Dazzling Holiday Dining Rooms

This Eau Claire, Wisconsin, dining room reflects the homeowner's interest in using items she owns in unusual ways. A soup tureen, for instance, becomes a tablestop tree holder. Box store slipcovers are updated with stylish monograms.

This homeowner's Scandinavian heritage shows in the simple but elegant red-and-white Christmas table setting. A wooden tomte (a Swedish holiday character) sits on a cheese plate in the middle of the table, while red-and-white polka-dot toadstools-another nod to Scandinavian style-anchor place cards. Two topiaries on the buffet add a fresh green touch to the scene.

For lasting greenery in the dining room (and throughout the house), these Cincinnati-area homeowners start with a base of artificial greens. They weave in fresh clippings rescued from a tree lot to give the illusion that it's all real.

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An antique paisley wool throw acts as a tablecloth in the dining area of this Chicago-area home, once a polo stable. The napkin holder on the table? A stirrup.

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A wreath of antique ornaments hangs in front of the dining room's mirror in this Minnesota home, adding subtle glitz. See the next slide for a closeup of a table setting.

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A muted palette of rosy pinks mixes with natural greens. The refined hues suit the home's English cottage style. Clipped greens bring a wintry touch to the roses.

Golden candles add old-fashioned warmth to the holiday tabletop in this Minneapolis area home decorated in North Woods style. An antique corner cabinet holds collectible silver. See the next slide for a closeup of the table setting.

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When the holiday season arrives, collections of vintage items provide unexpected contrasts, with vintage bird china sitting on slightly tarnished silver chargers.

This home in Wisconsin's Door County glows with traditional charm. In the dining room, planked, white-on-white walls reflect both Scandinavian aesthetics as well as cottage style. Cherry floors visually anchor the traditional furnishings and antiques. 

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A renovated Kansas schoolhouse shows how snow-white decor keeps things cozy while feeling fresh and festive. The dining room highlights nature-inspired elements-giant pinecones, sparkling reindeer, bird figurines and nests, and frosted evergeen branches. 

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Chippendale chairs, a Federalist mahogany sideboard with inlay and a crystal chandelier deck the dining room in this Chicago-area Colonial-style home. The walls are a deep red; color choice is important to give walls a period-perfect paint scheme. See the next slide for the breakfast area in this home.

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A trestle table with reproduction Windsor chairs and an 18th-century reproduction chandelier highlight the breakfast room. Though they look authentic, many of the furnishings in this home are antique reproductions. Look for furniture with simple curves and modest ornamentation to get the look for your own home.

The owners of this Missouri home traded a traditional red-and-green holiday palette for one that's calm, cool and oh-so-sophisticated. In the dining room, a crystal chandelier, sconces and cocktail table with antique mirrored top all sparkle. A vintage secretary supplies bar storage and a drop-down surface for serving pieces.

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