Winter McDermott

When a reader needed help finding small-scale furniture for her new living/sitting room I asked for her to send me dimensions of the room so I could really grasp the problem.  We emailed back and forth and I was able to draw up a plan based off of three photos and confirmation of six or seven dimensions.  The room was definitely a challenge.  First off there is no separation of space between the tiled mud room and the living room.  And secondly the room is a through space to get to the staircase and/or to the outside patio.  I did two schemes with different color palettes but each carry out the same idea.  In both I used a settee or a love seat which can seat up to two people.  French and Dutch reproduction pieces are the best in small scales.  In addition I found a slender coffee table that in one scheme is glass to open the space up, and in the other they are two smaller tables that can be moved around when having company for extra seating.  I approached the challenge with dividing the room with either a screen or drapery.  You could also use a French étagère, which is essentially an open framed bookcase.  

View from den looking at living/sitting room.  Tiled area shows the mud room

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

SCHEME 1: 

1. Louis Sette in Natural Linen. Available through Zentique ($1,714) 2. Andalusia Rug in Horizon/Ivory color in size 5'x8'. Available through West Elm ($249) 3. Tanner Coffee Table.  Available through Pottery Barn ($399) 4. Chinese Garden Stool in Gold.  Available through Wisteria ($99.33) 5. Noel Chair.  Available through Jayson Home and Garden ($1,695) 6. Tristan Side Table. Available through Jayson Home and Garden ($995) 7. Gilded Wood Open Screen. Available through Layla Grace ($1,438) 8. Standing Lamp 9. Picture Ledge or Artwork or Large Format Mirror 

SCHEME 2:

1. Woodglenn Slipcovered Loveseat.  Available through Layla Grace ($1,642) 2. Kite Kilim Rug in size 5'x8'. Available through West Elm ($249) 3. Chocolate Lacquer Cubes in Large 18"x18". Available through Jonathan Adler ($350 ea) 4. Chinese Garden Stool in Light Blue.  Available through Wisteria (99.33) 5. Louis XV Upholstered Petite Vintage Armchair in Gustavian Grey.  Available through Layla Grace. ($1700 for set of 2) 6. Rustic Block Side Table.  Available through West Elm ($99) 7. Drapery.  Available through Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn or similar.  8. Standing Lamp 9. Picture or Artwork or Large Format Mirror 

Below are some beautiful dining room inspirations and how to get similar looks for less. 

Custom made dining table: white lacquer top with statuary bronze leg detail.  Chippendale bamboo chairs with custom upholstered seat cushion

Custom made dining table:  Lucite and cerused oak and modern side chairs

Custom made dining table with oak slab stained to match sample with gloss finish or similar.  White slipcovered armchairs

Buy this if you want a wood slab look for less

CB2 Dylan Dining Table $899

Buy this if you want a clean white lacquered look

CB2 Slab Dining Table $499

Buy this if you want a sculptural wooden table

CB2 Blox Mango Dining Table $499

Get this look by using wood, or MDF built up to 2" and finished with a high gloss lacquer.  Pair lacquer top with a base like this regency chrome base. 

Try local flea markets or salvage

stores to find an old farm style table. 

Or find some reclaimed wood to make your own version

Buy an inexpensive round fold up table and cover with your favorite fabric.  Hem the fabric at the bottom and add a grosgrain ribbon and finish it off with a stone slab top.  

Use the classic Saarinen round table with a tulip base and stone top or try to find a reproduction like the Modern Dose MOD Round Table for less. 

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A former client of mine just bought her first house and wants to redo her dining room using grays.  Knowing she loves the water, the look is somewhat a modern nautical theme with clean lines but with pops of color.  She asked that the table not be black but I wanted to show that black doesn't always feel harsh. Gray and black are the greatest together and gives the room so much punch.  If black really is too dramatic for some, a very dark mahogany can achieve the same effect.  There's nothing more beautiful than a chair draped in a crisp white slipcover pulled up to a dining room table set with fine china and candlelight. I trick I learned working with Vicente Wolf is to mix and match the dining chairs to make the look more dynamic.  Here I paired the slipcover chairs with a play on an old chippendale bamboo chair. The bamboo chair is ideal because it looks airy and lightweight balancing out the dark wood dining table.  Leave the cushion white or get it recovered with a vibrant fabric like the one here from Quadrille.  Some people hate area rugs in the dining room. However, I like it especially if the floors are drab and uninspired.  Rugs help to ground the room. If one wants to do without the rug, bring the striped pattern in through window treatments or linens. Finally, keeping with the nautical theme I opted for a beautiful maritime pendant that brings the right amount of sheen and reflective surface to the room.   One more trick is to get a large overscale mirror and frame (I mean super oversize) and hang it on a free wall in the dining room.  It helps to make the space feel more sophisticated and tricks the eye into thinking the space is larger.  

