Eating and entertaining

Lamps and spotlights will provide both task and mood lighting

A dining room – or simply a space adjacent to the kitchen that has its own look and feel – can have a cosy atmosphere and, when styled for entertaining, can become quite magical. You can add drama with paint, wallpaper and fabrics, while curtains and upholstered chairs enhance the mood and have the practical benefit of absorbing sound.

Decor that is personal to you, such as artworks that you’ve acquired over the years, will give the room a look that is all your own. I also love to include panelling, which lends formality and allows you to manipulate proportions. One of my favourite types is waist-high panelling – or wainscoting – which I like to paint in a colour different from the walls. Side tables and corner cupboards provide useful storage for the paraphernalia of dressing a table.

Of course, not all houses have dining rooms. Even open-plan kitchens, however, offer an opportunity to add a touch of drama to the space where you are entertaining. Pendant lamps and spotlights on independent dimmer switches will provide both task lighting for cooking and versatile mood lighting for entertaining. When lights in the kitchen are dimmed, it will throw the focus of attention on to the dining area.