Time for the second instalment of our 'design by room' series,
where we take you through our top tips for decorating your home,
one room at a time. With the entertaining season ahead of us, this
week we are talking all about the dining room and how to create a
cosy intimate space in which to do all of life's great pleasures:
talking, drinking and of course eating.
Without dwelling too much on 2020 - we all know how that one
ended - there is definitely a cautious feeling of optimism around
how we will be able to celebrate with our loved ones this festive
season. Even before the big C is upon us the pleasure of a packed
table on a Sunday accompanied by our nearest and dearest is
something to be cherished and just like the trimmings to your meal,
the surroundings are just as important as the main event.
Photo: Greg Natale
1. The Walls
First things first let's start with the walls. A formal dining
room tends to be a lesser used space in the home which means you
can afford to go bold in your colour choices. Red is a classic
choice, giving the room a formal feel and is said to stimulate the
appetite of your guests. But the goal is to create a feeling of
intimacy within the space and any darker shade is perfect for doing
just that. Alternatively, a full scale mural or patterned wallpaper
has the same effect, by flooding the walls with colour or pattern
you create an overall feeling of warmth and closeness. This could
be through a traditional style design such as Gallery,
Kew or
the mural designs from our
Scholar collection, or more contemporary patterns such as those
within our
Casablanca range.
A red dining room is part of our English design heritage and there’s nothing quite like it for formal grandeur.
Nina Campbell
Photo: Moroccan Souk paint
2. Furniture
Of course now the walls are sorted you'll need something to sit
on. And eat off of. With no sharp corners a round tables lends
itself to being more social, letting conversation flow naturally
across and around it. We love our Ashton table which has a
contemporary feel with a light, silver oak top and brushed nickel
base that won't compete with the design of your chairs. More formal
spaces, and large guest lists, will likely require a more
traditional rectangular shape. Both
Robert and
Charlie are simple and timeless designs which can be dressed up
or down to suit your own interiors style, whereas
Bridge is formed from a combination of brass and wood giving
this piece a modern luxurious feel. If you are after the best of
both worlds with intimate dinner parties followed by big family
affairs then an extending dining table like our
Raffles or
Emerson pieces are great options.
Photo: Janie Molster Design
Photo: Bridge dining table, Juno chair, Dollar Bill artwork
for small space living or dining rooms, be more daring. Don’t be afraid of dark and rich colours, like coffee or dark grey or try teal or even orange, for a braver burst of colour. These hues bring intimacy and depth whilst also allowing you to show personality and flair.
Martin Waller
3. Lighting
Step three is all about the lighting, an essential element to
any scheme as good lighting will instantly set the mood within your
space. A central pendant light over the table makes a brilliant
eye-catching feature to the room but is not the most flattering on
yourguests, stick to frosted glass or a refractive chandelier to
prevent the light being too harsh. This statement centrepiece is
best accompanied by wall lights, which are a brilliant way to
softly illuminate your space,
Ziyi,
Bryant and
Hackney are all timeless designs that will work in any scheme.
For a more contemporary feel choose architectural pieces such as
Josie,
Covet or
Angie. However, don't forget to dress your table with flicking
dinner candles to create a enhance the sense of intimacy and
warmth.
Photo: Fiona Barratt Interiors
Framing vintage textiles and using them as artwork also works really well and won’t break the bank
Martin Waller
4. Artwork
Whatever it's shape, size or format a piece of artwork is the
ideal finishing touch to your dining space. It acts as a beautiful
centrepiece as well as a perfect conversation starter for your
guests. At Andrew Martin we are great advocates of anything
becoming artwork once it is beautifully framed so don't shy away
from displaying beloved possessions such as vintage books, records
or beautiful fabrics especially if these objects have an
interesting story behind them. Alternatively our large scale
plexiglass
artworks are great statement pieces and their shiny surface
give them a luxurious layered feel. To give your space a more
playful feel then our light up neons are
perfect for creating a buzz.