March 19, 2004

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Publication Date: Friday, March 19, 2004

A dining room with oomph

By Kit Davey

Most of us reserve the dining room for company, making it one of the least-used spaces in our homes. You can increase your use of the room by making it a more friendly space, and improve its appeal by adding creative touches that reflect your personal style.

Seating

To spice up the seating:

* Paint each of your chairs in a different color, or paint the host and hostess chair in one color and the rest in another.

* A table with six mismatching chairs can look interesting. Make sure they have the same seat height and that they have at least one design element in common (same wood, period, overall shape, etc.). Or, unify them by painting them all in the same color. You can pick up loose chairs for $5 or less at garage sales and flea markets.

* Make a matching set of six chairs more interesting by replacing the host and hostess chair with larger, upholstered pieces. Use the leftover chairs elsewhere in the house.

* To make after-dinner conversations more comfortable, make or purchase color-coordinated pillows and lean them on the back of each chair.

* Make your own seat cushions with fabric from Calico Corners or Norman Bernie's (342-8586), or purchase ready-made cushions from Cost Plus, Pier One or Stroud's.

The sideboard

Most homes have the traditional hutch or sideboard displaying china and glassware. Buying one that matches your dining set is a safe way to go, but if you dare to be different, try:

* a six-drawer bedroom dresser

* a sofa or hall table with an antique trunk underneath

* a Japanese tonsu (wooden chest with iron hardware)

* a credenza or

* an antique desk.

When displaying your treasures in a hutch or other display case, remember to cluster like objects together, weed out clutter and lean plates up behind your stemware. Row after row of dusty goblets are boring, so store some of them out of sight and rotate clusters of them between groupings of other objects.

Table linens

Your selection of linens can invite a sense of fun to dinner.

* Try an unusual table cloth: Aunt Melba's old quilt, a Beacon or Mexican blanket, a colorful sheet or bedspread.

* Make place mats out of old blue jeans and use bandanas as napkins.

* Make long-lasting mats: Have your child decorate six to eight sheets of construction paper, or create a unique collage yourself. Take to a copy shop that offers lamination services and have them laminated.

* All you need to make a napkin is a piece of fabric about 18-inch by 18-inch. I've made one-of-a-kind napkins out of old shirts, dresses, tablecloths, curtains and fabric remnants purchased at yard sales.

The centerpiece

A dining-room table can look barren without a centerpiece. Why not try something more interesting than the standard bowl of flowers and candlesticks? How about:

* a bowl filled with marbles, buttons, glass fishing net floats, beach stones, nuts, billiard balls or shells

* a pair of antique stuffed bears, sitting back to back, surrounded by smaller stuffed animals

* a row of graduated pine cones

* a fish bowl with several goldfish

* a water-filled raku bowl with a single blossom or three fall leaves floating in it

* a dozen vases in varying heights, clustered together and brimming with fresh cut flowers from your garden

* a grouping of harvest-colored gourds and pumpkins

* a collection of candlestick holders in varying heights on a silver tray.

Dishes

Most households have two sets of dishes: the "good china," used once or twice a year, and the everyday dishes. I have one set of dishes, saving myself a lot of hassle and expense. (None of my family or friends has complained about eating off my everyday dishware yet!)

* Dish sets are typically sold in boxes serving four. Buy three boxes; use two sets and store the third. Replace the plates that get chipped with those from your spare box over time.

* For a colorful setting: buy two or three solid-colored dish sets and mix them together.

* Pick up mismatching antique dinner plates at rummage sales or flea markets. When placed on lace place mats, the effect can be charming.

One last touch

Dress up your chandelier: Drape silk ivy tendrils from it; add a bird's nest and bird for fun. For the holidays, tie strands of ribbon or ornaments from it.

Kit Davey is a Redwood City-based interior designer who redecorates using what you already own. You can call her at 367-7370, e-mail her at KitDavey@aol.com, or visit her Web site at AFreshLook.net.