Daring Face-Lift for a Traditional Dining Room
A graphic wallcovering, dynamic furnishings and eclectic decor breathe new life into a New Jersey dining room
The dining room “gets gorgeous light, and I wanted to capitalize on that,” Shrem says. “I felt like it was a great opportunity to highlight the chunkier molding around the windows.” The molding was painted in a high-gloss Benjamin Moore Black, along with the chair rail and wall below the rail, giving it the appearance of wainscoting.
Walls were covered in Candice Olson’s graphic Modern Petals wallpaper for York Wallcoverings and adorned with brass mirrors, framed metal leaves and spiky metal sculptures.
Browse black-and-white wallpaper
Walls were covered in Candice Olson’s graphic Modern Petals wallpaper for York Wallcoverings and adorned with brass mirrors, framed metal leaves and spiky metal sculptures.
Browse black-and-white wallpaper
The ceiling was covered in a whitewashed wood paneling by Stikwood, adding a rustic look to the room. “I didn’t want to ignore the ceiling, but I also didn’t want it to compete with the wallpaper,” Shrem says.
Black light fixtures — Varaluz sconces and a Red Barrel Studio chandelier — add a contemporary counterpoint to the midcentury-inspired wallpaper and furnishings.
Black light fixtures — Varaluz sconces and a Red Barrel Studio chandelier — add a contemporary counterpoint to the midcentury-inspired wallpaper and furnishings.
To soften the space, custom window treatments were created out of a gauzy white linen with a subtle beige stripe.
Leather midcentury chairs were paired with a 96-inch-long trestle table purchased from a local woodworking shop in Wayne, New Jersey. A sisal rug with a modern black pattern from CB2 grounds the room.
A china hutch, the only piece original to the room, is an Irish heirloom that belongs to the family. The back of the cabinet was painted in a soothing slate blue, and hardware was updated to white ceramic knobs with gold etching to tie into the rest of the room. White ceramic vases displayed in the hutch now pop against its blue background.
A metal-and-glass candleholder from West Elm is repurposed to hold an arrangement of moss, succulents and blooms.
Other tabletop decor includes wooden slabs topped with sculptural white ceramic vases. “I wanted to keep it light and natural,” Shrem says.
Place settings were created by layering gold perforated plastic place mats from CB2, large white plates, colorful West Elm dishes and plastic Target cutlery. “I wanted the table to feel like a place where the whole family could sit there for hours,” Shrem says.
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Dining Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Montclair, New Jersey
Size: 238 square feet (22.1 square meters)
Designer: Lavette Shrem of Lavette’s Home Style
Designer Lavette Shrem was brought in to freshen up a family of four’s dining room in their 150-year-old Colonial home. Shrem infused the space with serene and earthy colors and midcentury furniture to create an inviting and comfortable room that echoes the vibe of the rest of the home.