Gather Dining Room Ideas

With flexible seating options, there’s always a place for you at the table of the Project House dining room.

“We had this vision of it being able to seat a ton of grandkids or cousins. It definitely can pack in a crowd,” Rachel says.

We’re almost ready to show you every single room of our Project House 2020,

the design/build project Cottages & Bungalows and our sister publication American Farmhouse Style has been working on, along with homebuilder Scissortail Homes and Pencil Shavings Studios interior designer Rachel Shingleton.

Just like every other room we’ve shared to date, the dining room hints at the soothing hues and easy livability of this home, but just wait until you see the entire layout and how it all comes together. You won’t want to miss the big reveal next issue, so stay tuned.

SIMPLY NATURAL

Since the dining room is a part of the open-concept living/kitchen/dining area, it introduces the home’s color palette. Very much inspired by nature and casual textures, those soft, earthy hues start here.

“We repeated the rattan, natural fibers and pops of color throughout the house as much as possible,” says Rachel. “Overall, it’s very neutral, but with the consistent theme of the sage green, pale blue, neutral pale pink hues and little slivers of black accents here and there in wall frames and area rugs.”

Set above the whitewashed wood dining table, a rattan pendant light adds a textural element. “Go big on the light fixture if you have the room to do something dramatic,” Rachel adds.

A CROWD PLEASER

Because this lakeside house will undoubtedly be the hubbub of many a family gathering, maximizing this dining space was the first order of business.

A built-in bench wraps around the entire dining space and the dining table leaf can extend to fill the space and add more guests. “We had this vision of it being able to seat a ton of grandkids or cousins. It definitely can pack in a crowd,” Rachel says.

Not just a pretty pattern, the bench cushion—plus some of the accent pillows—are upholstered in a durable, stain-resistant fabric.

“Normally with a banquette you would have a table pulled out, with the chairs away from the wall,” says Lindsey Morris, co-owner of Scissortail Homes. “Not only is it a statement piece, it also utilizes the space and makes the room feel bigger.”

“The whole dining room makes a statement!” says Jickie Torres, Cottages & Bungalows Brand Leader. “Between the gorgeous colors, which sets the tone, to the beautiful artwork and pillows that seem to hug the room, the vibe is chic and cozy. The wonderful built-in seating creates this inviting cocoon of a space, which is so characteristic of cottage style: intimate, casually elegant and ultra cozy.”

ROOM FOR A CROWD. With the dining table strategically placed near the windows from Pella, it makes the best use of space by squeezing in as many seats as possible with a built-in bench and two additional dining chairs.

|TOP LEFT| EASY ELEGANCE. The custom bench cushion upholstery fabric repels stains and spills, making it party-perfect, kid-proof and worry-free.

|TOP RIGHT| ART FOR THE MOOD. The black-framed abstract wall art from Minted brings an element of modern elegance and counterbalance to the pops of colorful pillows.