Design Directory 2021: dining room furniture

Elevate your dining experience with our round-up of the finest contemporary furniture, from sophisticated dining chairs to geometric tables, seductive lighting, and enchanting bar cabinets for an after-supper tipple. The Wallpaper* edit of delectable dining room furniture is part of the Wallpaper* Design Directory 2021 – our annual pick of inspiring new furniture for every room of the house.

Dining chairs

‘Velis PAW’ chairs by Mario Ferrarini for Potocco

Characterised by its curved backrest and airy lateral openings that lighten the design, the ‘Velis’ chair teams a frame in ash or Canaletto walnut with a wide selection of coverings. 

‘N02 Recycled’ chair by Nendo for Fritz Hansen

Not only is this elegant, stackable chair made from upcycled household plastic, it can also be recycled again if necessary. Designed by Japanese studio Nendo for Fritz Hansen, the backrest of the chair is based simply on a crease in a piece of paper, and provides extra support for the upper and lower back. As an homage to Fritz Hansen’s Danish roots, the chair comes in seven colours inspired by the earthy, warm tones of Scandinavian landscapes, including orange, dark blue and pale grey, and is available in four-legged, sledge and swivel base versions.

‘Teresina’ chair by Andrea Parisio for Meridiani

Designed by Meridiani’s art director Andrea Parisio, and intended to fit in both dining and living room settings, the ‘Teresina’ chair comes in two versions: ‘soft’ and ‘kuoio’. Soft, as the name suggests, brings with it warmth and comfort through a supple, padded leather back and seat over a sturdy oak frame, while the kuoio version makes use of a saddle leather body that is bonded to the chair’s arms and backrests, forming a suspended seat. Both versions can also support a pocket for the storage of magazines, books, tablets and the like.

Dining Tables and occasional tables

‘L45’ dining table by Guglielmo Poletti for Desalto

The rigorous geometry and neat lines of the ‘L45’ create the impression that the table top, available in a wide variety of woods or Fenix laminate, rests precariously on its four legs, a technical complexity that is cleverly concealed.

‘Dymen’ table by Claudia Surrage and Christian Cowper for Bernhardt Design

Mimicking the forms of industrial cooling towers, the ‘Dymen’ occasional table is made from sustainably harvested suar wood and coated with a black glaze to enhance its natural characteristics.

‘Native’ table by Stefano Giovannoni for Ghidini 1961

As part of Ghidini 1961’s 2021 offering, art director Stefano Giovannoni has designed the ‘Native’ table collection, nodding to the Italian brand’s origins as a metalwork specialist. He describes the collection as being ‘almost archetypal’ in its form, and ‘ageless’, thanks to its simplicity. There are two tables in the collection, round or rectangular with rounded corners, and each comes with either a wood or marble top, with edging available in a variety of metal finishes, including satin brass, black gold and brushed copper.

Dining room lighting

‘Wireline’ suspension lamps by Formafantasma for Flos

Featuring a tubular ribbed glass lamp with internal diffuser held by a rubber cable in either forest green or pink, the ‘Wireline’ pendant by Formafantasma for Flos works beautifully either alone or as part of an elaborate artistic arrangement.

‘Cycnus’ pendant by AYTM

In Greek mythology, the name Cycnus was often given to characters who were, at some point in the story, transformed into swans. The word is now taking on new meaning as the name of a collection of lamps by Danish brand AYTM. Inspired by the bird’s regal bearing, the collection includes a floor lamp, a table lamp and a wall lamp, as well as a pendant, crafted from aluminium, porcelain and iron. The lampshade, which resembles the wings of a swan about to take flight, is designed to create a soft, upward glow, and comes in black or taupe.

‘Zeleste’ table lamp by Àngel Jové and Santiago Roqueta for Santa & Cole 

Named after the Barcelona bar that it was created for, the ‘Zeleste’ lamp, designed in 1969 and recently reissued by Santa & Cole, is made from translucent white alabaster, which emits a cosy warmth. 

More dining room furniture

‘Bourbon’ bar unit by La Conca for Visionnaire

An elliptical wood bar unit with five doors and one drawer, the ‘Bourbon’ is internally lacquered and externally covered in a metal sheet decorated with a marble-effect print, giving the illusion that it is made from solid marble.

‘Houdini’ cabinet by Roberto Lazzeroni for Giorgetti

The shape of Roberto Lazzeroni’s latest piece for Giorgetti takes its cues from the work of architect Aldo Rossi, as well as replicating the silos found in Lombardy’s rural areas, but it also pays homage to the magician that gives it its name. ‘I wanted it to be a mysterious piece of furniture, to have secrets and magic,’ says Lazzeroni. Doors open to reveal shelves, drawers, compartments, and even hidden sections, which together form what Lazzeroni describes as a ‘box of wonders’. The cabinet is available in Canaletto walnut or maple.