After years of removing every wall in sight, we think homeowners are craving rooms with a little more intention again. A home can still flow beautifully without every space becoming part of one giant great room. In Project Rustic Contemporary, we kept the main-floor rooms defined. The dining room feels intimate and special, while the lounge has its own mood and purpose. The family room also has its own identity as a warm, welcoming place to gather. The spaces still connect naturally, but each room gets to have an identity—which gives us more opportunities to create atmosphere, layer in color, and thoughtfully support how the family uses each space. This is exactly why I was thrilled to be featured in @goodhousekeeping, sharing my thoughts on one of the biggest dining room trends for 2026: the return of the dedicated dining room. And defined certainly doesn’t have to mean formal or stuffy. In this dining room, charcoal walls create depth, cream drapery and upholstered seating soften everything, and a sculptural chandelier makes even a Tuesday-night dinner feel a little more like an occasion. I’m not suggesting we add walls just for the sake of walls—but I am very happy to see homes moving away from “open at all costs” and back toward rooms with purpose, mood, and personality. Thank you, @goodhousekeeping, for including me in this feature! Read the full article in Stories, then head to the blog for the paint color we used in the ProjectRusticContemporaryRanch dining room. Design // @peggyhaddadinteriors Cover Photography // @amandaproudfit