I’m knee deep (actually waste deep) in all things dining room at the moment and having waded through a zillion images notice a common trait. Many of them are not that cosy, you can almost tell they are not lived in everyday. Often times it seems that people select tables way to big for the space (why is that)? so you can barely get anything else in there to add layers and intrigue. I don’t get (never have) going for the hugest table that seats 18 and then stands empty half the year round. I would much rather squish people round a smaller table and have a more interesting room.
Anyways a couple caught my notice one from NY designer John Loecke. The Americans love putting sofa’s around tables and I must say I becoming more into the idea. Loecke’s dining room is super cosy and a little of beat. Putting a sectional around a dining table takes a bit of confidence but totally works in this space (which is oddly shaped, genius ideas) as do the rather formal upholstered dining chairs. Whilst the design isn’t totally my bag I can totally imagine hanging out here and feeling relaxed.
The next space I love, when you break it down not alot is going on but having a book case filled to the brim with books as one’s backdrop creates a fabulous dynamic and makes the room a place you would want to linger in whether you are having supper or not.
I think that is the thing with dining rooms if they can double up as something else, a reading room, an office ,a relaxation nook then often times they get to be way more interesting – the more time you spend in a space the more time you want to cosy it up. Just having a space that the Jones’s get to eat in once a month I am afraid to say often tends to look and feel a tad dull. You have to rattle around a bit, work a bit, relax a bit, hang out a bit in order to get it perfect – otherwise it tends to have that kind of uptight look – believe me have just spent the last few days looking at zillions of them.
Hi Abigail,
Very interesting post as usual!. I do have the same problem in my flat actually. I have a lounge that is half a dining room and half a sitting room (with sofas) but I also have a third room which is a sort of study (bland and unfurnished at the moment). I am thinking to turn the office room into a dining room with a library and leave the lounge for relaxation only, this means with sofas and chairs. As you said if I don’t get the dining room right it will look to uptight and boring that perhaps is better to leave it as an office..the thing is that I would love to USE all rooms in my flat and make all of them a pleasure to stay in!. Thanks for any suggestions you could
give me!
I think that sounds like a good plan combining library with dining/office. I don’t think there is anything nicer than eating and being surrounded by books. I guess it all really depends on how much you love the dining area being part of your living area. If you are going to move it couple of tips – choose maybe an old vintage table that could double up as a desk to make it look and feel less office y – my studio often times doubles up as an area for eating in and it works because all the office type stuff is hidden away. The table is vintage a zillion little lights glow – infact I could hang out here all day and night if i could. Good luck with it.
Thanks you so much Abigail, your feedback is so much appreciated!. Barbara
I agree with you completely. My dining room is also my library and makes the room look so much more lived in. A lovely example of using a room for this purpose is Nigella Lawson’s dining room from the series Nigella Bites.
i love the idea of putting the bookcase in the dining area. it really warms it up.
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