Creating the right atmosphere

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 12

Creating the right atmosphere

DINING IN ... by

MIRIAM ROBERTS

Eating is a lively part of group living, for meals are often one of the few daily happenings that bring an entire household together with a single purpose. The traditional, early twentieth century home with single purpose rooms generally set aside one enclosed area called the dining room in which most meals were eaten. Usually this room was used only for dining. Even today many people enjoy the special elegance that is created by a separate dining room. However with an increasing interest in flexible space, fewer households are willing or able to set aside a completely separate space that will

be used only for a short time each day. How open or closed the dining space should be will depend on the available room and lifestyle of the household. Ideally, having two or more eating areas allows more flexibility. An adjoining dining-kit-chen area is often more popular as it is not only for the family’s use, but also makes entertaining easier and more enjoyable. The breakfast bar/ partition between allows the host or hostess, to participate in the conversation of guests, at the same time as preparing and serving the meal.

When the occasion is more formal, the room should at least feel iso-

lated from the paraphernalia of cooking. The stronger the impression that the meal has been cooked by invisible experts, the more successful the party. When the dining area is a part of the living room, a greater degree of formality will be achieved, but it should still be close to the kitchen for quick and easy access. A hinged or panelled screen will provide some separation from the rest of the living room. Many people like to have the luxury of a separate dining room as a place to set the scene for relaxing, enjoying good food and conversation. Colour is the key to setting the mood of the

room. Traditionally, dining room schemes have revolved round deep opulent colours, crimson (psychologically causes saliva to flow and enhances fragrances) dusky terracotta, midnight blue, and rich green. This creates deep-col-oured’ backgrounds giving a sense of occasion and helps to bring the table and its setting into focus. Such colour schemes are ideal for offsetting dark timber and antique furniture, but will also create a sense of enclosure. Pale peach, light pink, and buttery yellow — while warming — will visually increase the size of the room. It is unwise to use more than two colours. After

all, people, food, and the table setting will provide much of the colour. As the table will be the focal point of the area, only a few pieces of furniture are needed so as not to detract from the focus — a dining table and chairs, a sideboard, trolley, or shelf from which to serve food.

Rectangular tables are popular and usually can be expanded to accommodate two and four more diners, and when not in use can be pushed back out of the way. They do, however, impose a hierarchy in the arrangement of the seating. Round, oval, and octagonal tables are more sociable and conducive to easy, relaxed participa-

tion in conversation from the whole table; they also take up less space, while seating a larger number of people. Chairs and table need not match. Often an eclectic mix is more comfortable and personal. Curved Regency chairs around a contemporary glass table, or cane and chrome Bauhaus chairs teamed with an old kauri, oak, or colonial table. Provided the furniture is well proportioned, most styles will mix so long as the pieces are of sympathetic sizes, i.e., chairs fitting under the table and of an appropriate height Also allow sufficient room for circulation and movement. Candles can cast a

romantic glow over the table setting, but only if they are above eye level. Below eye level, the flame will lengthen facial features to something akin to Dracula! A pendant with an opaque shade on a rise and fall centred above the table will direct light down on to the table, but make sure the shade is deep or low enough to conceal the bulb from view.

Too harsh a light can make the table appear like an operating theatre, ageing the diners by many years. Good illumination will be required by the sideboard to facilitate serving and to accent pictures or displays.