Dining Room: "Four Corners of the Earth"

Many travelers bring home unique treasures from their travels: carved wood masks from Guatemala, a handmade tea set from Japan, a painting from the Champs-Elysees. It is this free-spirited wanderlust that I wanted to capture and create in the dining room design scheme for the 2016 Shelter for Help in Emergency’s Design House.

By asking “Who lives here?” I imagined my clients to be a professional couple who loved to travel and cook delicious exotic meals for their friends and family. Afterward, they would linger around the dining room table for hours nibbling foreign foods, drinking fine wine, and enjoying conversation.

Therefore, I included an upholstered banquette for seating, an option that offers comfort as well as a place to seat multiple guests. In addition, the space called for a mixture of old and new, therefore, I paired four antique Hitchcock chairs with a new mahogany table with heavy bobbin and spool legs. The richness of the dark wood contrasts nicely with the pale walls of the room, which is painted in Sherwin Williams Emerging Taupe. The ceiling is painted two shades lighter in Sherwin Williams Unfussy Beige. The warm pink and brown tones of the color create a soft canvas for the exotic décor.

For additional seating, two painted antique chairs are positioned by the wall at the ready if needed. A new mahogany bar cabinet with heavy wood paneled doors gives the impression of an old Moroccan armoire. Two Ming chests in black lacquer add a touch of the orient and store table linens, candles, and flatware. A southern inspired teacart fills the spot between the two tall windows and is conveniently stacked with extra china. A beautiful landscape by Charlottsville artist Sarah Trundle hangs above the cart.

Artwork was used to make a big impact in the space. In lieu of a single painting hung over the fireplace, an entire wall was devoted to Lyndi Angermeier’s landscapes, while across the room a dramatic Kelly Coffin still life hangs above one of the Ming chests.

Moroccan brass is a constant fixture throughout the room in candlestick holders, brass trays, a tea service, and even a samovar. Ginger jars for storing tea, chopsticks, and porcelain plates with an Asian design add an eclectic touch. Even a large clay camel found its way onto the dining table. Centered on the table is a large green bottle vase sporting Zen-like branches.

The window treatments were made from Kravet Sesha, an ethnic inspired violet, cinnamon, and coral paisley fabric used to create a bit of mystery in the space. The wool carpet is subtle in creams, browns, and a slight touch of green; again to create a soothing, tranquil room.

Pillows on the banquette carry a bit of whimsy with one fabric donning a marching elephant pattern and the other an art deco star design that is carried over to the frosted 8-point glass star chandelier hung above the dining table. The chandelier hangs slightly higher than normal to allow an uninterrupted view of the artwork.