Tag: dining room

at home: Meet Our A-List Winners

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder. But good design is in the eye of the homeowner–it must appeal in a visual way while also satisfying the needs of those who live with it.

I am so honored to have been chosen as one of at home’s A-List Winners!  Here’s the full article and photos of the dining room that earned this award.

at home magazine presents the Second Annual A-List Awards 2011

Meet Our A-List Winners

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder.  But good design is in the eye of the homeowner–it must appeal in a visual way while also satisfying the needs of those who live with it. It’s no coincidence, then, that the striking projects selected by our esteemed judges to win this year’s A-List competition are also those that wow with their smart solutions and livability. We caught up with the award-winning professionals and their clients to find out what sets the A-List apart from the pack. Their stories reveal a host of creative ideas that are certain to inspire first-rate home projects in the future.

When Liria Heidenreich was looking for design help for her shingle-style house in Greenwich, her sister-in-law recommended Amy Aidinis Hirsch.  The young designer had already decorated the homes of other family members, so why not hers?  But the Heidenreichs were seeking a different approach:  “They wanted to marry a modern style with a more traditional architecture,” says Hirsch.  The success of the dining room–part of a whole-house project– lies in the way Hirsch translated their desire for an eclectic interior with little clutter or fuss.  “I didn’t want a lot of color.  I’m nutty and I need mellow,” says Heidenreich.  “She really got me.”

At the center of this sleek-yet-personal space is an architectural Italian table surrounded by Ligne Roset cowhide chairs and a wood bench.  The more casual arrangement suits the family’s two boys and also answers Liria’s request:  “no boring chairs.”  Dark chocolate grass cloth on the walls provides warmth and anchors the abstract art.  For the floor, Hirsch put an unexpected spin on a simple wool loop rug.  Instead of picking one colorway from the samples, she sourced all of them to create a custom stripe.  The homeowner admits to being particular about lighting and this glam three-tiered crystal chandelier from Ochre acts as a jewel in the room, about with she jokes, “My electrician doesn’t like me anymore.”

To add a touch of color and tradition, Hirsch brought in a red antique lacquer cabinet from Greenwich Oriental.  This one-of-a-kind piece provides storage and character, picking up on a hue continued in other parts of the house.  The sophisticated theme fits the family to a tee.  Says Heidenreich, “I still walk into these rooms and say, “Damn, this works!”

—at home Winter 2012

 

Unexpected Dining Room

When I met with this client to design their dining room, their desire to break away from the traditional shingle style exemplified by the home’s exterior architecture totally inspired me.

When I met with this client to design their dining room, their desire to break away from the traditional shingle style exemplified by the home’s exterior architecture totally inspired me.  They wanted simple elements with no clutter or fuss.  Because the room began as a blank slate, we started with a completely fresh palette.

In this room, I truly enjoyed using so many creative and unique elements.  The cowhide chairs from Ligne Roset provided adult seating around the dining room table and, combined with a bench on the other side of the table, make an unconventional seating arrangement.  The lovely drizzle chandelier from Ochre acts as a fantastic piece of jewelry for the entire room.  On the walls, digital art prints reinforce the dining room’s modern feel.  In addition, I loved the window treatments for this dining room.  The pattern reminded me of delicate lanterns floating through the sky.  The large looped wool carpet from Patterson Flynn & Martin softens and warms the room.

I was honored to be an A List Winner for At Home magazine’s Winter 2011 issue with this dining room.  In the magazine, the dining room was described as “bold, brash, and contemporary, a perfect combination to make a traditional home feel modern.”  What an amazing experience, to be recognized for doing something I love!

Chinoiserie Dining Room

When a client approached me with the goal of designing a dining room for entertaining large gatherings in a formal setting, I really enjoyed both the challenge and the opportunity to build a room around many truly beautiful design pieces.

When a client approached me with the goal of designing a dining room for entertaining large gatherings in a formal setting, I really enjoyed both the challenge and the opportunity to build a room around many truly beautiful design pieces.

The dining room originally had a generic wood mantel with very little appeal or individuality.  I also had to consider how many people would use the space and how to configure the design to appeal to both large and small groups of guests.  The bay windows provided another challenge, being difficult to treat while keeping the design and scale appropriate.

To begin, we decided on a fabulous color palette using Farrow and Ball paint in Pipe Down against a chinoiserie patterned butter yellow paper and predominantly grey curtains.  In addition, every aspect of this room was custom designed, from the walls to the carpet, for a highly individualized room.

In place of the boring wood mantel, I installed a custom, hand-carved stone mantel which provides a nice focal point for the room.  The gorgeous hand-painted chinoiserie wall paper from de Gourney gives the room a lovely backdrop without the need for paintings or decorative items.  The unexpected dark color of the woodwork is the perfect contrast to the custom panels, and the window treatments accent the large bay windows without becoming overpowering or detracting from the view.

One of the most stunning pieces in the room is the dining room table.  As the centerpiece of the room where guests will gather, the table needed to be something special.  Every aspect of the Ebanista table was customized to allow the clients to entertain large or intimate groups of guests in beauty and style.  Every small detail of the table, including the inlay, had to be carefully considered and strategically placed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The overall impression of this dining room is one of luxury and comfort, a room as individual and unique as any client could ask.  Using such a range of exquisite products and companies allowed me to give my clients a dining room perfectly suited to their tastes and needs.