23 warm and inviting country-style dining rooms

The home of a lifelong collector, this dining rooms features a farmhouse table with vintage Thonet bentwood chairs, and a cotton pendant shade from The Society Inc. “We love everything old,” explains homeowner Lisa. “We’ve both always loved old houses and we wanted one in the country, with a big garden that we could get stuck into.” Situated on a former apple orchard in Victoria’s central highlands, this renovated farmhouse is the perfect foil for Lisa’s collection of treasures and curios sourced in Australia and overseas, from Indian balloon moulds and Moroccan rugs to birdcages and mid-century swan planters. 

A painstaking renovation of this historic home on Bruny island in Tasmania revealed a glorious patchwork of heritage features and materials from the 1840s, including mortice and tenon joints, nogged brick walls, aged timber panels, original paintwork and even newspaper clippings. Instead of covering these, architect John Wardle chose to reveal them in sections, as seen in the gloriously simple kitchen/dining area.

Despite being located within a new build, this dining area feels equal parts warm and sleek. It’s one of the many spaces in the home that enjoys views out to the Launceston countryside. “When you’re at the dining table, you can look out through the front door, which is all glass, and see a boat moored in the river. It’s really lovely to be able to connect with that view,” says the homeowner, Pearl.

Small in size but big in soul, the dining nook of this beautifully restored cottage in Dry Diggings, VIC, is as cosy as they come – especially thanks to an Esse wood-fired stove. The blackwood table belonged to the great-grandmother of one of the homeowners, while the copper pots and pans were passed down from his mother.

A grisaille wallpaper mural paired with forest green wainscoting creates a feeling of whimsy and a sense of grand scale in the dining room of this converted bank in Hay, NSW. Fresh flowers and cabbageware adorn the table, which sits ready and waiting for guests.

“I fought hard for the curved-leg Danish table at the Raffan Kelaher & Thomas auctions,” says Kasturi, the owner of this cottage in Coolah, NSW, of their dining table. Red cattle dog-dingo cross Alf rests his head, hopeful for a snack.

The hero of this open-plan dining space at a farmhouse in Molyullah, VIC is the Jotul wood stove which keeps the space cosy even in the depths of winter. “Opening up the living and kitchen areas to create one room just made such a difference,” says homeowner Bec MacDougall.

Tomolly store owner, Belinda Satterthwaite, recently transformed a rundown cottage on her property into a welcoming guest house. Nowhere is the inviting atmosphere more apparent than in the dining room, where she often leaves a freshly-baked Moroccan spice cake for guests.

When restoring their weatherboard cottage in Toowoomba, QLD, couple Roger and Hayley were careful to decorate with as much antique and vintage furniture as possible. In the dining room, an early 1900s oak table with extendable eaves is the perfect setting for a family feast. The table is flanked by Bentwood chairs Hayley inherited from her great-grandparents.

An extensive collection of books are at home on custom shelves in the dining room of a renovated Daylesford miner’s cottage. “I am a book hoarder and would never leave any behind,” says homeowner Lucie Sayer. Bentwood dining chairs flank the pre-loved timber table.

When the Maroulis family moved into this 1915-era farmhouse, they knew it needed to be expanded, but took their time planning the ultimate renovation. Eventually they bumped out the kitchen and dining area to create an airy, open-plan space. Today, the dining room is decorated in a pared-back style with an antique table, an old butcher’s block and Bentwood dining chairs.

There is no shortage of seating in the dining room of Sinclairs of Berry, a beautifully renovated cottage on the NSW South Coast. Owner Caroline Sinclair calls the open-plan dining room the “happy hub of the home.” The space, which opens onto the kitchen and living room features a custom 3.5 metre-long table constructed from 100-year-old Oregon ceiling joists discovered at a timber yard in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Homewares store owner and freelance creative Hayley Priest’s modern farmhouse dining room is simply styled, allowing the stunning rural views beyond the windows take centre stage. The table is by Coco Republic, while the chairs were sourced at Barbara’s Storehouse in Bowral.

A large draftsman’s table bought at an auction has become the dining table in this Broken Hill homestead, after a stint as a workbench in the shed. “It’s old and worn and completely imperfect: just how I like it!” says homeowner Zanna. “The kitchen was actually planned around that 3.6 metre-long table.”

Located right next to the open-plan kitchen, the dining room in this multi-generational family farmhouse in the Macedon Ranges is designed for large gatherings and effortless entertaining.

The owners of this Southern Highlands home, Michael and Patsy, have blended rustic country and Hamptons style with tribal elements that draw on Michael’s heritage (he’s originally from Zimbabwe). In the dining room, a lampshade by Harriet Goodall and Natalie Wilson hangs above a bespoke table by Graham Zealey of Moss Vale’s Southern Trade Supplies.

Furnished with vintage and inherited furniture, this artist’s weatherboard farmhouse in the Macedon Ranges feels eclectic and personal; a place where every piece has a story.

At this farmhouse cottage at rose farm Bush Roses in Bookham, verdant views of the garden can be enjoyed from every room. The dining room is no exception, orientated toward a huge picture window and wood fireplace.

This compact dining room proves you don’t need a huge amount of space to create a cosy spot to enjoy a meal and even entertain. The farm table and chairs in the kitchen were left by the previous owners of this Tudor style home.

In this renovated cottage in the Byron Bay hinterland, a simple Scandinavian-style dining space with a soft oak table, black Wishbone dining chairs and a woven pendant, feels calm, inviting and cosy with the fire close by.

It’s easy to see why this is Louise Andreasen’s favourite spot in her home. “From my position there, I look directly out at the forest of beech trees behind the house. The changing seasons ensure it’s a new view every day. I like to watch for deer wandering through.” The Sika Design Rossini rattan chairs and Atmosphere wool rug, both from Domo, make the space feel warm and inviting.

Like many elements in this sustainable timber home, this colossal dining table was upcycled and refurbished, including the addition of a new parquet-style tabletop made from many timbers. Teamed with handmade bench seating, the table can accommodate up to 30 people!

Tucked in a corner, the dining room in this coastal farmhouse feels cosy and intimate despite its fresh white colour scheme. Cane chairs keep things casual, while a bench seat under the window provides the perfect place to stretch out and read the morning paper.