Creating an Open Concept Dining Room

Many of today's floor plans integrate the kitchen, dining and living areas into one large, open space.

Depending on the needs of the homeowner, this layout can be designed for casual and relaxed family living, or transformed into a chic and glamorous room for entertaining, as illustrated below.

Our beloved DINING ROOM furniture dictated the classic design plan for the open living area in our home.

A silk shag rug helps delineate the dining space from the adjoining kitchen, while architectural columns add a subtle separation from the sitting room.  Mahogany floors and iridescent paint visually link the spaces, creating a cohesive design scheme.

With the addition of tailored window treatments and glam accents, the area now imbues an eclectic elegance, suitable for day or evening entertaining.

The captivating chandelier and traditional pedestal table clearly define the DINING ROOM in this space.  Two distinct and separate side bars offer additional seating for casual meals and afternoon cocktails.
 

The addition of an elegant buffet and traditional style rug implies that this area is designated as the DINING ROOM.   The kitchen is tailored and sophisticated, creating a seamless transition between the two spaces.
 

This DINING ROOM shares the same neutral palette as the adjoining living area, but a subtle change in paint colour creates the illusion of separate rooms.   The homeowner has cleverly positioned the sofa to act as a visual barrier, further delineating the space.

With thoughtful consideration given to furniture, flooring, lighting and paint choices, a traditional DINING ROOM can be created in a not-so-traditional, open floor plan.

And for those who secretly long for a separate room specifically allocated to formal dining, this alternative is both appealing and attainable.  

What do you prefer - a design style that offers casual comfort, or classic elegance in a open concept living space?

Wallpaper with an Impressive Impact

There is a glaring absence of WALLPAPER in our home.

This is why...

Our last home had an abundance of wallpaper - compliments of the previous owner.   Almost every wall was adorned in thin stripes, busy florals, and textured solids, all complete with matching borders.

I haven't forgotten the many long days and nights spent removing the old paper... piece, by tiny piece.

That unpleasant memory has clouded my view of wallpaper for more than a decade.

Thankfully, these beautiful images are encouraging me to once again appreciate WALLPAPER, and the amazing impact it can make when thoughtfully added into the design of a room.

Small spaces are the perfect location to add some personality. This large-scale WALLPAPER is tempered by the generous use of white textiles.  The black accents add visual contrast, but the expanse of soft blue is what makes this room memorable.
  

WALLPAPER with a busy design gives its best performance in an open, neutral space.  The larger scale patterns in the cushions and area rug play an important role in this living area, providing balance and layered interest.
 

In a room with a quiet and subdued colour palette, WALLPAPER creates a sense of depth and dimension.  The damask pattern is used sparingly, so as not to overpower the eclectic elegance of this charming kitchen.
             

The gentle curves of the furniture in this serene and feminine bedroom are accentuated by the WALLPAPER's romantic design.  Simple bed linens and neutral flooring complete the tranquil design story.

This pretty powder room receives plenty of natural light. Botanical inspired WALLPAPER wraps the room in pale aqua, while crisp, white wainscoting adds character and charm.

To prevent the walls from appearing overbearing, lengths of WALLPAPER are encased between decorative, architectural moldings.  Reflective finishes and glamorous lighting update the traditional style of this sophisticated living room.

This front entrance is fully enveloped in WALLPAPER.  The lyrical, flowing vines are fitting for the space, and sets the stage for the home's classic design style.

There will soon be the long-overdue addition of WALLPAPER in our home.

...And I do believe you've just discovered why!

Unique and Inspiring Kitchen Island Ideas

My inspiration file is filled with images of white kitchens with islands.  I love the timeless elegance of a white kitchen, especially when a unique ISLAND is added into the design.

My own white kitchen is an example of the results that can be achieved when working with a very small budget.

We angled the ISLAND to aid in traffic flow, and add visual interest to the space.  The mahogany finish is repeated in the buffet and flooring, providing definition and contrast.   

White kitchens with dark islands continue to grow in popularity.  This ISLAND has a second sink and a cantilevered breakfast bar - practical choices for a busy family. 

A butcher block ISLAND is one possible option for a kitchen with a narrow footprint.  It serves as a convenient prep area, and provides extra storage for large bowls and cookware.

An L shaped island provides the backrest for this charming banquet, providing ample seating and work space in one pretty package.

This ISLAND is an unconventional alternative for those who love to host large dinner parties.  An additional counter surface during the day, it easily transforms into a fabulous buffet table in time for evening entertaining.

