Opinion: How would a dining table look over a transition in flooring?

F.Woo
by F.Woo
There is currently a wall between a living and dining area that we would like to take down to make the space more open. With the space open, we would like a dining table centered in the open space. However, the kitchen/dining area is tile and the living area is hardwood. Would a dining table with a transition in flooring under it look bad? Opinions? Please and Thank you!
  10 answers
  • Dfm Dfm on Feb 15, 2016
    if the floor is level , and the table fits, do it. if the look bothers you, put a nice big area rug under the table to bridge the surfaces. i use area rug loosely, painted or stenciled cotton drop cloth, larger remnant of vinyl flooring, edges finished off. i was told once that the "rug" should be big enough that when the chairs are pulled back from the table, the chairs stay on the rug.
  • Nancy Nancy on Feb 15, 2016
    Once the wall is removed the transition area will need a seamless repair. From experience, the transition area (where the wall exists now) will drive you nuts. If you have patience and save some money, wait to take the wall down until you can match your wood floors and remove tile. If you are going to spend a lot of energy and time on this project, the best option is to have all hardwood in an open concept area. If you are determined to take the wall down now, find your matching hardwood for that small area FIRST and get a good professional to make that transition area look nice. Good luck. I took my wall down and tried to keep two different floors ( hardwood in dining room, tile in kitchen) the transition area was about eight inches. ( A solid plaster wall and large baseboards had to be removed in the demolition).
  • I agree with nancy- It will drive you nuts and if you ever go to sell it will bother future buyers too. I would take the wood floors all the way through to the dining room (any good floor guy worth his wait can make your floor match). You have a beautiful home and do not scrimp on the improvements because no rug or furniture will hide the fact you took down a wall. Plus you have to make sure that is not a supporting wall either or you will have to pay to have a beam installed to support it. I want to know why you would want to put the dining room table there at a transition into your living room? From what I see you have a place for a dining room table. from experience renovating several homes- do it right or don't do it at all or you will kick yourself later. good luck
  • Sandyc Sandyc on Feb 15, 2016
    Definitely wait until you can do the same floors throughout and do the wood. You will hate the look of two different floors and you'll probably be more bothered by it than you can imagine. Why not spring for a can of paint in a color you like and pick up a coordinating but inexpensive rug for under the dining table (maybe an outdoor rug) and make the dining room a fun feature room until your ship sails in.
  • Paula Tenaglia Paula Tenaglia on Feb 15, 2016
    I'm totally in favor of waiting until you can transform all the flooring to be the same before knocking down walls then you get the whole look your going after and it will be open and so much bigger looking with the same flooring and I don't think you will be disappointed .
  • Opal Opal on Feb 15, 2016
    I also agree that it would not look cohesive with the existing flooring. The two rooms are very different, I would either redo the whole floor and paint or redesign. If you must leave the flooring you could just take out around the door area making a larger opening leaving 2-3 feet at the corners. A half wall in another option or a combo of a half wall and larger opening.
  • Christina Christina on Feb 16, 2016
    I wouldn't like it but if uoy
  • Christina Christina on Feb 16, 2016
    Sorry something went wrong. What I was endeavouring to say, maybe a large rug under the table and chairs would help to tie it together until such time you can make both rooms the same. Good luck.
  • CK CK on Feb 16, 2016
    First I'd make sure that your wall isn't load bearing. If it is, then you'll need to address that for structural integrity. Assuming all's well there, IMHO, yes two types of flooring under the dining table would look a bit odd. However, if you're set on taking down the wall and have plans in the near future to redo flooring, then I'd say go for it. In the meantime you may be able to sort of 'connect' the two flooring by placing a large area rug under the table and chairs. Make sure ALL the chairs will fit on the rug's size when pulled out for seating. Don't try to cheap out with a too-small rug. ;-) Now let's explore another possibility. I have no idea how these rooms relate to traffic flow in your home. But it may be possible to exchange the dining room for the living room. Make the LR the dining area? Don't know if it'll work with your particular home, but I've done it for some clients and it was really nice since removing the wall wasn't an option. Yes, I know that's a sort of "thinking outside the box" option, but thought I'd throw it out nonetheless.
  • Becky Becky on Feb 17, 2016
    I'm with Christina..rugs work wonders.