4 Different Dining Rooms, 4 Different Looks
Date
After the long reign of open-concept living, we are now seeing a return to homes consisting of separate and divided spaces, each designed for a specific purpose. With this resurgence, we are speaking with more and more clients who desire a separate dining room, away from both the kitchen and the noise of the family room. Unlike formal dining rooms of the past, however, homeowners are veering away from stuffy spaces and opting for fun and colourful aesthetics that are a reflection of the personalities and lifestyles in the home.
Recently, while casually clicking through the pages on Australian Vogue Living, we came across several different dining rooms that caught our eye. Though each space is unique and elegant, they all have one thing in common – they are incredibly functional and feel relaxed in spite of their use of luxe pieces. Here are four of our favourites, along with a few shoppable suggestions on how to achieve the look…
A Focus on Sculptural Pieces
In a Notting Hill apartment, designed by Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi no less, a stunning dining room breaks the rules by embracing a mismatched approach. By using a sculptural sofa as a banquette, the space is incredibly comfortable and inviting. On the other side of the table, leather dining chairs do a beautiful job of complimenting the pieces without being too precious or perfectly matched. This aesthetic is ideal for those who prefer a tonal and neutral scheme but are in need of shaking things up and modernizing a tired dining room stuck in the past.
A New Take on Scandinavian Minimalism
If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that we love Athena Calderone’s design style. Her dining room in her Brooklyn home is no exception and is a refreshing take on Scandinavian Minimalism. Calderone’s designs have become known for her mixing of styles and mediums. This dining room is a true reflection of this carefully cultivated aesthetic in that the home as a whole, isn’t exclusively minimal or Scandinavian. That said, the simplicity of the streamlined dining table and chairs are a nice visual break amongst the elaborate trim, heavy wrought iron and clay patina found elsewhere in her home. This look is perfect for those who want something timeless that can be easily mixed in with a wide variety of interior design styles.
A Little Parisian Flair
Let’s just start by saying that Lauren Santo Domingo can do no wrong! Like her wardrobe, her Paris apartment is just utter perfection. Antique Louis XVI chairs are juxtaposed with a muted metallic dining table, which converts into a bar for parties (genius right?!) and with a sputnik-style chandelier glowing overhead. We love this look as it refuses to be pigeonholed into any one category and as a result, it is incredibly timeless. Though opulent, the mixing of styles also has the effect of making the space feel effortlessly chic. Although exact look-a-likes are hard to come by, a similar look can be achieved with round metallic dining tables that aren’t overly polished and surrounded by chairs with a French-country feel.
Embracing a Pop of Colour
In a family home in Melbourne, designer Robson Rak adds a touch of whimsy to the dining room in the form of powder blue dining chairs, surrounding a marble dining table. In a space that is otherwise predominantly black and white, the pop of colour brings life to the room and complements the artwork and pottery nicely. Dining chairs of this nature can be found in a variety of colours, making this a great option for reviving dining rooms in a wide range of homes.
