New York apartment - The dining room

A Tour of Bunny's New York Apartment

New York Apartment - The Dining Room

I knew a traditional dining room wouldn't work for our lifestyle, so I wanted to take the time to evaluate the best use of this space for us and the way we live.

The Dining Room

• Architecturally speaking, this is quite an awkward room; there is just one small window in the corner of the room and a few doorways. This meant I needed to think about the architecture first, before deciding on furniture and the decorating scheme.

• I added four pilasters to give the room a formal sense of structure that it was previously lacking and to break up the long walls.

• A built-in bookcase at one end of the room holds many books, as well as offering storage for both work equipment and dining accessories - supporting the multifunctional nature of this room.

• An extendable dining table offers maximum flexibility; allowing plenty of space when you're hosting larger gatherings, without taking up too much room when you're not. I have a set of six matching chairs that live around the dining table. I then have another set of six chairs that are scattered around the apartment in various rooms but can be easily pulled in when I am hosting larger numbers.

• I have used furniture to create distinct zones. As well as the dining area, there is also a comfortable seating area with a cosy sofa and armchairs. Two long tables allow me to offer buffet-style meals.

• A wall-to-wall sisal carpet and linen upholstered walls have a sound-dampening effect and ensure the room isn't too loud or echoey.

• Opting for the same caramel colour across the walls and cabinetry has a cocooning effect that feels warm and relaxing.

• To make hanging art easier, I will lay the pieces out on the floor first to experiment with different configurations and groupings. There aren't any hard-and-fast rules but it's all about making the display feel balanced.

• Four downlights in each corner provide general lighting, while a central pendant offers a more atmospheric glow. I added wall lights to the bookcases, primarily to help me see the titles of the books, but they also add a great level of light to the darkest area of the room.