The luxury of a proper dining room is something most small-space dwellers forgo, but not Sara Emslie, stylist and author of Beautifully Small: Clever Ideas for Compact Spaces. In her own house, a 640-square-foot Victorian in London, Emslie created a serene dining room with a four-person table, foldaway outdoor dining chairs, and organized storage on open shelving. Here’s a look at the key elements to re-create the look in your own small (or large) space.
Above: Photograph by Rachel Whiting from Required Reading: Beautifully Small.
Above: Photograph by Rachel Whiting from Required Reading: Beautifully Small.
Furniture & Lighting
Above: The Reed Half Pendant by David Trubridge is $3,610 at Horne.
Above: Ikea’s Stornäs Extendable Table in Antique Stain is $329.
Above: Fermob’s Bistro Folding Chair, Set of 2, shown here in Willow, is $216 at Lumens.
Above: The Original BTC Hector Medium Floor Light in Bone China is $509 at Horne.
Mantel Accessories
Above: A Woven Bread Basket from Morocco is $20 at Alder & Co. and similar to the basket hanging on Emslie’s wall.
Above: From Kirsten Hecktermann, the Full Moon Spoon is 13 inches and was hand-carved by Mwajira in East Africa from Mvule wood; £14 ($21).
Above: The FSC Teak Paddle Board is $39.95 from Crate & Barrel.
Above: The Glass Trap Pitcher is $12.95 at CB2.
Above: A Coffee Wood Tasting Spoon is $24.95 at Nickey Kehoe in Los Angeles.
Above: A Wire Storage Basket is $39 NZD ($26 USD) at Father Rabbit.
Tableware
Above: From London-based ceramic collective Brickett Davda, a Large Black Cup is $72 at March. We also like the Brickett Davda Tableware Collection for Toast for a similar shape.
Above: Brickett Davda Plates in black range from $52 to $152 at March.
Above: From Toast the Anna Tea Pot in charcoal-glazed porcelain is $110.
Above: Moroccan Recycled Glasses in green are $12.50 at Canvas.
Above: Marimekko’s Unikko Blue Oilcloth is $49.95 per yard from Textile Arts. For more ideas, see 5 Favorites: Scandinavian Modern Oilcloth for the Summer Table.
Above: The Shell Bisque Pitcher in white is $30 at Canvas.
Above: The Utensil Cotton Tea Towel Set in blue is $52.50 at Canvas.
Above: A large handwoven Kiondo Basket measuring 22 inches wide and seven inches high is $165 at Lost & Found in LA. The shop also sells smaller versions starting at $125.
For more ideas on how to live in small spaces, see our posts:
- Expert Advice: 11 Tips for Making a Room Look Bigger
- 16 Tricks for Maximizing Space in a Tiny Kitchen, Urban Edition
- Small-Space Living: 6 Tips for Maximizing Storage in the Minimal Bath
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