Relax, it’s casual dining
The term “dining room” seems to explain itself, but for many homeowners, especially those with space constraints, the room’s function is less easily defined. Is it an eating place? Homework area? Home office? Poker den? Why not all, says designer Kenneth Brown, host of HGTV’s “reDesign.” He says the trend in the dining room is to move away from formality and make the space versatile.
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Casual: “It’s difficult to feel relaxed in a formal setting,” Brown says. He suggests starting with a large square table that can fit two people on any side. If you’re stuck with a table that is not your style -- perhaps something you inherited from a relative -- drape it in fabric that suits your personality. If the table is used frequently as a work space, place pencil holders in the middle as an offbeat centerpiece.
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Practical: If the room is to be used for work, then be practical and provide storage. Don’t be afraid to use bookcases or other pieces to stow laptop computers, kids’ art projects and homework. “Turning it into a swanky place for drinks or a poker game is easy,” says Brown, who incorporated bookcases into the design of the dining room shown here. “It’s just about putting the markers away and throwing some green felt down for a poker table.”
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Dressed down: For one project, Brown replaced formal chairs with inexpensive, bright green Microsuede cubes, giving the room a hip look while emphasizing comfort. “People can just pull up an ottoman, and it instantly gives the room a more casual feel,” he says. Homeowners on a tight budget can create a dining room that feels like a living room. Set a coffee table like you would a dinner table, toss pillows on the floor and have your party there.
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Adventurous: “If you want to be daring,” Brown says, “get some lounge chairs that are comfortable and cut down the legs of your table to meet the height of the chairs. Dropping the table makes it more intimate and allows you to lean on it. My mom’s going to kill me, but c’mon. Whose rules are we following these days?”
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Artistic: Think of new ways of displaying china, Brown says. “Consider taking one wall and painting it an accent color and then hang plates Regency style.” Create a pattern on the wall: Take six white china plates and line them up in a straight line, then hang salad plates underneath or above. Think unconventionally, he says. “If there is a china cabinet, use it as storage space for cards or art supplies.”
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Recessed: Say goodbye to the big chandelier, Brown says. Don’t feel bound to a single traditional light fixture. In the project pictured here, Brown replaced a chandelier with recessed lights shining down on a beautiful collection of vases. Custom chandeliers are another route. In one cramped dining room, Brown used a chrome and red jeweled fixture as a focal point.
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Eclectic: Mix and match china patterns. “If you can’t find a set of something, don’t worry,” Brown says. Buy two plates here, three plates there. Forks, wine glasses, napkins -- change them all up, he says. Work variety to your advantage.
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Lisa Boone can be reached at home@latimes.com.
