THE most important thing when you’re creating a space where you want to entertain is to design somewhere that has the right atmosphere, where everyone feels comfortable. When we entertain, we both like to make things as informal as possible. When you have people around to your home, it’s about having fun, relaxing, enjoying each other. You don’t want to create an interior that’s stark and stiff and pretentious.
One of the first things to consider with the room’s layout is seating. Even if we’re designing a hotel or a restaurant, we like to think about how a big country house drawing room might be laid out. Different types of furniture, from sofas and formal chairs to stools of different heights, help break the space into different zones, and allow people to move around freely. A small table the height of a dining table in one corner can be a good place for people to perch. We often have stools that live underneath the coffee table, which prevents the room looking like a sea of chairs.
Sound is an important thing to consider when you’re designing a room that will be filled with people. Having enough soft furnishings is essential to prevent that tinny sound, which guests might not consciously notice, but it will leave them feeling strange.
Bu hikaye Homes & Gardens dergisinin December 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Homes & Gardens dergisinin December 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A love letter to...
Nina Campbell explains why New England's Maine exerts a permanent pull on her heartstrings
A great escape
The iconic Gleneagles hotel marks its 100th anniversary this year
A PIECE OF PARADISE
This classic English garden in the Sussex countryside was a true labour of love, resulting in a place where there are stunning spaces - and vistas - at every turn
NATURAL ATTRACTION
A garden that invites wildlife in is rich in so many ways, as these diverse spaces illustrate
WILD PROSPECTS
Lulu Urquhart of Urquhart & Hunt takes a deep dive into the importance of our waterways as well as the work of nature's eco-engineer: the beaver
LIFE IN COLOUR
Around 30 years old, this country home used to be described as a white box - now it's a joyful place with fresh hues and uplifting pattern.
CALMING INFLUENCE
With its peaceful palette and carefully curated collection of antiques and modernist pieces, this handsome farmhouse is a balm for the soul
THE JOY OF...A rural idyll
This month, our columnist Joy Moyler extols the virtues of living - and working - in the countryside
Gather round
Dining spaces these days have many functions, but it is still important to make them beautiful for when they are playing host
Floral arrangement
Interior designer Sarah Vanrenen shares her wisdom on using floral fabrics and wallpapers