Irwin & Nicola talk about the history of dining rooms and how their functions and usefulness have evolved over time. This video will help you make the most of your dining room space. Learn how to make it multi-functional and everyday useful.

Video Transcription

[Music Playing] Irwin: Welcome to design 2 share Q&A. I am Irwin. Nicola: And I am Nicola. Today the question is “How can I make my dining room special? Irwin: Well, first of all we need to establish that the dining room is indeed a very special place. And it should remain such a special place. So, many people are getting rid of the dining rooms converting them into dens, bedrooms. They just do not feel that it is actually usable largely because they so sound amused. They feel that it is used on Thanksgiving, Christmas and just certain holidays but it really should not be. Nicola: Yes. And you know with the use of like family room, they are kind of being swallowed up. But really to maintain the dining room I think, you know, it is lovely to get together and have that intimate feeling. You know, supposed to rooms being open to the rest of the house. Irwin: Right. They can be quite versatile. In the dining room has a table and has sitting. So, many times you actually sit around the table whether it is with a laptop or writing a letter or playing a game. Nicola: Yes. Yes. Irwin: I mean the dining room could be designed in such a way that it is not just quite so formal. Nicola: Right. Irwin: You think of dining room are supposing that can show like this specially as being sort of very sort of formal traditional, theatrical. But it can be all of that but it can also be contemporary and it could be quite relaxed too. Nicola: Yes. And in fact, you did sort of a library calm dining room for one client, which was very successful. You know that, display their books. It was such a multipurpose room. Irwin: Absolutely. And when you consider that as a library and you can use the table to work and you can even have a--you know, flat screen TV which is just so useful these days and rather than trying to conceal the old fashioned cheap TV. Putting on a TV, it is not expensive and you can use the room for most of the year as a library and then you can just still rearrange the room and use it as a dining room when you need to. Nicola: Right. And also it is nice when you can have table that is versatile so that you have a leaves that you can kind of take out as when you need them or include them for holidays. And what I also like is if the space allows it if you can have a circular table this is very conducive to having a conversation with guest. Irwin: Yes. And there are some circular tables expand differently. A small circular table can expand with leaves, which is more to racetrack shape oval as suppose an egg-shape oval, elliptic oval. Nicola: Yes. Irwin: And then it can have perimeter leaves as well as leaves that are pies, which is an Old English Aguilar’s table that has that. Nicola: Right, right. Irwin: Which is quite wonderful and then quite expensive, but they are just terrific designs and terrific ways to use tables and different types of tables and they room can be really quite flexible. Nicola: Yes. Irwin: Up until the Second World War a lot of the very fancy homes in New York especially have smaller tables for just the intimate family. And of course, they had hoped that could do these and the tables were expanded depending on how many people went for dinner that night. And you would have a tiny little table in the center of a very large room that chase around the perimeter of the room and the family still if they are going to have an intimate dinner. And also the room could be use for cocktail parties. So, it was a reception room that was with the smaller table in the center. Center table as you say. Nicola: And let us not forget about the sitting in a dining room. It is great, you know, there is generally a rule of thumb with sitting that for how ever many people your living room could sit, you should have the same number around your dining table. Irwin: Right and of course, always you can have folding chairs but if you want to certainly the chairs that was in your kitchen let say could be used in your dining room. So, when you actually buy you kitchen chairs— Nicola: Have little thoughts-- Irwin: Have a thought that it might connect or it might relate in somewhere so that you do not get sort of too extreme in one particular style. But that it can be used or perhaps it is a desk chair in a bedroom. They clean up here of desk chairs and you do not want in each room that could be brought in as additional chairs into the dining room. Of course in this dining room was really cool. We have a sofa that quite high and that can be used as additional sitting. And it is great to have like sort of cheerful kids or people that you know each other quite well or get to know each other quite well or squeezing together on the sofa. It is a lot of fun. Also in this dining room we have a bar cabinet creating a more versatile situation that the room could be used just as we are sitting here this table can be used either for display of collections or it could be used to work on or it could be used for dining of course. The sofa could use with—around the surface used for sitting, absolutely. So, that is sort of flexibility that I think is really very welcome. Nicola: And also, it is nice to think of creating some kind of drama. You know, it can be quite a dramatic play--plays with colors. Also, if you use lighting in the right way I mean there is nothing more romantic than a candlelight dinner. Irwin: Absolutely. And you should not have to wait for guest. I mean it is really typically easy. I mean just sort of light up your candles, you bring the food in on a tray. Can be take out food that has just been repackaged and just put it out in beautiful dishes and you can have a great dinner even if it is you alone or if it is with somebody. I mean that why not? Nicola: So, in summary I think we can say, be a little bit flexible with the space and how you decorate. It can be multifunctional and try and create a little bit of drama and also a sense of intimacy. And enjoy it. Irwin: And do not be intimidated by, do not feel that it is just this formal space and need to be used on rare occasions. I am Irwin. Nicola: And I am Nicola. Thank you for watching design 2 share Q&A. If you are wondering what to serve in a more formal dinner setting, try our wine 2 share recommendation—Charlie’s Chard from Dog House Wine in Santa Rosa, California. This fruity 2005 Chardonnay has caramel apple flavors complementing creamy textures. Its bright acidity and vanilla nuances for this perfectly balanced wine. We also like the fresh lemony and sweet citrusy aroma; a great way to say welcome and drink up to your dinner guests. Go to their website at doghousewine.com and click on Robbie the dog’s entertaining guides to wine tasting and your path. You will learn a lot and hear Robbie’s bark as well. So, make your next dining experience a real treat and try our wine 2 share Dog House Charlie’s Chard 2005. [Music Playing]