When embarking on any new design project, I think of the house as a whole unit, and each room as an opportunity to explore new ideas while maintaining a consistent and cohesive point of view and plan. My theory is that each room should make a unique visual statement, yet feel sympathetic and complementary to the adjoining spaces. In essence it leads me to experiment with different combinations in each space designed to service a different purpose; the result is a home that flows from one room to the next while offering unexpected combinations and engaging environments. In a Tudor-style home, I called on Arts and Crafts inspiration as the springboard for a warm and welcoming dining room.
To give a dark dining room updated polish, take a departure from stained-wood panelling and paint it a light, bright white. This may be a controversial suggestion to some, but using the panelling as a high-contrast background to antique wood furnishings allows the decorative details of the furniture to shine. To amp up the drama, select a bold wallpaper to create moody nighttime ambiance and apply it to the upper section of the walls. Don’t overlook the ceiling—pulling the colour out of the rug and applying it to the ceiling draws the eye up and accentuates the beautiful crown moulding.
Contemporary design offers the opportunity to combine elements from around the globe and curate rooms that are as eclectic and adventurous as you dare. If you want to live in dynamic rooms, consider taking an international approach to your selections. The table and wallpaper are English designs, the chairs are a French reproduction, the chandelier is vintage Italian, and the carpet is a contemporary interpretation of the acanthus-leaf motif popular in ancient Greece (but woven in Nepal). There’s no need to follow a strictly homegrown approach to style when you can take a world tour!
For a foolproof way to arrange flowers and look like a pro, try selecting a single variety of blooms (with no greenery), cut them all the same length, and cluster them together in a clear glass vase with simple lines. If you want to make a larger statement, create a cluster of vases, each filled with a different variety and colour of blooms with staggered heights. Bold colours can add a pop of pizzazz to reinforce an accent colour in your walls or carpet.
Love two fabrics for your dining chairs but can’t decide which one to choose? Why not use both? You can add extra interest to upholstered chairs by covering the seat and the inside back in one fabric and using a stronger accent fabric on the outside back. The simple stripe pulls in a few colours from the wallpaper and acts as a contrast to the busy pattern.
Designing within a framework of traditional style without making your rooms appear stuffy and staid relies on the mix of ingredients. Embracing historical elements, and combining them with contemporary influences, will enable you to create a home that draws inspiration from classic references while keeping in step with modern living. If combined strictly with Arts and Crafts elements, the William Morris wallpaper from the 1800s might seem like a dour time capsule, but when paired in equal measure with restrained fabrics and a contemporary carpet, the wallpaper reads as a richly patterned accent in a tailored environment.
