Room of the Day: Pattern-Happy Dining Room With an Old Soul
A traditional dining room design is inspired by a checkered floor, antique finds and inherited church furniture
While many homeowners might have been tempted to turn a formal dining room into a family room or an office, designer Kim Kendall wouldn’t dream of it. The dining room is the heartbeat of her home. “We have family meals here whenever possible, because we tend to spend more time at the table,” Kendall says. “It is always a celebration.”
Using that floor as a springboard, Kendall chose a toile wallpaper to complement it. “It’s classic but modern and will never go out of style,” she says. Below the chair rail, black Anaglypta — a kind of textured wallpaper — grounds the room while adding subtle dimension. The Oriental rug, a gift from a design friend, picks up the black accents while adding a splash of bright color.
Instead of a conventional white ceiling, Kendall chose an earthy metallic bronze color to contrast and highlight the crown molding. “When you paint the ceiling a color, whether it be a soft neutral, a bold color or even wallpaper, it really gives an unexpected wow factor,” she says. She plans to add a painted trompe l’oeil design to the ceiling.
One of her challenges was finding the right chandelier. “I was willing to wait to find the exact perfect chandelier and did not want to settle,” she says of the vintage fixture she eventually found. “And I have never seen another one like it.”
The furniture is a mixture of flea market finds and pieces passed down through the family. At the head of the table sits a carver chair, which has a carved design on the back. Kendall’s father-in-law was an Episcopalian priest, and the Gothic-style, hand-pegged dining chairs at the table were a gift to her in-laws from a parishioner.
Wallpaper: Thibaut
Instead of a conventional white ceiling, Kendall chose an earthy metallic bronze color to contrast and highlight the crown molding. “When you paint the ceiling a color, whether it be a soft neutral, a bold color or even wallpaper, it really gives an unexpected wow factor,” she says. She plans to add a painted trompe l’oeil design to the ceiling.
One of her challenges was finding the right chandelier. “I was willing to wait to find the exact perfect chandelier and did not want to settle,” she says of the vintage fixture she eventually found. “And I have never seen another one like it.”
The furniture is a mixture of flea market finds and pieces passed down through the family. At the head of the table sits a carver chair, which has a carved design on the back. Kendall’s father-in-law was an Episcopalian priest, and the Gothic-style, hand-pegged dining chairs at the table were a gift to her in-laws from a parishioner.
Wallpaper: Thibaut
The antique wood fireplace mantel is from the late 18th century or early 19th century, and hails from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. While newer moldings add detail and dimension, the mantel adds an authentic component to the room.
The mantel wasn’t an easy installation. The windows had to be moved to accommodate its width. The process also entailed moving the windows on the second floor to maintain the fenestration alignment.
Among the collections displayed atop the mantel is an assortment of mercury glass pieces.
Kendall says the double gilded frames above were a “happy accident.” The larger frame originally had a mirror in it. After the piece fell and broke, she hung the frame back above the fireplace just to keep it safe and out of the way. She didn’t have a place for the still life painting and, out of curiosity, hung it inside the empty frame. “It’s one of my favorite elements of the room,” she says.
The mantel wasn’t an easy installation. The windows had to be moved to accommodate its width. The process also entailed moving the windows on the second floor to maintain the fenestration alignment.
Among the collections displayed atop the mantel is an assortment of mercury glass pieces.
Kendall says the double gilded frames above were a “happy accident.” The larger frame originally had a mirror in it. After the piece fell and broke, she hung the frame back above the fireplace just to keep it safe and out of the way. She didn’t have a place for the still life painting and, out of curiosity, hung it inside the empty frame. “It’s one of my favorite elements of the room,” she says.
The property sits far enough back from the street to afford enough privacy that window treatments aren’t necessary. Plus, Kendall says, there is already enough visual interest in the room.
In the corner, a cupboard given to Kendall by her mother holds china collections, which Kendall likes to mix and match to create eclectic table settings.
“I love that we have a separate dining room,” she says. “I know people are moving away from this, but we use ours all the time. It really makes for a special time with family and friends. We have so many cherished memories from the meals we have had over the years in this dining room.”
Contractor: Chris Kohlhaas, Fredericksburg Custom Homes
More
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining Room
Browse the latest dining room photos
In the corner, a cupboard given to Kendall by her mother holds china collections, which Kendall likes to mix and match to create eclectic table settings.
“I love that we have a separate dining room,” she says. “I know people are moving away from this, but we use ours all the time. It really makes for a special time with family and friends. We have so many cherished memories from the meals we have had over the years in this dining room.”
Contractor: Chris Kohlhaas, Fredericksburg Custom Homes
More
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining Room
Browse the latest dining room photos
Dining Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Kim Kendall; her husband, Peter; three grown sons, Zach, Nich and Jeremy; and two golden retrievers
Location: Round Hill, Virginia
Size: 240 square feet (22.2 square meters); 16 by 15 feet (4.8 by 4.5 meters)
Designer: Kim Kendall
Although built in the early 1990s, the room has all the charm and detail of one built in the early 1890s.