Yesterday I checked out the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, an annual trade show highlighting what's new in design. It's not a kitchen-focused show, but I like going to see what's exciting for the dining room. A big reveal at this year's show was the brand-new Stockholm dining table and chairs from IKEA, made of walnut and due in stores in August! See more photos below:

I first heard of woodworker/DIY'er extraordinaire Ariele Alasko when her super cool salvaged headboards showed up in my Pinterest feed. After exploring her site, Brooklyn to West, I discovered she also makes salvaged wood dining tables in her signature graphic, mix-and-match style. I think they're stunning, don't you? A little worn and rustic, but completely eye-catching.

This schoolhouse-inspired dining room is so fun, with its floor-to-ceiling world map, vintage chairs, and purple (!) dining table. If this inspires you to paint your own dining table (or other piece of furniture) consider this tip from Jenny Brandt, the table's owner...

Kitchen carts have seen us through many less-than-ideal kitchen setups, and saved the day when we needed a little extra counter and storage space. These 10 butcher block carts span sizes, styles, and price points — from IKEA at the low end (a reliable go-to) to gorgeous (and pricey!) carts from leading butcher block manufacturer John Boos. More

For years Steph and Phil had been looking for the perfect dining room table — one that was "stylish, clean lined, family friendly, reasonably priced, big enough to accommodate our friends for dinner and also where our piles of home projects and kids artwork and homework can build up in piles..." as they told Apartment Therapy. Whew! Sounds like a tall order, but they finally hit on it. A solid oak worktop and natural wood desk legs from IKEA, with a special custom touch: fluorescent pink legs! More

If you live in a small home and still love to entertain, you know that hosting dinner parties requires a bit of space planning. Do you borrow a few extra chairs? Haul out a card table from your storage unit? Set up a few cushions on the floor? If you had Orla Reynolds' brilliant shelf, you'd have two tables and four dining chairs conveniently at the ready. Can you spot them? More

Bar carts made a big comeback in recent years as people took to keeping their liquor out in the open. But if that's not your thing, here's another use for them: a mobile storage place for dishes and kitchen tools! More

I've seen a lot of tiny kitchens sporting equally tiny islands, and if you're set on having an island, it is possible. But how can you tell if an island will work in your kitchen? There's one important dimension you need to know. More

When I first discovered Industry West, I couldn't bookmark it fast enough. An affordable (!) source for colorful metal dining chairs and stools seemed too good to be true. But for fans of Tolix chairs and industrial machinist stools who can't swing the hefty price tags of those original and vintage versions, Industry West has you covered. More

It's almost Friday, so how about something sweet and fun? This mini paper cutout oven by Lucy Engelman is modeled after the one in her family's kitchen. She keeps it on her studio desk to remind her of all the "happy, delicious moments" she's had with family in the past, and the ones to come when she heads into the kitchen to cook after a day's work. More