What began as a request for reupholstering the existing dining room chairs and finding a new rug, became a completely new dining room in this vernacular style single-family home. Striped wall-covering, dark tea paper on the ceiling, and French Provincial beige-colored furnishings better suited to another interior style, gave way to a modern plan with sleek furnishings and high-quality accessories.

BRIEF:

Design a dining room in a modern style with coral-red as a featured color:

CONSTRUCTION:

• Remove existing wall covering (paper)
• Install new cove moulding at the ceiling line
• Install recessed luminaire around the perimeter
• Install one surface-mounted pendant luminaire
• Refinish existing Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring

The room faces north, so the room was dark and unappealing due to tall trees, and a single lighting source. Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring (without a rug) a new cove moulding, neutral wall/ceiling color open the space and add a rich pattern. Next, a balanced lighting scheme containing a central surface-mounted pendant luminaire and recessed lighting brings more light into the room and highlights art and furnishings. Warm wood tones in the furnishings, coral-hued chair upholstery, (client’s favorite color), and iridescent fabrics in the window treatment peacefully expand the room without blocking daylight, and the abundant landscape views in any season just beyond the window.

FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES:

Mahogany Dining Table, Side Board, and Upholstered Santa Barbara Side Chairs: Jayson 15/Washington Design Center SW; Circular Ebonized and Gilded Mirror: Brunschwig et Fils; 19th Century Covered Alabaster Urns, Antique Columbian Pottery, Tang Dynasty Dancer: Knightsbridge Charleston, SC; Draperies: Rings Interior; Drapery Fabrics: Kravet; Drapery Hardware: Vesta; Pendant Lighting: Stonegate Designs; Chinese Wood Stand: Amos Judd & Sons Antiques; American Art Deco Liquor Cabinet: Rhonald Angelo Interiors; Cabinet Tassels: Houlés; Hand-Blown Glass Bowl, Ice Serving Tray, China & Flatware Settings: Crate & Barrel; Framed Art, Navaho Ceramic Vessel (on liquor cabinet): Client Collection

Photography © Todd A. Smith Architectural Photo & Video