Dining Rooms We Love

When it comes to creating open concept dining areas that inspire good food and good conversation, these contemporary homes really nail it with innovative use of warm beautiful wood. Here, then, are our top five breaking bread rooms:

Skyline House by Terry & Terry Architecture. Photo by Bruce Damonte Photography

1.Chew with a View – Nestled in the San Fransisco Bay area, this open living space in has some serious curve appeal. The wavy cedar ceiling is an absolute architectural showstopper (the view’s not half bad either). With so much built-in natural beauty, the dining area is already a visual feast so there’s no need for an elaborate banquet table. Wisely, the homeowners kept their furnishings simple. After all, no need to distract from all that gorgeous use of Real Cedar.

“We’ve used Western Red cedar in several projects – the wood is easy to work with and durable, yet lightweight,” explains architect Alex Terry before adding, “it gives the space a delightful warm glow.”

Avocado Acres House by Lloyd Russell, AIA. Photo: Darren Bradley

2.Surfer Chic – Boasting a funky open styled layout fit for a cool surfing town just north of San Diego, this single level, U-shaped beach house is tailormade for a mid-century modern dining set like this retro beauty. We love how the eye-popping red painting and turquoise chairs plays off the golden delicious hues in the cedar ceiling/soffit system, proving once again just how aesthetically versatile Real Cedar is.

For the developer, Steve Hoiles, cedar met all his criteria in that its tonal mosaic is naturally beautiful, plus cedar is low maintenance. It’s also pitch and resin-free so it accepts and holds a wide range of finishes beautifully, and as Hoiles explains, cedar possesses certain qualities that no man-made material can ever duplicate: “Cedar just oozes soul.”

Long Beach Residence by Lucid Architecture. Photo by Lucid Architecture

3.Eco Elegance – This Lake Michigan beach home in Indiana really sets the mood for an elegant dining experience, offering spectacular waterfront views as well as a peek of Chicago’s skyline across the water. Here, it’s all about letting the awe-inspiring surroundings take center stage. The uncomplicated, yet robust dining table, combined with the moody, yet simple, lighting create an almost theatre-like atmosphere to enjoy a meal and feel at one with nature. To further blur the lines between the indoor and outdoor, architect Eric De Witt worked in some environmentally friendly cedar accents on the ceiling – a subtle nod to the cedar siding.

“Western Red Cedar provided a natural material with a stunning warmth that we were able to use on both the interior and exterior, where as other wood species can only be used on the interior,” says the award-winning architect, adding, “This allowed us to seamlessly tie together the interior and exterior finish palettes.”

High Desert Residence by Hacker. Photo by Jeremy Bittermann

4.Seamless Connection – The homeowners of this Bend, Oregon home wanted to furnish their open concept living space with a carefully curated collection of mid-century furniture, so the Hacker architect team composed a simple interior palette of white, black, and natural wood to act as a timeless backdrop for these pieces. They also wanted to blur the lines between site and structure. That’s why the cedar ceiling above the dining area extends to the exterior, only lightly interrupted by full-height windows.

“The same cedar used on the exterior is carried throughout the interiors, appearing continuous through the glass and giving the impression that there is no barrier at all between inside and outside spaces,” says Hacker principal Corey Martin. “It’s also a very workable wood fiber allowing for custom dimensions and reveals.”

Hoke Residence by Skylab Architecture. Photo by Boone Speed.

5.All Weather Alfresco – This dramatic residence provides a venue for interplay between the vibrant outdoor environment and dramatic interior spaces. Thus, the beautiful outdoor dining area that’s covered, so residents can enjoy eating alfresco throughout the year. Adding to the drama of this dining area is the beautifully stained Western Red Cedar siding – emphasis on red in this case! Not only does it look great, but cedar is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insects, making it ideal for outdoor applications.

“We clad the cantilevered volume on the second floor on all sides in cedar to highlight it visually, and make a conceptual connection to the surrounding forest,” says Skylab principal Jeff Kovel, who specified a clear grade to enhance the contemporary aesthetic of the project. “The cedar is holding up beautifully and minimal maintenance has been required.”