Winter McDermott

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1

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.   

2

3

4

5

6

7

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