Q: My husband and I love to cook for each other and our kids, but our dining room is so drab we usually end up eating from our kitchen counters. Any advice on how to beautify this space?

A: On the surface, dining rooms are straightforward, functional spaces. The layout is obvious and the furniture selection basic—a table, chairs, and some sort of sideboard. With so little to play with, why are some dining rooms inviting, comfortable, and attractive while others are, well, boring? How do you turn an ordinary dining room into something special?

The good news is you don’t need a huge budget to create a truly awe-inspiring dining room. But you may need to take a step or two out of your comfort zone. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Go deeper with color

If there is one room in your house where you can embrace darker walls, it’s the dining room. Deeper tones lend a sense of drama and mystery. They form a perfect backdrop for candlelit dinners and intimate gatherings. When you select your wall colors, don’t be afraid to start on the dark end of the sample paint strip.

Add an eye-catching element 

Your dining room needs a focal point. Unless you have a spectacular view or large patio doors opening to an outdoor area, you should add a striking design element to draw the eye into the room. This could be a stylish bookcase, an oversized mirror, a large piece of artwork, or a collection of smaller artworks installed in a grid. 

Hang a dramatic light fixture

The light fixture above the table is the key element in your dining room—it sets the tone and defines the personality of the space. Do something special here. This is your best chance to strike an adventurous chord with an exceptional light fixture, an oversized pendant, or a splendid chandelier. Remember to install a dimmer switch for complete control and flexibility. 

Mix up the furniture

Matched sets of furniture are a thing of the past. The best dining rooms combine furniture from different sources. The fun part is that you don’t have to go out and buy everything new; you can play around with different styles and odd pieces. A set of contemporary dining chairs can look great with grandma’s old table or a used, repainted sideboard. These quirky pieces pique curiosity and can become great conversation pieces.  

Bring it together with a rug

Rugs add color, texture, and pattern. They also protect the floor, absorb sound, and define specific areas in open floorplans. Not everyone loves a rug in the dining room, but if you decide to use one, make sure it’s big enough for the chairs to pull out completely from the table without getting stuck on the edges. If you have hard flooring, the rug should be sized to act as a perimeter for the dining area. 

Go for pairs

Because of the centrality of the table, dining rooms lend themselves to symmetry. This can be achieved by balancing different pieces with the same visual weight or height on both sides of the room. Matching sets of two work particularly well: twin table lamps on the server, a set of well-spaced wall sconces, or a pair of captain chairs on both ends of the table add a sense of stability, balance, and comfort to the room. 

With these tools at hand—and a bit of courage—you will be well on your way to transforming your ordinary room into a gorgeous, inviting space that will delight your family and guests. Raise a toast to your new dining room and many wonderful meals to come!

 

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Mia Hannom is the owner of In Form Design, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Q: With a big remodel on the horizon, I’m worried about all the dust and debris in my home. What can I do to keep my air safe and breathable?

A: Homebuilding has advanced considerably over the last few decades. Newer homes are more airtight and less drafty, warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer. Indoor air quality is a lot better these days, too, which is a good thing since we spend about 80% of our time indoors.

A lot of ink has been spilled on how to maintain indoor air quality, but what about air quality during a remodel or construction project? Remodel projects are creative, but they’re also messy because they get into the walls and guts of your home.

Before you start knocking down walls, here are some things to consider.

Microscopic particulates are a major concern during remodels. Putting in a new kitchen and bath or repurposing a space often requires some demolition, leading to drywall, wood, and concrete dust in the air. Construction means sawing, drilling, grinding, and even more dust, while finishing (paint, sealants, adhesives, finishes) can off-gas after being applied. Carpets can also off-gas.

While most construction companies will completely seal off the working area, it’s still essential to monitor and remove particulates throughout the process. This doesn’t just benefit you but also creates a safe work environment for carpenters and trade professionals working in the space. Particulates are insidious. Once a remodel project is completed, an intensive deep clean to remove dust from all nooks and crannies is highly recommended.

As a homeowner, the best thing you can do is proactively ask questions up front before the remodel begins. Don’t be afraid to find out everything you can about the policies and procedures the design-build or construction company employs to ensure good indoor air quality during a remodel—especially if you and your family are living onsite during construction.

It’s critically important that the company you hire can answer the following questions:

• Are they specialists or certified through any air quality programs?
• Do they seal off the construction portion of the project, and how? What methods and materials do they use?
• Do they monitor air quality with equipment that can measure the volume of particulates?
• How do they ventilate the project so dust and gasses are released safely outdoors?
• How do they report air quality levels throughout the project?
• Did they ask you about your family’s respiratory health during the interview or onboarding process? This is especially important if members of your family are already impacted by respiratory conditions.

If a company can’t provide this basic information, find another company. No remodel is worth the health and quality of life issues that poor air quality can cause during and after a project. A reputable design-build or construction company can get you that dream kitchen or add-on without the coughing fits and medical bills. You’ll breathe easier knowing they have you covered.

 

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Paul Kocharhook is the owner of Pathway Design & Construction, based in SODO Seattle and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

Q: We’d really like to display our wines for ourselves and our guests, but we have too many bottles for a simple rack and not nearly enough space for a cellar. What are our options?

A: No room for a wine cellar? How about a wine wall?

The Pacific Northwest is quickly becoming the new Napa as grapevines replace potatoes in Yakima and tasting rooms sprout up in Woodinville faster than drive-thru Starbucks. And locals are drinking it up.

Collecting and appreciating wine is no longer an exclusive — or expensive — hobby reserved for just a few. In fact, casual wine connoisseurs are driving rapid growth in the Washington wine scene, buying bottles by the case for a very simple reason: Washington wine is good. Very good.

But all those bottles need to go somewhere.

If you’re fortunate enough to have an unused room or closet in your home, a wine cellar is an easy choice. But what if you don’t have the extra space? Your wine collection deserves more than a pile of cardboard boxes stacked in the garage.

Why not take a second look at your dining room?

Interior designers are increasingly refreshing dining spaces by replacing antique china cabinets with wine walls. These modern, minimalist, wall-mountable racks make a big impression in a large or small footprint and are a stylish way to display wine collections.

Bringing bottles out of the cellar and into view not only creates a stunning showpiece but also offers an ever-evolving art display representing your individual taste. Wine bottles rotate through the collection with their labels — an art form unto themselves — prominently featured, like book covers in a library.

Many homeowners, even those with wine cellars, now include wine displays in communal spaces to celebrate wine culture and their unique collections. Wine displays are an excellent way to add value to your home.

Even though wine displays and wine walls store fewer bottles than dedicated cellars, that’s really the only limitation they have. It’s essential to store wine at a consistent 55 degrees and 50% humidity to protect its provenance, and modern wine walls can offer cellar-like conditions with the addition of temperature controls and a properly sealed glass front.

The glass enclosure provides an invisible barrier between the wine collection and a living space. Glass alone isn’t effective at keeping wine cool, but wine cooling technology has advanced, and today’s smaller and more efficient systems can manage the temperature within the wine wall’s enclosed space.

Before embarking on an installation, consult with a wine cellar and cooling expert to help you navigate the best solution for your home. Avoid DIY disasters by talking to the pros, as most units will require a certified HVAC technician licensed to do the work.

With so many display options, more and more Seattle homeowners are participating in wine culture and showcasing their own collections. From avid collectors to casual sippers, people are discovering Washington vintages to love and to share. The Pacific Northwest isn’t having a wine moment; it’s having a golden age. There’s no better time to display some wine, pop a cork, pour a glass and toast.

Trevor Smith is product manager at Rhino Wine Cellars, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s more than 2,600 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.