Savage Gardens: Dining Rooms Unimagined
Come on in, if you dare…
I’m about to present two wildly bold and beautiful dining rooms that truly represent my personal level of bold. Albeit, I recognize everyone’s decorating taste isn’t as adventurous as mine, but, with my guidance, my clients are proving they really like taking a walk on their wild side. Take my hand and I’ll bring you on a wild botanical journey through dining rooms unimagined.
For those of you who know me, you recognize I’m crazy about ferns.
Whenever I get a chance to utilize them in a design, I’m tickled pink. Speaking of pink, I chose Benjamin Moore’s pink corsage to kick off this springy dining room design. When I think of corsages, my mind travels back to Prom, a treasured spring event for many teenage girls. Taking this into consideration, I think it’s a seasonally appropriate color choice- I’ll splash its WOW over 60% of the room with the walls, parsons wing chair fabric and even a smattering in the area rug.
Then, for the secondary color, which generally should be incorporated into about 30% of the room, I’ve selected a green resembling the ferns that rule my entire backyard. The pink/green combination offers an incredibly striking contrast. The remaining accent colors (about 10%) are white, turquoise and a medium gray.
I’m also a nut for a Louis XVI style side chair - square back, oval back…I don’t discriminate.
One thing’s for sure, Louis always arrives wearing something unexpected from the color wheel. He’s a pretty flirty guy and, quite often, serves as the social lubricant in my dining room scenes.
While these oval backs are busy tending to their business, the natural, rustic dining table and sideboard have an agenda of their own- providing reminders to this, otherwise, formal dining room, that it needn’t be so hoity-toity, because we know people have more fun when things aren’t so stuffy and stiff.
Finally, the chandelier and a set of rustic fern prints follow suit.
Bellacor’s two-light chandelier is rustic, yet delightfully feminine, at the same time. It’s rather like the cherry on top for this dining room.
Now, think about throwing open both sets of French doors to allow fresh, spring air to come in and swirl around the room, while you enjoy a scrumptious meal with your family or a group of special friends. Then, picture yourself walking out to your stone patio dripping with patina along with two majestic white, vintage planters, each holding a large Boston fern. What do you think…can you see it?
Botanical Frenzy
So, you say you don’t live in the country?
Don't despair…I have something in mind for bold city-dwellers, too!
I’m using the same color palette, but this time, I’ve deepened the shade to more of a charcoal with Benny M’s toucan black. This go around, various shades of gray take the front seat- the antelope print rug, the barn board wall treatment, and the ceiling paint. Green is our secondary color, which is generously spread throughout the room with the abundant use of natural plants, two acrylic dining chairs and fern/moss wall art. Again, a hot pink, a deeper blue and white are the accent colors for this next eclectic design.
Pulling off an eclectic design, always requires careful planning.
This city dining room caters to the city slicker whose space is small, wines about not having a balcony, demands a little flash and has a hankering for natural elements. So needy…I love it!
See how I pick away at the this big list of must-haves.
First, let’s feed that desire to be a little flashy and a bit contemporary- the star of this dining room is definitely the Frozen Dining Chair with quilted platinum fabric and a matte black metal frame. Notice how the fabric coordinates with the shiny silver dining table legs and…how their black metal frames gets cozy with the sideboard, which is also featured in matte black. For just one more dash of flash, take a peek at the lamp shades- they sprinkle just a little more.
Next up…I tackle those natural elements: both the art and deliberate overuse of natural plants transports the feel of an outside balcony in. The rustic dining table top, a barn board accent wall and a genius window shelf slash champagne bar add just enough rustic feel to this eclectic design.
Finally, pops of hot pink just say this is not your ordinary dining room. By the way, the spider chandelier is my newest crush!
Platinum Garden
Now, imagine this open concept dining room with a contemporary kitchen decked out with sleek cabinets in white. Pair all of this up with a deep lagoon blue backsplash, an island highlighted by two rustic pendants, and a set of chrome counter stools with a bold cushion pattern, to bring in the whole dang color palette. Add in some more moss wall art… and there you have it!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey. Did you gather some inspiration for your new space along the way?
If you’re ready to explore the outer limits of your personal level of decorator bold, get in touch!
In the meantime, please take some time for you and listen to this beautiful tune.
I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden
