fbpx

Rethinking the Dining Room

Although it’s long been considered a symbol of wealth and status, the formal dining room for many has become somewhat of a relic in recent years.

But, unsurprisingly, as the global pandemic wore on, and we leaned into the idea of enjoying meals at home, there has been a resurgence of excitement around what had become an often-underused area of the home. While enjoying meals in a casual living area, in a kitchen with counter seating or in a breakfast room may continue to be the norm, making time to enjoy conversation and comforting food with friends and family in a special setting never will get old.

To shed light on current dining room trends, Lifestyle spoke to local experts in the design and furniture industries.

Lighter Looks: To create a dining room that is timeless, calming and inviting, consider choosing a table, chairs and accompanying cabinetry in lighter hues.

Kari Fletcher, director of marketing at Baer’s Furniture, says many customers are gravitating toward sets like the featured Solaria collection by Bernhardt, which echoes the Bauhaus design style of simplicity and function.

“Clearly, we’ve seen a major influx of people moving from the Northeast in the last couple of years, and these people do not bring their heavy, dark dining sets from their previous homes,” notes Fletcher. “They want a more casual, coastal look that is characterized by a fresh, neutral palette.” (baers.com)

Make It Multifunctional: At the onset of the pandemic, working from home equated to finding any suitable spot in the house for your computer. Frequently, unless you already had a dedicated home office, said spot was the dining room table.

According to Miami-based interior designer Elizabeth Ghia, she has had countless requests for dining rooms that function as comfortable workspaces. And with many people continuing to adhere to a hybrid work-from-home schedule, this trend is still proving to be popular.

“Overall, I’m seeing a lot of interest in dining rooms that offer more than just dining,” Ghia says. “For example, I recently completed projects where one client wanted their dining room to also function as a library with built-in bookshelves. Another wanted their dining room to double as a games area.” (elizabethghia.com)

Dealing With Clutter: While the dining room may have been a frequent host to miscellaneous or seasonal decorative pieces and a place to display a bar cart brimming with spirits and barware, leaving such items in view no longer makes sense. Especially if your dining room is going to serve multiple purposes, the less clutter, the better. So, in lieu of an overflowing bar cart, consider a more streamlined bar cabinet or a buffet, which will offer storage for your bottles and accessories while keeping them organized and out of sight.

Art-Inspired Lighting: To add a dose of interest to your dining room, Fort Lauderdale interior designer DawnElise Hamilton suggests installing a sculptural light fixture.

In her featured dining room design, which is situated in a condominium unit perched above Fort Lauderdale Beach, a dramatic light fixture design amplifies the open-concept space that extends to sweeping floor-to-ceiling city views.

To create contrast, Hamilton installed an oval multipendant fixture that extends from a custom soffit accented by zebrawood. “The soft and flowing organic shapes create an immediate focal point in a room that is otherwise a blank canvas defined by glass and glossy tile flooring,” Hamilton says. (dawneliseinteriors.com)

Vibrant Wallcoverings: If your dining room allows, consider covering one or more of its walls with a vibrant mural or patterned wallcovering.

According to Ghia, panoramic murals, like the one she applied to the tropical dining room in her featured Miami project, can infuse a space with a unique panache.

“This custom-made mural was sourced from a Parisian company named Ananbo,” Ghia says. “It’s done in the single-toned style of grisaille, which gives it an antique French colonial feel.”

By Mallory Evans Jacobson

You May Also Like

Dolphin Mall in Miami to Open Entertainment Venue Featuring Dining and Hospitality Options

Taubman Realty Group and Live! Hospitality & Entertainment partnered to create Vivo! Dolphin Mall, which will feature 62,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space with an expansive 30,000-square-foot al fresco plaza set to debut this summer. Vivo! will provide a destination for premium entertainment, food, drinks and first-class hospitality in Miami.  “It’s been incredible

Las Olas Wine & Food Festival Returns for 27th Anniversary

The Las Olas Wine and Food Festival (LOWFF) will celebrate its 27th anniversary on Friday, April 21. As one of Fort Lauderdale’s most extensive wine and food festivals, the event will transform Las Olas Boulevard and offer guests the opportunity to sip, sample and enjoy dishes from 40 of South Florida’s finest restaurants and more

Vinya Wine to Celebrate National No Phone Day With Miami’s Top Restaurants

Wanting restaurant guests to enjoy their meal and camaraderie with friends and family, Vinya Wine is spearheading an initiative to encourage patrons to enjoy a sip of wine with friends or family on National No Phone Day. Organized by Allegra Angelo, Vinya Wine partner and sommelier, Tuesday, April 18 has been declared No Phone Day,

W Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach to Host Post Tortuga Party

The Tortuga Music Festival on Fort Lauderdale Beach will bring thousands of concertgoers to the area for a weekend of live musical entertainment. The popular event is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with headliners Eric Church (Friday), Shania Twain (Saturday) and Kenny Chesney (Sunday), each performing for more than 25,000 fans. However, the party

Other Posts

Diversity Honors at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Unveils Honorees

Groundbreaking and internationally acclaimed recording icon Belinda Carlisle will be among the recipients.

FuelFest Makes Return to West Palm Beach

The event features over 700 cars and live-action drifting with fan ride-alongs and a concert.

Frost Science Hosts Event Highlighting Guinness World-Record Flight 

Captain Barrington Irving will discuss his historic achievement.

New Restaurants and Additions Wanted for Hallandale Beach Event Series

The lineup is part of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which has raised over $37 million for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at FIU.