I did another scheme using a distressed white wood table with steel and chinese inspired dining chairs.   

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1. Quadrille Tashkent Royal Blue on Oyster (available through trade/designer only)    2. Ylighting Round Boon in white $1,372    3. Benjamin Moore Barren Plain 2111-60    4. Wisteria Nickel Silver Arm Chair $749 ea    5. Restoration Hardware 17th C. Monastery Dining Table 76" x 43" $1,495    6. Hans Wegner China Chair (available through trade/designer only)    7. Pottery Barn Chenille Jute Basketweave Rug in Porcelain Blue (5x8) $195

Tundra 2133-70 

Harbor Gray AC-25

Smoke Embers AC-28

Stonington Gray HC-170

American White 2112-70

Barren Plain 2111-60

Calm 2112-70

Cement Gray 2112-60

Picking a gray is hard but well worth it.  It's my favorite color (other than blue) to design with.  They have so many undertones they can change colors depending on what it's next to, which also makes it difficult to find the right one.  I've posted some of my favorites and put them next to one another so it's easier to find what color undertones they have.  For rooms with cool blue accents and white trim go for Tundra 2133-70.  To warm it up use the American White 2112-70 with pink undertones.  For a dark dramatic room try Harbor Gray AC-25, and for an airy light room try Calm 2112-70.  

Send me rough dimensions, photos of your room, and some direction (budget, favorite color, style preference, existing furniture pieces), and I'll come up with a room scheme with furniture sources for you to buy at your own convenience.  It's free! 

A friend recently asked me what her windows are missing.  Roman Shades!!!  Keeping with the nautical look of the area rug (which is amazing!) and the navy blue and stripe pillows, I thought white roman shades with a navy blue border would keep with the theme.  If light is an issue, then keep them drawn at peak sun exposure times or go for a see through sheer option (to the right).  Because the window trim is painted white and looks like it's in good condition, I picked an inside mount.  Also it is ideal to have an inside mount if the shutters also have an inside mount.  The then share the same line keeping the look crisp and clean.     

Flat Roman Shade in White Cotton with Navy Border. Inside Mount

Shade Store: Around $300 ea for a 24"x36" window.  Pricing varies on window size and options. 

Flat Roman Shade in White Sheer Linen.  Inside Mount

Shade Store: Around $200 ea for a 24"x36" window. Pricing varies on Window size and options. 

A busy mom asked for my help on picking an affordable rug for her baby girl's nursery. The rug needs to be cute enough for a nursery but sophisticated enough to be able to grow with the adorable little girl.  I also added some items to tie the room together. This is what I came up with.  The good thing about Restoration Hardware and Shades of Light is you can purchase rug swatches to see if you like the color before you commit to the actual purchase.  

Senegalese Storage Baskets in Pink

Serena & Lily: $290 for a set of 3

Shadow Memory Board

Restoration Hardware Baby: $79

Adler Pendant in Silver Sage

Restoration Hardware Baby: $89

Pondicherry Headboard for Twin Bed

White Canvas Fabric with Sprout Twill Piping

Serena & Lily: $1,250

Striped Chenille Braided Rug in Green (8x10)

Shades of Light: $788

Soho Dhurri Rug in Green (8x11)

Shades of Light: $648

Shadowstripe Rug in Sivler Sage (8x10)

Restoration Hardware Baby: $479.99 (sale)

I would treat the slope of the ceiling the same as the walls and paint it the green wall color.  It will help to tie the room together. 

There are so many options now in the design world with the help of the internet.  Never before has access been so easy for everyone to find great solutions for every budget.  

Saarinen Side Table

Through DWR or Knoll (trade)

Retail: $826

Saturn Side Table

Modern Dose: $275

Ralph Lauren Glass Cylinder Lamp

Through Circa Lighting: $630 

Rose Line Table Lamp

CB2: $79.95

Inexpensive

Expensive