ROOM RECIPE
THESE SIMPLE DESIGN INGREDIENTS ARE ALL YOU NEED TO CREATE A SOPHISTICATED AND ELEGANT SPACE FOR MEAL TIMES. TICK OFF OUR ESSENTIALS TO ACHIEVE A SCHEME THAT’S PRACTICAL, YET BEAUTIFUL
1. TABLE
Your dining table might just be one of the hardest working pieces of furniture in your home, not only a spot for eating, but working, entertaining and poring over the kids’ homework, too. So it needs to look great but be practical.
A timber option will always be timeless and a pale wood, like this, keeps it contemporary. If you choose one with chunky legs, opt for more slender-legged dining chairs for balance.
IH LOVES…
n Next has a large choice
n Barker and Stonehouse for stand-out styles
n Oak Furnitureland for solid-wood designs
2. BENCH SEATING
Back-to-wall seating means you can push your table up to create more floor space in a dining room and it will accommodate more people than individual dining chairs.
An Ikea Havsta TV unit topped with a foam bench cushion creates a place to
store dinner party tableware and linen that doesn’t need to be accessed regularly.
IH LOVES…
n Ikea for simple base units
n Cox & Cox for seats in contemporary country styles
n La Redoute has some great designs
3. FLOORING
Wooden flooring is the most practical choice for a dining space, even if you cheat the look with laminate. If your original floorboards are in good nick but look a little tired, a couple of coats of off-white paint will soon have them looking their best again. If the room feels a little cold, a large rug can add warmth and softness, but opt for a flatweave one or a short-pile design, as food spills don’t bode well with a thick-pile rug.
IH LOVES…
n Quickstep for affordable flooring choices
n Ted Todd for fine wood floors
n Carpetright has a great variety
4. CEILING LIGHTS
Hanging a single, pair, trio or even cluster of pendant lights over your dining table, will not only offer directional light when needed, but also create a more intimate space for meal times. Think about hanging your lights on pulleys so that their height can be adjusted depending on the occasion and have your electrician wire them on a dimmer switch so you can play with light