If space is limited, the kitchen table can function as extra work space between meals.   The upholstered dining chairs are an unexpected and sophisticated design choice, preventing the heavy table from appearing too utilitarian. 

When space isn't an issue, dual ISLANDS are the ultimate in luxury.  Different wood finishes provide contrast, while repeated details in the cabinetry create a cohesive flow throughout the room.

This kitchen also houses two ISLANDS.  The round serving table is creatively designed to appear like a standing piece of furniture, subtly echoing the curves found in the glass cabinet doors.  

The ISLAND is an opportunity to personalize and customize your space, and can be the difference between a pretty kitchen, and a pretty amazing kitchen!

What does your dream ISLAND look like?

Integrating Gold into a Cool Colour Scheme

Does the recent return of GOLD to interior design make you want to cringe, or celebrate? 

The resurgence of GOLD has received a lukewarm reception from those who remember the kitzy-glitz of the 90's.

But, after more than a decade of cool metals monopolizing the industry, many are eager to embrace the richness and warmth that GOLD so generously provides.

This sophisticated living room combines warm and cool tones.  It's a brilliant mix of modern and traditional design - my favorite style!

   

The wallpaper must have been the inspiration for the colour palette in this glamorous dressing area.  The gilded furnishings contrast dramatically against the icy blue tones, while the white woodwork and carpeting soften and ground the space.  

    

The elaborate, GOLD panels are the obvious focal point in this living room.  Soft aqua walls, neutral fabrics, and dark accent pieces add balance and harmony. 

GOLD and purple - colours often associated with royalty, create a regal atmosphere in this room.  Soft grey walls, and black and white accessories provide the perfect base. 

 

Personally, the jury is still out as to whether I'm ready to welcome GOLD metals into my home again.

Perhaps it's because I've spent the last decade painting over the brass and gold finishes on every picture frame, mirror and accessory that I own! 

However, these inspiration pics build a strong case for the art of mixing warm and cool tones.  Together, they create a sophisticated and subdued colour story.   

 

What's your verdict?

The Allure of the Library Ladder

Library LADDERS date back to the Victorian era.  The grand homes of this period had lavish libraries, filled with rich, dark wood, and impressive collections of leather bound books that spanned from floor to ceiling.

Even today, the idea of a home library has enduring appeal.   Library LADDERS add the character and charm reminiscent of earlier times.       

The rolling LADDER in this space serves a utilitarian purpose, but it's presence is befitting of the room's traditional and elegant style.

     

A black library LADDER rests against stark white shelving, adding depth and dimension in the corner of this fabulous and formal reading area.
     

  

Bookcases span the entire back wall in this sitting room.  The rolling LADDER can be repositioned along its track to easily access even the highest shelves.
 

A space dedicated to decorative display can still benefit from the addition of a library inspired LADDER.   Clever brackets eliminate the need for a rolling track.

 

This kitchen takes full advantage of its soaring ceilings. The upper cabinetry is accessible by the charming addition of a slender LADDER  that tucks away in the corner when not in use.

Library LADDERS are functional and fabulous.  They optimize vertical living space, while adding the warmth and personality characteristic of days gone by.
 

A home needn't to be large in scale to house a small nod to the past.  If your space could benefit from a taste of history, the library LADDER is a modest addition with a grand presence.

An Entirely Enchanting Chandelier

Lighting is an essential element in interior design.  No longer reserved for the dining room, CHANDELIERS are now gracing the ceilings of almost every room in the home.

Lighting establishes the mood in a space.   A unique and imaginative CHANDELIER becomes a statement piece, adding tension, whimsy, or focal interest to the room's design plan.

For amazing drama and impact, a glass bubble CHANDELIER is a big, bold and beautiful choice.

This CHANDELIER'S appearance resembles air bubbles floating up through sun kissed water, quietly emphasizing the room's subtle aquatic theme.

Cascading glass orbs suspended above this romantic claw foot tub creates an entirely new connotation for the term 'bubble bath'.   

In this stunning home, the iridescent quality of the glass bubbles are further enhanced by the home owner's sparkling cloche display.
       

The ceiling height in this kitchen is accentuated by the over-sized CHANDELIER shimmering above the island.  The metal orbs are a tasteful complement to the stainless steel appliances in the space.

These CHANDELIERS are effervescent, enchanting and ethereal.  Lyrical, curvaceous and undeniably chic, a bubble inspired ceiling fixture is not only a spectacular lighting statement...

It's an extraordinary work of ART.