It’s that time of year in which we begin to think about upcoming holidays. That might foster thoughts about dining rooms—the usual gathering place—unless you are relegated to the kids’ table. The dining area reigned supreme in this year’s Decorating Den Interiors’ International Dream Room as the one below was judged the best of 300 entries in 10 room categories by a panel of interior design journalists from the U.S. and Canada. The blue-ribbon room, shown below, was designed by Monique Holland, of Washington DC.

The client wanted this gathering place to be a showstopper in their open floor plan home. It is one of the first things you see when entering the home. Going bold with black and white wallpaper along with the mustard velvet draperies does the trick. The custom live edge table adds an unusual touch. It all makes for a modern industrial look.

The transformation from a traditional style to a transitional one is shown above. Host chairs in soft navy velvet and side chairs in ivory replaced traditional dining chairs. Lighting was a key component of this update to transitional. The Finhorn Round 15-Light Multi-Drop Pendant has orb-shaped shades covered with small squares of mother of pearl that were painstakingly hand-applied. This makeover, by Cathi Lloyd, of St. John, Indiana, was judged second among the 24 dining area entries.

The built-in (above) was a natural to be showcased without taking away from the unique windows. To help bring the eye to that wall, a fun two-color wallpaper was used. The two-toned table adds contrast and keeps the room from looking too uniform. A soft watery blue/aqua, pulled from the rug and window treatments, was the backdrop on the walls, which set off the crisp white millwork nicely. It also helped showcase the coved nature of the walls The multi-colored rug adds some visual excitement. This was the third-place dining area, designed by Suzan Wemlinger, of Milwaukee.

As noted previously, wallpaper is always a great way to add a design element or make a bold statement. In the above left, it is used to frame the stunning buffet with its starburst pattern and make the accessories command attention. This is the alcove adjoining the second-place dining areas shown earlier.

Making a statement with the room above right was the objective. Mission accomplished! The stunning black and white wallpaper pulls your gaze around the entire room and complements the modern artwork. The avant-garde oval table works perfectly in the space to provide maximum seating. How about that innovative ribbon chandelier?

The shape of the table is both a design and function decision. Round ones can foster more conversation among the family or friends. A guest is not locked in to talking only with the persons on the right and the left. It’s also often a better game table, too. The one above easily converts from smaller to larger. Don’t leave these photos without noticing how the colors add pizzazz.

Remember to look outside the home for inspiration. This is a small dining area in a waterfront home, so a coastal color palette was a natural choice. The gold chandelier and table and chair legs add glamour without overpowering. The oversized gold and teal abstract piece of artwork is a finishing element that brings harmony into a room packed with visual elegance.

Surely these rooms whet your appetite for a sumptuous dining room makeover. Just click here and then insert your zip code to find your closest Decorating Den Interiors design professional. You can feast on creative ideas together.