The growing trend towards using sustainable and natural materials in dining room design has been driven by a desire to be more environmentally con scious, as well as a preference for warm, organic textures and finishes. Natural materials such as wood, stone and metal are becoming increasingly popular. Similarly, dining tables that combine different materials – such as wood and metal, or stone and glass – are also trending, adding visual interest to the ta ble and creating an attractive focal point in the room. Minimalist dining sets with clean lines look stunning and are especially prev alent among Scandinavian design collections. While natural and neutral col ours are always popular, dining tables in bold, and even very dark, tones bring a whole different look – drawing focus and making a design statement. The standard rectangular table with four straight and slender legs has evolved, with forward-thinking design brands producing unusual-shaped tabletops and sculptural bases with an impressive visual impact. The growing trend towards casual dining rooms has led to more comforta ble seating options like upholstered chairs and benches, as well as the incor poration of cosy accessories such as area rugs, soft lighting and decorative accents to create a welcoming atmosphere. The dining area tends to be a versatile and much-visited part of your living space, where you not only dine but also come together to chat, have drinks, play games and even work. So it is important to put some careful thought into this area of your home so that everyone can enjoy it – for all its diverse roles.

Designed by Alain van Havre, Ethnicraft’s Mikado solid oak dining table has become one of the brand’s most celebrated designs. It achieves a balance between functionality and stability through inter locking legs that are reminiscent of the puzzle after which it is named. Shown here with Ethnicraft’s Bok dining chair in teak, which can be used both indoors and outdoors, its graceful design has a backrest similar to the shape of a goat’s horns. The Osso stool is great for extra seating and can also be used in the living room as a footrest or side table. Ethnicraft is available from Metamorfoza Home Interiors in Pol. Ind. Nueva Campana 53 in Nueva Andalucía (www.home-metamorfoza.com) and through Siesta Interior Design in C. Plaza in Nueva Andalucía (www.siestainteriordesign.com) .

FEASTING YOUR EYES ON THE DINING AREA

The exceptional design of Enne’s Menhir dining table is created by combining dark solid ash wood and fusion glass. Shown here with their Petra A dining chairs, which are classic but also timeless in style, the look is finished off with Enne’s striking Zenith pendant lamp – described as being “elegance illuminated”. The Majlis by Monika Woodley, situated in C.C. La Poveda on Marbella’s Golden Mile, is an exclusive retailer of Enne (www.themajlis.es) .

Blade by Modulnova, shown here as a rectangular dining table with their Sahara Noir stoneware top, is the ultimate in luxury and cut ting-edge design. It is minimalist yet inviting and highly durable. The Modul nova showroom is situated in Avda. de Salamanca 12 in San Pedro de Alcán tara (www.modulnovamarbella.com) .