Always in Good Taste

A dining room in which you'll be proud to entertain.

No matter what level of formality you choose for your dining areas, we can create a room for you that is beautiful, comfortable, and a place where your guests will want to linger.

Five Course Dining, a Golf Course View

A newly retired couple with a passion for golf decided to renovate their golf course home of twenty years, and create a simple but elegant dining area overlooking the fairway. Solar shades provide light control and energy efficiency without obscuring the view; simple valances with a curved bottom echo the arched entrance into the room. The design used much of their existing furniture, artwork and accessories to create a beautiful new "Ralph Lauren blue" dining room for entertaining family and golfing friends.

DINING IN STYLE

Your probably think the dining room is the easiest of all rooms to furnish. Once you have your table and chairs, that's all there is to it! And while that's the biggest part of your overall dining room plan, it's far from all. It's important to provide for the comfort of your guests, and the convenience of you, the host and or hostess. I have found that there is usually a big problem unique to this room! Any ideas what that might be? To me as a decorator, it's keeping the overall décor of this room warm and inviting despite all the inevitable wood that usually ends up taking center stage. Providing a successful mix of wood dining room pieces, along with window treatments, area rugs and lighting takes careful consideration and planning.

Chairs alone are a far from simple choice. Massive ones take up too much space, so you must find well-designed chairs that are comfortable as well. Upholstered armless 'slipper' chairs are a wonderful addition and mix well with any wood tones.

Tables, too, come in all shaped and sizes. The size should fit both the room and your family, and, ideally, be designed for easy expansion. Round and oval dining room tables provide for an ease of conversation that most of my clients find very appealing. Also, expandable tables, with drop leaves, built-in extensions, board inserts, and the like are all practical. One of the companies I like allows you to choose the number of leaves you prefer. Today's designs take up little "closed" spaces, and can instantly be enlarged when guests are expected.

It's also extremely easy and convenient to have silverware, linens, and serving pieces stored right in the room. A sideboard, chest or armoire will give you the storage, and provide another wonderful decorative element. To create interest, this piece does not need to 'match' the rest of the furniture.

If your design style tends to lean toward the traditional, then draping your windows in luxurious side panels or even a variation of an elegant swag and cascade treatment, will help provide this room with another great focal point. If you prefer comtemporay, flank the windows with tailored panels installed on fantastic drapery hardware.

What is the most common question I receive? How high off of the table should I hang the chandelier? General rule-- for an 8 foot ceiling place the lowest point 30 inches off of the table. For 9 foot - go 30-34 inches off of the table. And do not forget the ceiling for creative treatments.

Bon Appetit!!

Joyce

This article was contributed by Joyce Doebler of Interiors by Decorating Den.

Joyce Doebler

Phone: (215)368-2259
Interiors by Decorating Den

Source:
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Custom Cabinetry Blog
Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Website