DINING ROOMS
The best can handle a quick bite on a weeknight or pull-out-all-the-stops dinner party with aplomb, writes Sarah Pickette.
Agreat dining room should be comfortable enough for long meals, adaptable enough to handle any occasion and robust enough to withstand years of use. And in the era of open-plan living, when not everyone can dedicate a whole room to dining, a delineated zone in your living space will do the trick nicely – a rug and pendant light can work wonders in this regard. “One of my rules for dining areas is ensuring there’s enough space to comfortably move around,” says Miriam Fanning, principal of Melbourne’s Mim Design. Lighting is key, too, adds Sarah-Jane Pyke of Sydney design firm Arent&Pyke: “It’s your ticket to creating the right dining ambience. Look to a light that casts a beautiful, warm glow.”
FOCUS: ART In this Melbourne home by Mim Design, the dining furniture is beautifully understated, allowing a striking artwork by the homeowner to shine. mimdesign.com.au
FEEL: LIGHT TOUCH
“Our clients asked us to create a gracious dining space that would cater for the everyday as well as special gatherings of friends and family,” says the interior designer, Sarah-Jane Pyke. The bench seat (above), a cosy day bed in one of the sunniest spots in the house, provides a neat storage solution for napery and board games. The Lowe Furniture ‘Atticus’ dining table is from Hub Furniture and the Ercol ‘Flow’ chairs are from Temperature Design. “We chose this table because it has a natural patina that will age beautifully. All these pieces have a lightness to them, so they’re perfect for such a sun-drenched spot,” says Sarah-Jane. “And the ‘Akari’ pendant light from Space casts a lovely, soft glow in the evening.” arentpyke.com
CHAIRS: FUTURE-PROOF FABRIC
“THE FORMAL DINING CHAIRS IN MY HOME
[RIGHT] ARE ACTUALLY OUTDOOR CHAIRS WITH SLIP COVERS ,” SAYS BOWRAL-BASED INTERIOR DESIGNER NICKI DOBRZYNSKI.
“I LOVE THE FACT THAT THEIR COTTON
CANVAS FABRIC IS SO DURABLE AND
COMFORTABLE .” COTTONWOODANDCO.COM >