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Omaha Magazine

Table for Two or, Eventually, More

May 27, 2021 04:29PM ● By Chris Stout-Hazard
mismatched chairs in a horse-themed dining room

Photo by Chris Stout-Hazard

While Roger and I certainly have big appetites and can work our way around a kitchen without setting fire to anything, no one would describe us as chefs or tremendous dinner-party hosts. Our less-than-formal eating habits were reflected in our past homes’ dining spaces—typically, compact areas meant to grab a quick meal, or highly styled rooms that put form over function.

But as with many households, the past year has transformed our dining behavior for the better. Instead of always eating on the go, we’ve been cooking and baking at home and enjoying leisurely meals. This time together at the dining table has been a good thing. The past year also inspired the direction we took in remaking our farmhouse dining room.   

  The room is the epitome of a pass-through space, connecting the entry and center stairway with the kitchen. While a traditional dining room layout would plop a table right in the center, we chose not to go this route, as it would impede movement through the house and, well, no one likes a traffic jam between two energetic Goldendoodles and two grumpy dudes trying to quickly haul in groceries.

Our solution was to place a large rectangular table off-center toward the far end of the room. Instead of chairs on the far side, we built a wall-to-wall banquette with a leather bench and a backrest of oversized pillows. A mix of some favorite chairs rounds out the seating.

 We added character and durability with painted tongue-and-groove boards covering the lower two-thirds of the dining room walls. Custom-printed wallpaper from Poland featuring vintage illustrations of horses covers the remaining wall space. We used charcoal-
bronze paint to enhance the ceiling, and carried over the painted diamond pattern from the living room floor.

A spindle-back bench gives us a place to sit and put on a pair of shoes, and a large wardrobe found in an online classified ad, repainted in a spring green, works as an improvised coat closet. Overhead track lighting was installed, with spot bulbs highlighting the art, and we positioned a Nelson bubble lamp over the dining table. The warm room not only invites frequent dining, but for guests to linger in converation long after the meal.


Until next time, Roger and Chris, at Double Heart Farm.  

This article is part of a series chronicling the home renovation of Roger Hazard and Chris Stout-Hazard, furniture designers with Roger+Chris. Read more on doubleheartfarm.com or follow along on instagram.com/dblheartfarm. 

This article originally appeared in the June 2021 issue of Omaha Home. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.  

Photo by Chris Stout-Hazard

 

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