Through 2020, as I was doing my own pandemic re-decorating projects (back patio and bedroom), I also had the opportunity to walk across the street to my neighbor’s house and revamp their beautiful 100 year old dining room.
The space was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal (I will post here soon), where I discussed in length some tips to achieve this type of mix, but I will offer up some of my methods below, because I love you 🙂 .
The coolest part about this job, was that Chris and Maisha are fearless with their own design (they have a great eye, and had been restoring this home for the past decade), so I knew we could go really bold with pattern and color.
We inaugurated the makeover with the amazing William & Morris strawberry thief wallpaper. I wanted something bold and beautiful, with a nod to the arts and crafts movement of California, and this paper is both refined, yet whimsical (the perfect combination in my opinion).
The trim and wainscoting are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, and the ceiling is painted in Farrow and Ball’s Schoolhouse White.
We kept Chris and Maisha’s buffet, and added three vintage french mirrors for a textural mash up. I searched long and hard for a single mirror, but every option felt too overwhelming or “scene stealing”. The ovals added curves to the space, as well as a compliment to the tone and material of the dining chairs.
The bone inlaid chests were also the clients, and a daring mix with the wallpaper, but I just knew I would DIG it. The scale of the pattern on the chest is small enough in contrast to the scale of the wallpaper (although I would normally go even larger scale for the walls). Sometimes you have to be daring to make that big impact!
The painting is a thrifted find that Chris SCORED from our West Adams neighborhood. It depicts the historic West Bridge, and it’s muted colors paired perfectly with the walls.
I plucked out the red from the strawberries (see what I did there 😉 ) and sourced a scalloped (more curves) sconce to add a warm punch.
One of my favorite pieces in this room is the chandelier. It is such an unexpected modern fixture, and disappears when you are staring at it straight on. There is so much happening in this room that I wanted something minimal, but still statement making…
… how cool is that? Where did it go?
The window shades are a dusty rose cashmere from Logan Montgomery Textiles, and the gorgeous rug is from my fave gal Sheba from Blue Parakeet. Both items add warmth and softness to the mostly cool color palette.
The table is custom, and was a collaboration between myself and Anna from Bananas & Hammocks.
A corner shot with a vintage chair and painting from Nickey Kehoe. I love the tone on tone moments.
The vintage brass fish wall art reminds me of something my family had when I was a child, and its 3-D nature adds dimension.
I’d like to give a shout out to my photographer Zeke Ruelas, and to Gillian Lawlee who gave me an extra set of eyes styling the shoot.
And to my clients and neighbors who patiently endured Covid design and delay like champs… you are the bomb!