• DINING ROOM IDEAS
DEDICATED DINING AREAS ARE BACK ON OUR RADAR AS WE ENJOY MORE MEALS AT HOME. WE CONSIDER THE DECORATIVE COUNTRY OPTIONSÉ
Be the perfect host
IN THE ROUND
Set the scene this festive season by suspending a wreath above the table Scandinavian-style.
Fresh green not only complements the tree itself, but is on trend for a modern Christmas palette. ‘Green and white – without any red – strikes the balance between traditional and contemporary,’ says Kyra Cosgrove, home designer at Neptune. ‘The key to making it feel stylish, yet magical, is to contrast natural materials with subtle metallics and luxurious velvets.’
AGED BEAUTY
Walls in a warming spiced hue, exposed oak beams and painted floorboards combine to create a dining room packed with interest and light. Demonstrating how to handle historic interiors without resorting to high formality, decorator Henry Miller-robinson, co-founder of K&H Design, uses colour and over-scaled flower arrangements to create warmth and character. ‘The decorative overdoors add a little grandeur, but not too much,’ says Henry who enjoys searching for wildflowers and foliage to use in his relaxed, maximalist flower arrangements.
BENEATH THE SKY
If the dining room is adjacent to the kitchen, use tablescaping effectively as a way of increasing the sense of occasion when entertaining. Tablecloths – patterned ones in particular are back in vogue – and pretty tableand glassware make all the difference. In Birdie Fortescue’s Norfolk home, she’s placed her table underneath the generous roof lantern in a space that was made by connecting two farm buildings. ‘The glazed pitched roof creates a sense of being outdoors during the day and a reflective backdrop for candlelit dinners at night,’ says Birdie.
CENTRE STAGE
While they make an impressive entrance to a home – and are an ideal place for an oversized Christmas tree – large staircase hallways can sometimes feel as though they lack a purpose. Instead of just filling one with a traditional console table, think about giving it another role as a dining room. As the need to encourage eating together becomes even greater, this approach puts dining squarely at the centre of the home, making it more challenging for teenagers to escape to their bedrooms feigning no knowledge of the time.
FESTIVE FOLIAGE
Blue and green can always be seen together – particularly at this time of year. Liberally use textiles, such as rugs, cushions, a tablecloth and napkins, to create a warm and welcoming scene. Not only does it look considered and comfortable, but the fabrics importantly help to absorb the volume of voices. Keep the mood light by suspending a disco ball from the ceiling to bring in a frivolous edge, which can be ramped up with complementary details – such as mirrored coasters or metallic cushions. Take things a step further by hanging an extra large garland on the overmantel.
AGE OF ELEGANCE
White is the ideal colour to brighten smaller spaces and refresh architectural details, but one challenge is how to add warmth. The easiest way to do it is to focus on furniture choices and materiality: here, the table in natural wood instantly raises the temperature, while the generous pendant adds drama. Having a cocktail bar in the dining area brings in more interest. ‘The mirror-back ensures the drinks cabinetry feels more refined, and the wine storage provides easy access to perfectly chilled wine,’ says Louisa Eggleston, creative director at Humphrey Munson.
SOPHISTICATED STYLE
Let any architectural details make the main statement – just don’t be afraid to adjust them to your liking (bearing in mind any constraints for listed properties). Consider an oval dining table to improve the flow of a dining room. Here, it pairs perfectly with the dark turquoise walls. The characterful marquetry flooring was reconditioned and polished. ‘We kept the rest of the design simple and let the floor do the talking,’ says Emma Pocock of Turner Pocock.
MIX MATERIALS
For an updated country house look, introduce a range of surface finishes and a pop of colour in the dining room, but maintain the formality by balancing the symmetry of the room. In this scheme, take note of the grounding effect of the twin dressers in the arches, while the trio of metal pendants make the room feel confident and modern. Interior designer Charlotte Crosland chose red leather to ‘add a bit of oomph’. ‘Don’t discount leather as a fabric in a dining room,’ she says. ‘It’s easy to clean and ages well.’
NORDIC NEUTRALS
When the dining table stands so close to full-length windows, create a tableau with the fabric and furniture that makes the most of the setting. The overall effect will help to dissolve the boundaries between the inside and outside, even in the depths of winter. To make the most of this look, use a neutral palette of grey, white and flax and sharpen it with black touches. This reimagined Morris & Co fabric with its delicate pattern has tiny touches of colour, which help lift the overall look and ensure that cool and sophisticated never slides into cold and uninviting.
SHINE ON
When dining areas are positioned in passing spaces, it’s a good idea to look for a table and chairs that are relatively unobtrusive. That doesn’t mean they have to be run of the mill, however, as demonstrated by interior designer Anna Hewitson’s choice for this dining room. ‘I wanted to keep the furniture quite light, so
I opted for a reflective tabletop and combined natural materials to add texture,’ says Anna.
SITTING COMFORTABLY
Channel classic farmhouse kitchen style with a solid oak dining table, benches in lieu of chairs and stone flooring. ‘Bench seating is a space-saving solution as well as feeling more social and homely,’ says Lee Clarke, director of Warner House. Consider the outlook of the room when deciding on a colour scheme: in this dualaspect room that overlooks the garden, green on the window treatments and tableware adds brightness.