Five considered steps to a table worth sitting at.
1. Start with a table that can take some living
Solid wood, ideally with some grain and character visible. A table that shows the marks of long dinners ages better, both literally and in spirit, than anything glass-topped.
2. Seat people in chairs with a spine
Carved wooden dining chairs with real structure photograph beautifully and, more importantly, hold up to actual use. Cushion them if needed, but don't hide the woodwork.
3. Dress the table, even on a Tuesday
A table runner, cloth napkins, a low centrepiece that doesn't block conversation. Setting the table properly turns an ordinary meal into something a little more deliberate.
4. Light it with flame, or the memory of it
A wrought-iron chandelier overhead, candles at the table. Dining rooms are one of the few spaces where slightly too much warmth is exactly the right amount.
5. Leave room for the view
If there are windows or doors onto a garden or courtyard, don't block them with furniture. A dining room with a glimpse of outside always feels more generous than one without.