Dining at Home During a Pandemic
Once upon a time, nearly everyone dined at home regularly. Then the restaurant culture took over strongly in America - from fast food to fine dining - and our habits shifted. Well, guess what? Thanks to an unprecedented #stayathome movement necessitated by the coronvirus, we’ve all been dining at home again!
I, for one, am really happy to see this as a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy era. One of the pleasures of my interior design practice is creating special spaces for clients to dine and entertain family and friends. Whether you have a formal dining room, breakfast room, eat-in kitchen or island with seating, creating an enjoyable ambiance for communal gathering is key to a well-balanced life. During the summer months here in New England, outdoor dining can offer yet another lovely setting for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
BREAK OUT THE FINE CHINA
I ascribe to the mise en place - everything in its place - philosophy. A well-placed sideboard or pair of servers near the dining table provides ample storage to life’s little pleasures making candle sticks, votives, and linens easily accessible. While we’re having regular meals together, let’s celebrate the shift by setting the table, using the fine china, and lingering over the meal. We don’t have to wait for a holiday. Even if you’re living and dining solo, make it special. Fresh flowers from the garden, potted herbs, and decorative bowls filled with fruit add life and uplifting color to your day.
As we’ve mentioned before, lighting is important for creating a mood. We often enlist striking light fixtures over a dining table as in the above Back Bay Brownstone dining room. In addition to being a light source, it provides visual interest and can add a sculptural element of fun and surprise.
We’ve designed kitchens that offer spaces for eating, either at an island or a table. The colorful option below, featured in Boston Home, delivers quite a lot of storage, efficiency, and visual impact for a pied-à-terre.
If you’re using your dining room as an office or craft room for the kids by day, clean off the table and use it for meals. Just as when you’re searching for an office chair, finding a beautiful, comfortable dining chair is worth the effort. It promotes sobremesa - the Spanish word for the time you spend at the table after the meal. It usually involves conversation and laughter. We’re all for it! The art-filled dining area below doubles as a work from home office and conference table during the day…
AL FRESCO DINING IS DIVINE
We love an outdoor setting for dining under the sun or the stars. These are two of our favorite outside spots. Collaborating with landscape architects and designers is always inspiring.
