ‘dinner with a view’ experience.
In order to achieve a rustic, vintage look in this new build chalet in Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., designers Mélanie Cherrier and Laurence Pons Lavigne sourced a table and chairs from RH and Pottery Barn that looked the part. “We love that everything looks old and, because each chair is different, it gives the impression that they’re retro finds that have been picked up here and there,” says Mélanie.
Choosing a durable table that seats lots of guests is integral to cottage entertaining. For this grand dining room in Georgian Bay Designer Emily Hollis brought in a maple top from a company that salvages wood from across Canada, and paired it with a locally made forged iron base. “We used materials that made sense,” says Emily. “This table is durable and can seat a lot of people.”
Designer and cottage owner Tiffany Leigh Piotrowski transformed a perfect weekend escape on the shores of Lake Huron. She relocated the cramped eating area from inside the kitchen to the new dining area at the front of the cottage: now, a bright open space to gather for a meal or board games.
On Muskoka’s Lake Joseph, Ken and Renee Metrick of Elte hired Kelly Buffey of Akb Architects to design their new cottage. The dining area is chic and modern, but with no shortage of warmth and texture from the live-edge table and rich wood envelope.
Designer Sam Sacks turned a no-frills cabin into a fantasy cottage. In the dining room, the antique dresser is the perfect balance to the modern dining table and Marcel Breuer-style chairs. Sam made the light fixture with driftwood and fairy lights for a perfectly enchanting detail.
This seasonal P.E.I. home is a tranquil escape for homeowners Kevin and Bernadette, who decamp from their house in Toronto in the late spring. The dining room feels like an extension of the outdoors, with simple furnishings and bold framed doors that open right up to the beautiful seaside view.
Designer Lorraine Franklin, along with architects Nelson Kwong and Neal Prabhu of nkArchitect, built a stunning Muskoka cottage retreat on Lake Joseph. The dining room is at the center of the property and is the perfect place to gather with friends and family after a long day on the lake.
Located on a quiet motorless lake, Montreal designer Caroline Bouffard’s cottage is the perfect place to relax and unwind. The dining room boasts a trestle table and modern Windsor chairs — a paired-back combo perfect for enjoying the tranquil location.
Halifax designers Colin Blanchard and Kenneth McRobbie of 31 Westgate gave a neglected Nova Scotia retreat a new lease on life. They fell in love with the bones of the house and views of the LaHave River. In the charming dining room, the design duo chose a round table for more intimate gatherings.
In Lysanne Pepin’s Eastern Townships cottage on Libby Lake, a casual picnic-style table and benches makes it feel like dining outdoors. The table was custom made to match the open shelving, while the cool grey wall color helps the warm wood pop.
Charmingly named “Eel Cottage” on Shelter Island, New York, has plenty of history. The 19th century dining room has an 1800s Irish farmhouse table at its centre, with comfy wingback chairs that were bought from the previous owner.
Designer Fenwick Bonnell’s family cabin in New Brunswick is beloved for its humble, timeless charm. The dining area was updated by swapping out benches for chairs and adding floor length drapes and a new wicker pendant fixture.
Karen Kain, the director of The National Ballet of Canada, and her actor/producer husband Ross Petty don’t put on airs at their Pan-Abode cottage. Designer Cameron MacNeil chose rough wood pieces in classic styles to complement the bench the couple picked out. Simple glass pendants keep the mood light, while a graphic rug and mix of pillow prints inject a cheery feeling into the space.
See inside the charming space on H&H TV.
A statement branch-like light fixture and spacious custom dining table were splurges in this Muskoka cottage.
Designer Anne Hepfer used this boathouse’s location on the shores of Lake Rosseau as inspiration for the color palette. A banquette serves as a full fledged dining space with the addition of some comfortable woven armchairs. And the view can’t be beat.
Family vacations in St. Barts inspired Toronto designer Montana Burnett to create a serene retreat closer to home. The generous trestle-style dining table can seat up to 14 people and has a parquet wood top that adds subtle pattern. Folding canvas director’s chairs are a timeless touch. To max out space, the kitchen pass-through doubles as a breakfast counter or snack bar.
Two benches offer communal seating options on the far side of the dining table in this luxe Muskoka cottage. For smaller gatherings, the benches can be moved, so the chairs can be spread out. Sliding barn doors can also close off the kitchen (not shown) from the dining area during parties.
With its full-height windows, the dining area has an al fresco ambience. The designers of Sarah Richardson Design paired a Gothic chandelier with more traditional fan-back Windsor chairs for an eclectic look. “It’s a fishbowl of beauty,” says one owner of the sunny space. “You feel as if you’re right out in nature.”
In this Georgian Bay cottage, a dining table by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders is a modern take on an antique style. The tapestry reminds the cottage owner of a sunset on the water. The Shaker-style Danish chairs — which were bought online — pop against the white-painted floor.
In this Fort Erie cottage, family gatherings are celebrated around a pine dining that that seats up to 14. Hanging two chandeliers balances its length and the cheery azure cushions and colorful pottery keep the mood lighthearted.
Inspired by Cape Cod beach houses, homeowner Heidi Smith infused her cottage with plenty of white, mint green and pale blue, and embraced natural materials like wood and wicker for a breezy vibe. The dining area is super functional, with a built-in banquette that can seat up to 10 little ones — perfect for when Heidi hosts extended family and her kids’ friends.
This modernist cottage on British Columbia’s Pender Island kicks the picnic bench design concept up a notch. Artful pendant delineate the dining area without blocking views, and the bench is wide enough to accommodate a clutch of kids or adults comfortably.
The dining room in this Prince Edward Island vacation home designed by Sarah Richardson — with its unadorned glass doors — is all about the view. Vinyl upholstery wipes clean, and the bench can accommodate a crowd of kids.
An industrial table sets the tone in this airy dining area in this Sunshine Coast cottage, dubbed “Ebb Tide.” Inexpensive white chairs by Ikea are mixed with blue linen armchairs for a high-low mix.
A contemporary chandelier looks dramatic against the Douglas fir walls in this Georgian Bay cottage, which was built from a prefab kit, but looks uniquely personal. The antique pine table was salvaged from the original property on the site, so the battered charm adds a sense of history.