Features

Refining your dining room

By Homestore Plans, and Publications
Saturday June 22, 2002

It’s no wonder that grand banquet halls are rarely found in North American homes — our architectural heritage is limited enough that our commercial edifices and residential neighborhoods are built primarily for utility, not grandeur. Still, as evidenced by increasingly elegant suburban homes, we long to incorporate such spaces into our modern abodes, perhaps because they satisfy a small part of our fairy-tale dreams. 

If your entertaining needs call for a spacious, stylish and functional dining area, but your budget can’t accommodate much square footage, consider a scaled-down dining room with a few simple, elegant design features that create the same effect without the prohibitive costs. For example, a cathedral ceiling, even atop a relatively small room, lends an airy spaciousness to the dining area, and creates an opportunity for a beautiful, arched window arrangement to shed dramatic light on your meal. Add your own furniture and signature design features, and you’ve created an enviable spot for entertaining even the most haughty guest.