In most homes, naturally the majority of mealtimes are without guests and are not formal. Many Chinese dining spaces are integrated with the rest of the house in such a way that they are not just for dining, but serve also as places to relax with family and friends. The table becomes a more communal and mixed-use piece of furniture. The design is normally straightforward and modest, perhaps with retro touches and family memories, with an emphasis on comfort and convenience for an area that sees frequent use. Family dining spaces tend to have in common a sense of striking a fine balance in the combination of traditional and contemporary designs. Ultimately, they have to function as a family hub, expressing a feeling of warmth and unity. Perhaps even more genuinely than formal dining rooms that aim to showcase a certain style and flair to guests, family dining spaces reflect in their decoration a true sense of the owner’s personality and preferences.
A family dining table and a counter bar for more casual eating by the kitchen flank steps leading up to a roof terrace in a two-level Hong Kong apartment.
The dining room of a villa in Fuchun, near Hangzhou, designed by Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy, references traditional Chinese post-and-beam construction.
French/Chinese place settings add charm to the dining room in Laetitia Charachon’s Shanghai longtang house.
A painting by Chinese artist Shu Jie, ‘Small Eyes Over the World, Pistol’, 2008, overlooks the dining area of the Bouillet House in Shanghai.
A 1930s dining table and furniture from Shanghai complement the contemporary white cotton upholstery in an Art Deco-styled apartment in Singapore.