I’m excited to share with you the best dining room table EVER. It is in the MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST FANCIFUL, MOST FUNCTIONAL room in the House Beautiful Whole Home Concept House that I toured last week! Let me show you all the yummy bits of Chenalt James’ design:
How do you turn the least-used room in the house into the one everyone wants to hang out in? For starters, make it multi-functional. Next, make it so fabulous and fun that it draws guests like a magnet.
Let me show you the amazing paneled entry arch from both sides – first, from the entry:
C Kevin Coffey, architectural design
Yep. That’s a pingpong dining room table. And that’s just the start of what makes this the best dining room table ever. I’ll explain in a minute . . .
But now, check out that paneled arch from the opposite side of the room:
This amazing ceiling is the work of home’s amazing builder, Castle Homes. Simply stunning!
light fixture from Circa Lighting
Chenault James made a bold move choosing this fanciful wallpaper and contrasting trim color. The trim color is Benjamin Moore Intrigue, in case you were wondering!
What I appreciate about this dining room design is NOT that everything is perfect – it’s a quirky, fantastical folly of a room that literally takes your breath away. At least it took MINE away!
Here’s the mad genius of this dining room design: it can function a space for formal dining, a playroom for playing pingpong and listening to records, or a party parlor for playing cards and chatting the night away. For the House Beautiful Whole Home Concept House, the dining room is set up for pingpong.
But here are some additional images that capture the room’s alter egos:
The reason why this is the best dining table ever is because of its convertible design by Four Board Woodworks. Not only does it transform from dining table to pingpong table, it also ratchets down to coffee table height AND separates into two squares if desired! So versatile, yet designed so beautifully! And no corner legs to bump chair or human legs against. Here’s a shot I found on Four Board Woodworks’ Instagram page.
Tell me what you think of this dining table and dining room in the comments below! You have ONE MORE WEEK to tour the House Beautiful Whole Home Concept House in the lovely Belle Meade neighborhood of Nashville. Find out more here.
If you missed my last blog post, find out the 5 Top Design Trends I spotted at this incredible home.
If you’d like to become a certified expert in choosing interior paint color and paint color palettes, find out all about my online training program here!
I love that room! So fun and practical. If you already have a dining table and like the idea, Amazon sells a portable ping pong net that attaches to any table.
https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Sports-Anywhere-Table-Tennis/dp/B00BQ7B0MS/ref=asc_df_B00BQ7B0MS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198101676703&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7322529855380910586&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010944&hvtargid=aud-829758849484:pla-321249986118&psc=1
Thank you so much, Christina! How fun is that? I’d definitely have some issues playing pingpong in MY dining room – too many breakables!!! I do think it’s a great and fun idea, for sure!
Hi Kristie, I absolutely love that dining table! So beautiful and so functional, especially with the ability to alter its height and separate it into two tables! Enchanting room for sure. Why do you think the blue striped chair with the yellow pillow has one leg painted a different color? It caught my eye and I’m curious!
Wow, good eye! I didn’t even notice that, and I took the photo! It’s hard to say if that is purposeful, or if something got started and they changed their mind! It’s a decorating mystery (the best kind of mystery).
Thanks for your insight, Kristie! The color on the one leg must have people talking! I do like the lighter wood in this room with its array of happy colors on the walls, fabrics, and in the inviting pillows. Still have that awesome table on my brain!!
This is genius. The fact that it goes from dining height to a ping pong and then down to coffee table height *and* splits in two!? Wow. I struggle with how little we use our dining room. I’ve always felt like we should figure out how to turn it into useable space. Especially since my young family has grown up some. My kids want a “hang-out” spot for having friends over and we don’t have a basement, room over garage, etc. It’s amazing how a piece of thoughtfully, re-designed furniture could inspire an entire room to be repurposed.
Total genius. I’ve been trying to figure out the *best* dining table for years. I’ve always thought a pair of square pedestal tables would be the most versatile, but THIS takes it to a whole other level! I want to add built-in bookcases on the back wall of our dining room so it works like a library, as well as a dining space.
I love the style and versatility of this dining room table. My design style is rather eclectic. I’ve been holding out for the perfect dining room table; I think this is the one! I can’t think of a design style where this gorgeous table would not be at home.
I know, right? It’s a truly beautiful table – you’d never know it’s so versatile. 🙂
I love the idea of the table that can serve (oops, accidental pun) many purposes, but from the angle of the photos it’s not clear that one of them could be dining. The support structure under the table appears to take up a lot of room that would preclude comfortable space for the knees of diners.
Hi Sandy,
If you look at the photo collage, you can see on the bottom right the set-up with dining chairs. It does work, and seats up to 8! I appreciated the nonintentional pun, by the way 😉
I love it!!!! We are actually looking at a pool table that converts to a ping pong table and it’s going to go in our living room. We are tired of having a rooms that are not utilized and are just there for “pretty”.
Susie,
There’s nothing sadder than an unused room!
This dining table is fabulous, Kristie, and I love how it can be disassembled into two squares for even more flexibility. Thanks for pointing this out. This company has a winner on their hands..and what a beautiful room, too!
Great idea for a family home! The family that plays together….
Fun idea for a family home! The family that plays stays together
You were not kidding! That is indeed the BEST dining table ever! I love the flexible height and that it breaks into two squares even more than the ping pong feature…which would be tough to use in MY dining room, at least! Definitely an incredible find! The room is fabulous too with the unexpected mix of colors and casual elegance!
I have one other idea that would make the table even better: what if two pedestal squares have tops that pivoted parallel with the base so they could be pushed flush against the wall when not in use – maybe to make way for dancing in the dining room???
Love how simple and versatile the table is. Great design!
I love all the little details like the ceiling and the entryway and of course the colors!
Thanks for sharing this Kristi. This room is amazing I love the colors, patterns and detailed millwork. And if course the table is genius! We need to see more of the multi use type pieces that are this gorgeous.
What a gorgeous table – and so fun too! I’ve seen lucite versions of the dining/pingpong table – but this is so much nicer!
Oh wow! That table is genius. While I do love the table and the versatility that it provides, can we talk about the millwork i the arch and ceilings? I think I’ve died and gone to ceiling heaven!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post so full of eye candy!
I need that table! Love the design and practicality. Our home is small, I love multiple use design.
Wow! You captured this incredible space so well. Absolutely love it. The colors are gorgeous!
A huge fan of multi-purpose rooms and furniture, this one gets 10 stars. My dining table converts in several different ways and I have a separate pop-up coffee/dining table in the living room (confession: TV/eating). Thanks also for the Amazon ping pong link, now on my Amazon Christmas Wish List. Thanks to someone pointing out the different colored leg; love that. I once saw a table (and maybe chairs?) that was a different color on one side of the squared legs. Simple but so impactful, it’s stuck in my head. I love “I spy” sneaky details. Fabulous room and brilliant photo capture, Kristie!
It’s a very versatile room and a very versatile table. I love it. Just one thing though, If the two tables have a way of hitching to each other for dinner, it’s an additional win. But I don’t see that function mentioned. If there is no way to hitch the two together, I can see a formal dining disaster waiting in the wings.
Marta,
YES, they are connected!
Do you know where this wallpaper is from?