Dine in style
The dinner table, whether it is a kitchen dinette for two or a formal dining table for 12, is where family relationships are nourished. Creating a dining environment that encourages dinnertime with family is a means to a positive end. The gathering of family and friends around a dinner table is an event, and should be treated as such. Eating a meal while sitting on the sofa in front of the television just doesn't cut it.
Every home should have a special place for meals and gatherings that centres on food and conversation. A dining space doesn't have to be overly formal or grand to be welcoming. You simply want to create an atmosphere of comfort so people will want to linger and talk even after the meal is finished.
Our feature photograph, courtesy of Dulux Australia, is a perfect example of a cheerful, welcoming, semi-formal dining room. The formality of the matching table and chairs supports the fact that a meal with family is a special event. This is where the family gathers to share food and ideas. It is not so formal, however, that one has to dress up for dinner. The formality is well-balanced by the causal fabric on the chairs and table runner as well as the informal display of dishes and cutlery. This is a self-service setting that invites everyone to participate. The butler certainly isn't going to be serving dinner tonight!
Balancing act
This dining room has the perfect balance of formality and casual appeal. The pale yellow and blue colour palette is wonderfully cheerful and bright. This is a good palette to choose if your room seems gloomy or demure. (If you read last week's column, you'll note the band of accent colour near the ceiling is a nice touch for this room, which has high ceilings.) The paint colours, which have a country flavour, are given a formal edge through the use of decorative trim and ceiling moulding.
The denim-like fabric on the chairs, while casual, is well tailored to give a sense of elegance versus, say, loose chair slipcovers in the same fabric. The touches of natural wood in the accents and furniture lend an air of casual flavour, but at the same time are finely finished, which leans toward the formal side of things versus distressed-wood finishes, for instance. Specifically, the hand-turned candlesticks and vases provide a handcrafted ruggedness, but again, are highly polished and stained like fine antiques.
A wire egg basket juxtaposed with fine porcelain vases bodes well for both formal and casual appeal. A stack of books and textural painting sit casually on the side table. Even the dishes provide a balancing act of casual country design and colour, but in a matching set. Every item in this room has been lovingly and carefully selected to provide a space that is definitely inviting and welcoming. This is a room that can be dressed up for special occasions but is perfect for everyday use.
DIY
Creating a great dining space in your home takes a bit of planning but doesn't have to break your budget. First thing you'll want to consider is the location of your dining table. As mentioned at the beginning of this column, some of you may have a small parlour set along a living-room wall of your apartment while others will have a separate dining room that contains a matching dining suite. I have a simple eat-in kitchen. Work with what you have and make the most of it.
Those of us without an actual dining room have to be a bit more creative, but that's the fun of working with what you have. Because your dinner table isn't in a separate room, you'll want to make a focal point of the table area. This can be done with paint colour on the wall behind the table, large artwork or a large display of small pictures, or a mirror, depending on your situation. Wall stencils are very popular right now and can be found at many shops for a decent price. These items can be used to create a visually separate dining space and add pattern and colour to the dining area.
If the table is very casual or mismatched, use linens on the chairs and table to provide some formality and elegance to the space. Chair slipcovers are a great way to make a mismatched set look cohesive and graceful. They can be pricey, but just watch for sales and snap them up when you find a good deal. Tablecloths can be fashioned from fabric remnants if you find a good bargain on a great piece of fabric. Consider layering two or more fabrics to add a touch of glam. A decorative table runner in a shimmering fabric such as organza will add sparkle to the setting. For a more tailored look, use fabric placemats and napkins on a fine wooden table and let the wood show.
Dinnertime is family time. Get everyone involved in the preparation and conversation. Make an event out of mealtime at your house.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
