The best dining rooms are not only comfortable and beautiful, but also adaptable. They are a welcoming zone for casual lunches to formal dinner parties and every type of special gathering in between. Hosting a memorable gathering should be as enjoyable as attending the event. Take pleasure in planning an unusual menu, and then add the little details with crockeries, cutleries and accessories that make the mood festive.

Eclecticism is perhaps the most enduring and endearing aspect of vintage décor styles. Anything goes; there are no rules, no rhyme or reason behind the choice of decoration other than an instinctive affiliation with each piece on the part of the owner.

Blue has a quiet, peaceful sprit and a thoughtful and dignified quality that is invaluable in a noisy, busy world. Blue conveys an essence of the deeper realms of the spirit and can bring inspiration and dream-like qualities to the home. In various cultures blue is seen as providing a link with the heavens and the spirit, giving it an aura of protection. It is a colour that gives out a message of trust, friendship, and loyalty.

As a designer I am really found of blue. It is not easy to turn your furniture to different colours only for events and special occasions. Furnishing is the easiest way to change your ambience. Accessories also play a great role in terms of makeovers. But be careful in selecting items for your dining room. Sometimes too many decor objects around your dining table creates clutter. But if you carefully create a colour theme for your special occasion, it's creates a stunning look.

For a classic walnut brown elegant dining table, I chose a turquoise blue table cloth. This summer, printed table linen are all the rage. I opted for blue and white crockeries and stainless steel cutlery. 

Blue china has a long history. By the beginning of the 17th century, Chinese blue and white porcelain was being exported directly to Europe. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Oriental blue and white porcelain was highly prized in Europe and America. It was sometimes enhanced by fine silver and gold mounts and collected by kings and princes.The European manufacture of porcelain started at Meissen in Germany in 1707. The detailed secrets of Chinese hard-paste porcelain techniques were transmitted to Europe through the efforts of the Jesuit Father Francois Xavier d'Entrecolle between 1712 and 1722. 

We arranged for blue printed dinner plates, half plates, a blue striped water jug, a hand painted small jug for milk or juice and blue glasses in keeping with the theme. Turkish floral printed blue plates interspersed with white plates and serving dishes were used to lend a sense of balance to the table. Blue and white are classic colours for china, reminiscent of Chinese designs and traditional English patterns. Blue on blue makes for a wonderful mix. You can either keep to lavender blues, lean towards greener denim blues, or mix them all together. White mixed with blue looks both fresh and clean and this combination is readily available in a multitude of inexpensive containers and linens. Simple Chambery, ginghams and tea towels can easily be given an elegant finishing touch with the addition of fringing tassels. Couple your table ware with statement antique pieces and dry or fresh flowers and you have yourself an elegant focal point for your Eid celebrations! 

Nazneen Haque Mimi
Interior Consultant
Journeyman
E-mail: journeyman.interiors@gmail.com
Photo: Shahrear Kabir Heemel