Home Entertaining: Part 3: Dining Room Extras & Accessories
What to Consider when Deciding on Additions and Accessories for the Dining Room
By London Interior Design Expert, Irene Gunter
After the main pieces of dining room furniture have been found, there’re still quite a few items to consider – and they can actually be the fun things to choose! After all, a dining room is a place of entertainment, warmth, and conviviality.
Table Linen
Table linen is important within a dining scheme, it can set a seasonal tone or it can be classic, understated, and simple. Many of our clients already own beautiful sets of china and glassware, but sometimes we are tasked with searching for new items, as well as linens, trays, and placemats. If a client has some treasured linens, perhaps inherited from the family, for example, we can also track down napkins and other items that can be mixed in and used with those treasures. Also, laying the table with a cloth makes it feel like a real occasion – and it also has the advantage of protecting the table surface. We always advise that a table protector be used with a precious table surface, too.
We love the range of table linens (and bedding!) at Gayle Warwick. Gayle and her team can supply bespoke tablecloths and other linens to fit your table – so if you have an oval table or an extra-long or extra-wide table, they will make the perfectly sized cloth. The collection also includes seasonal designs, including Christmas-themed ideas. Other services include designing complete seasonal sets or sets for specific celebratory occasions, as well as suggestions for day-to-day use, such as leather placemats. We love working with them, they come up with some great ideas for us!
Gunter & Co’s Four Table Linen Ideas
For items that will become family heirlooms.
For natural linens in soft, subtle shades.
For printed French-style and elaborately embroidered cloths and napkins.
For whimsical and quirky tableware, linens, and table-scaping concepts.
See also: also: Birdie Fortescue, The Edition 94, Rebecca Udall
Rugs
The dining room will almost definitely need a rug, especially if the room has hard flooring (such as timber or tiles), not just to zone the space but also to avoid chair legs scratching the wooden floor. This is where we try to be really specific about the size of the rug, and of the table. Practically speaking, it’s more comfortable to sit at the table on a large rug, with enough space for chairs to be drawn in and out without colliding with the edge of the rug. So we take into account the size of the table when it’s extended, as well as the width of the table, to allow sufficient room for chair-shuffling! Over the years we’ve quite often specified an unnatural material that can withstand a bit of cleaning, such as rugs from the unnatural flooring company. We also go for a rug or room square made of sisal or other natural grass. These can be bound to match the colour scheme, and of course, there are also options for coloured sisal or coir. We also like a flatweave rug, such as those from Roger Oates or Crucial Trading. It’s a simple design option, adding texture and a feeling of comfort and warmth. Don’t forget, a rug under the table and chairs also softens the acoustics, and makes a hard floor seem cosier.
Gunter & Co’s 4 rug ideas
For classic tufted rugs and flatweaves, and of course for colourful stair runners.
For naturals, tufted, and flatweaves in myriad colours and bespoke sizes.
For faux sisal rugs which are ideal for dining rooms, and also for kitchens and even bathrooms.
Bar Area
A bar trolley, bar area, or drinks cabinet is a very welcome addition to a formal dining room. If you choose the former, then a trolley can be moved around as needed, so can be wheeled into the living room for relaxed evenings or after-dinner conversation. A built-in bar area is a lovely concept, and we are often seeing them incorporated into kitchen areas – perhaps just as a designated cupboard, but also as a focal-point feature, with plenty of shelves for all the bottles, plus glassware on display and all the accessories to hand nearby. If you’re making the effort to have an official bar or bar area, we always think it’s rather special to have some lovely glassware on display. Investing in the right size glasses for the drinks you’ll be offering makes guests feel cherished and looked after! And a display of pretty cocktail glasses or a colourful collection always looks welcoming and attractive. A bar area can also be included within a dining room, especially if the scheme includes fitted furniture. We can specify cupboards with shelves for glassware, a mixing/serving surface, and perhaps a small fridge or chiller too. A sideboard or dresser can also be designated as bar furniture too … consider a pair of sideboards or dressers – one for the china and serving ware, and one for the glassware and drinks equipment! Of course, it all depends on the scale of your social events, and how many guests need to be looked after!
Gunter & Co’s Four Chic Bar Carts
Brilliant brass drinks trolley.
Inspired by a French 1940s drinks trolley owned by ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev.
Next time, in our Home Entertaining Series we’ll be looking at our top tips and must have products to create beautiful and comfortable guest bedrooms.