Room of the Day: Elegant New Dining Room Pulls Off a Collected Look
The formal space mixes custom details to create an exquisite style bridging past and present
This formal dining room might look like it was lovingly looked after by several generations, but it’s actually part of a newly built home. The collected look was all part of the plan. To hit the mark just right, interior designer James Michael Howard coordinated the room dimensions with architect Peter Block to ensure the proportions would suit the furnishings that were to follow.
The dado running the perimeter of the room — as well as the stylized floral drapery and wall fabric — references the Arts and Crafts style prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Howard says the upholstered walls are his favorite component in the room. “You sense a ‘hush’ to the room the moment you enter it due to the padding, so the acoustics are perfection,” he says. The walls also feature nailheads spaced about 1¼ inches apart and a handmade solid linen gimp, a type of trim, custom-made by the upholsterer.
For continuity, Howard used the fabric that’s on the walls for the drapery and Roman shades. While it appears the shades are made of a different color fabric in the previous image, it’s the warm hue created by the sun shining through the ivory lining that creates the apparent contrast. The drapery is finished at the top with elegant Paris pleats.
Howard found the antique mirror above the fireplace on a U.K. shopping trip. It’s flanked with clean-lined contemporary sconces.
Dado and woodwork paint: Dove Wing OC-18, Benjamin Moore; wall, Roman shade and drapery fabric: Kent in Venetian Blue, Kerry Joyce Textiles; gimp fabric: 01367 Rain by Trend; drapery rods: Morgik Metal Design; sconces: Baker Furniture; fireplace surround: Sequoia brown brushed marble
Howard says the upholstered walls are his favorite component in the room. “You sense a ‘hush’ to the room the moment you enter it due to the padding, so the acoustics are perfection,” he says. The walls also feature nailheads spaced about 1¼ inches apart and a handmade solid linen gimp, a type of trim, custom-made by the upholsterer.
For continuity, Howard used the fabric that’s on the walls for the drapery and Roman shades. While it appears the shades are made of a different color fabric in the previous image, it’s the warm hue created by the sun shining through the ivory lining that creates the apparent contrast. The drapery is finished at the top with elegant Paris pleats.
Howard found the antique mirror above the fireplace on a U.K. shopping trip. It’s flanked with clean-lined contemporary sconces.
Dado and woodwork paint: Dove Wing OC-18, Benjamin Moore; wall, Roman shade and drapery fabric: Kent in Venetian Blue, Kerry Joyce Textiles; gimp fabric: 01367 Rain by Trend; drapery rods: Morgik Metal Design; sconces: Baker Furniture; fireplace surround: Sequoia brown brushed marble
Opposite the fireplace, a vintage midcentury modern buffet fits nicely not only within the space, but mixed with the surrounding Arts and Crafts- and neo-Gothic- style components. Howard found this piece in the U.K. He says he likes to use furniture that’s time-tested and the best of an era.
The colorful abstract painting hangs from a wire and adds layered depth by straddling the upper and lower wall surfaces.
Table lamp bases that resemble spiky pineapples are actually funky porcelain loops in a crackle finish.
Artwork: Painted in 1989 by James Bohary, J. Johnson Gallery, Jacksonville Beach, Florida; picture light: McClain 42-inch in polished nickel, Circa Lighting; table lamps: Jamienne, Arteriors
The colorful abstract painting hangs from a wire and adds layered depth by straddling the upper and lower wall surfaces.
Table lamp bases that resemble spiky pineapples are actually funky porcelain loops in a crackle finish.
Artwork: Painted in 1989 by James Bohary, J. Johnson Gallery, Jacksonville Beach, Florida; picture light: McClain 42-inch in polished nickel, Circa Lighting; table lamps: Jamienne, Arteriors
This drawing illustrates the tracery design created by Howard for the ceiling.
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Decorate With Intention: Design Your Ideal Dining Room
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Decorate With Intention: Design Your Ideal Dining Room
Dining Room at a Glance
What happens here: Formal entertaining and holiday gatherings
Location: Southampton, New York
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters); 18 by 10 feet
Designers: Interior design: James Michael Howard; architect: Peter Block; project manager: Anna Hardy
Interior designer James Michael Howard says he begins all of his projects by determining a focal point seen when entering the room. This Hamptons Shingle-style home has sweeping views to the backyard and beautiful light, so aligning the dining table with the center window creates a dramatic spotlight.
The ceiling, Howard says, “was a plane that was too big to leave untouched.” Adding a hint of neo-Gothic style, he designed the ceiling’s decorative tracery pattern, comprised of intersecting ogee arches that play beautifully with the light.
Howard found the dining table in France, fashioned from four stone bases with a tribal motif and a stately 51-by-118-inch oak top. The wood floors are hand-scraped, distressed and topped with a custom geometric area rug in earthy browns, tans and blues.
Ceiling paint: Silver Satin OC-26, Benjamin Moore; flooring: Palazzo Collection in Verona, Provenza Floors; dining chairs: Maurice in No. 54 Soho finish, Sherrill Furniture; blue velvet on dining chairs: Romo Fabrics; topiary: 72-inch double-ball cone, Forever Green Art; chandelier: Anneau by Pagani, Baker Furniture; area rug: custom, Eliko Rugs