Tag: dining room
Design Dose
Line them up!
Design Dose
Perspective.
Design Dose
Life is a bowl of oranges!
Design Dose
Creative, unique elements build a modern dining room.
Design Dose
Elegant dining.
Design Dose
Traditional beauty.
Contemporary Dining Room
This dining room became one of my favorite projects.
When I meet with a client to present my ideas for a design project, I come prepared with samples, tear sheets, and specific products. This way, the finished room is true to the original vision. When working on this dining room, I was so fortunate to have a client who was open to unexpected ideas. While her style was reserved in many ways, she had a contemporary edge that particularly shows in the completed dining room. By giving me carte blanche with this room, my client pushed me to be creative in designing a strong, confident room that combines traditional elements for a funky effect.
After getting to know this client by asking questions and spending time learning about her lifestyle and tastes, I went back to my studio to put together a presentation. These are some of the individual elements I presented. Sometimes it can be difficult for clients to look at these separate pieces and create a mental image of how they will come together in the finished room, but in this case we had a perfectly shared vision.
When I presented my ideas for the window treatments and ceiling, as well as the cool digital printing on the chairs, my client had faith in me that the installation would be cohesive. When a client and I work together like this, the outcome is always a truly special interior. That level of trust when working together produces the ideal collaboration. Seeing the dining room bring together so many eclectic parts and become a wholly unique, exciting room was a testament to the relationship between client and designer.
One of the challenges in designing this room was finding the right dining table. My client wanted a table with versatility that would also give the room needed weight. After an exhaustive search, we were able to design a table similar to another style we liked, but using different materials to achieve exactly the right look. Brass bands were added to the table legs at the last minute to give the piece some needed jewelry. The chandelier by Tony Duquette adds a bit of glam to the dining room.
One focal point of this whimsical room is the art, a piece the client found. I love it when my clients discover artwork; it’s such a personal, emotional choice and when the client has a hand in choosing the artwork, the room is a truer reflection of their taste and style. This piece enhances the room’s art deco edge with whimsy.
Other fun details add to the personality of the dining room, giving it added color and visual interest.
This dining room became one of my favorite projects. It is more artistic than most rooms I’ve designed and really shows the voice of the client as well as the result of an ideal collaboration between designer and homeowner.
Favorite Things: Dining Chairs
Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room.
Whether the dining room is formal or informal, the dining chairs are an important part of the room. They add a sculptural element that can be very present in the room without competing with the rest of the space. I like to mix and match the chairs, using one consistent style for the side chairs and another, complimentary, design for the host chairs. I also like to add layers to the chairs by using different materials to cover the seat or back, depending on what works for the shape of the piece. Comfort is an important factor in choosing dining chairs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also look great!
1. Royere Armless Dining Chair from Mattaliano. Love this art deco inspired chair – so chic.
2. A recent dining room project, where I used host chairs from Hickory Chair Furniture Co.
3. Greek key infusion, from 1st Dibs.
4. Vendome Side Chair from Jasper.
5. Poliform Grace chair.
6. Another dining room, where I installed these beautiful Queen Anne chairs from Jasper. A very classic and traditional chair!
7. Matahari Home Chair – for a more informal and casual dining chair, this one is perfect and so comfortable.
8. Martin Host Chair with Loose Cushion – great as a header chair.
10. 1940s French Upholstered Barrelback Chair From Restoration Hardware – Think about using two different fabrics, one for the front and the other for the back. Stain the legs darker and it is a totally different chair. I just did it for a client and it is an amazing transformation!
11. Great combination with the rush back, from Dering Hall.
12. Robsjohn-Gibbings Klismos chairs.
A Library in the Dining Room
I’ve seen a few examples lately of built-in bookcases creating a library in a dining room, and it’s an unconventional concept I really like.
I’ve seen a few examples lately of built-in bookcases creating a library in a dining room, and it’s an unconventional concept I really like. Incorporating an idea like this into your home works for a few different reasons.
First, everything is integrated. You have one space to inhabit in different ways, whether it’s enjoying a meal together as a family, relaxing with a book while you wake up with your morning coffee, or entertain friends against a cozy backdrop of books. Or, incorporating something like a wine fridge into the bookcases introduces another really cool concept.
Including bookshelves in a common room of the home is a lifestyle idea that’s great for families with kids. With so many of our media choices now relegated to computer screens, TV screens, iPads, and electronic readers, placing books in a position of priority in your home, within easy reach of little hands, sends a powerful message. It also encourages parents to read in front of their children and talk to their children about books. What’s not to love about creating a book-centric culture in such an important room in the home?
The idea of a library in the dining room is also great because it works in so many different ways. Whether your home design style is rustic, traditional, modern, or more hip, stocked bookshelves can easily be incorporated into the dining room. You don’t have to commit to a specific look to make this concept work. I think David Kleinberg, in particular, has designed some really great spaces by incorporating a home library into the dining room.
