A dining space is essential in every home but in a Hamptons home, it’s common to have more than one.
The Hamptons lifestyle is about both luxurious and laid-back living, and entertaining becomes a big part of this. The dining room is where we host dinner or sit with family over a main meal and catch up on each other’s lives. It’s an important part of the home and deserves special attention. Here’s what to include in yours.
Breakfast dining
The humble breakfast nook has surged in popularity lately, with brunch a favoured meal — and pastime — and homes are now being specifically designed with more family-orientated breakfast zones in mind. Often smaller and with simple, comfortable chairs or a built-in bench seat, the breakfast nook becomes one of the most used spaces in a family home, rivalled only by the kitchen island.
Begin by assessing the space and how it can best be utilised. Can the nook accommodate a 1.8-metre round table or will a thinner oval-shaped table fit better? How many people in your family do you need to seat? A built-in bench or a narrow sofa might be perfect for younger children, and no more than a few single chairs around will keep it feeling cosy. It would be smart to upholster the chair seats in a highly durable fabric that is easy to clean and stain-resistant.
Never miss an opportunity to add a pendant. Feature lighting creates ambience, enhances the aesthetics and communicates the tone of your home. Finish this space off with some textured placemats, beautiful plates and coffee mugs and a bowl of fresh fruit.
Formal dining
Family dinners, parties and celebrations and seasonal holiday banquets call for a gorgeous dining experience. If space allows, a three-metre-long dining table is sure to accommodate a large gathering. Dining chairs may be more formal and elegant in this space, with luxurious button back upholstery and grand Carver chairs at either end, also known as the King and Queen chairs.
An oversized table, a long, linear pendant or even two mid-sized chandeliers in a gorgeous nickel or brass would perfectly set the mood for an intimate and lively feast. Bring out the good china for events such as these, polish the silverware and shine the crystal, then layer it all with gorgeous linen napkins, a plethora of fiery candlesticks and vases of fresh greenery picked from your garden.
Outdoor dining
Holiday homes in the Hamptons were traditionally an escape from the city for wealthy New Yorkers, built with an emphasis on effortless entertaining and for spending quality time with loved ones.
Channel this intention by building your outdoor space with socialising in mind. It can be as simple as setting up an alfresco dining area and BBQ or a more elaborate outdoor kitchen with a bar. When designing a Hamptons-style outdoor space, having somewhere to host dinner and drinks is key.
With our Australian indoor-outdoor lifestyle and gorgeous weather, bringing our dining experiences outside is a no-brainer! Whether it be in full sun or on a sheltered alfresco, choose dining tables and chairs that are weather resistant and of excellent quality. Make sure your outdoor seat cushions are also weatherproof, upholstered in a fabric that won’t fade from the sun.
Dress your dining arrangement in a gorgeous tablecloth of blue and white prints. Layer rattan placemats and napkin rings with melamine dishes and acrylic glassware that is sure not to shatter. Patterns and textures can take centre stage here, incorporating the colours of your surrounding environment or taking their cue from your interior colour palette to really tie the two spaces together. Style the centre of the table with gorgeous florals and jugs of fresh cocktails, leaving space for your serving dishes of deliciousness.
This article originally appeared in Hamptons Living #1