Today’s dining room is not just a place for food consumption. It’s a social environment, sometimes a homework/project area, often a family meeting spot and gathering place for guests. Multiple demands can be met by this space.  My design studio also serves as my dining room for larger dinner parties. One dining room I designed is home to a baby grand piano.  While renovating an old home, I converted the library room into an intimate dining room;  the bookshelves around the perimeter were replaced with wine racks. Alfresco dining rooms decked out with fine dining and cooking elements are increasingly in demand.

Eating areas in today’s homes are generally adjacent to the kitchen and to the living area, expediting serving and for ease of entertaining. Often these spaces are seen from one another or, as in many modern homes and renovations, a large open space envelops them all. In a well designed interior visually shared spaces are carefully coordinated.  The only jarring adjacencies seen should be intentional.

The basic elements in every dining room are the same.  The artistic pairing and placement of these few elements infused with color and light can produce lively, engaging spaces delightful to eat, work or play in.