I chose to feature this dining room photograph today because of its unusual colour palette. The pale yellow and blue Dulux Australia paint colours are an uncommon choice for a space such as a dining room. You'd expect to see these colours in a bedroom or perhaps a bathroom but not usually in a common area.
There is something intrinsically inviting about this room, however, that I think warrants further investigation.
I think it's the way this room makes you feel that is the attraction. Sometimes the way a room makes you feel overrides conventional design ideas. This space is warm and welcoming, which is exactly what you want in a space where you're entertaining friends and family. Sunday brunches and bridal showers come to mind.
The casual tone of the room's design also makes it a place where you want to stay and visit. The denim fabric on the chairs, for instance, is a forgiving fabric that is not fussy or pretentious and is a perfect colour to complement the soft yellow and blue wall colours. What could be more comfy than a pair of blue jeans? Notice how well that band of blue in this room adds dimension. It is further enhanced by painting the smaller trim along it in a soft cream colour. I mentioned this technique a few weeks ago and just wanted to point it out again because it is an attractive attribute.
The table display, which includes items with a vintage flavour, is also warm and welcoming. There are no traditional place settings. The dishes, cutlery and napkins are stacked in a casual manner. No fancy china to worry about dropping here. Don't forget that food can be used as an accessory. A platter of golden pears carries the yellow wall colour to the table. If you're in a pinch for a table display, consider a flat basket of freshly picked rhubarb, cut flowers or vases of chives from the garden. When Martha Stewart visited Oprah's show years back she presented Oprah with a big bouquet of rhubarb from her garden. I thought that was quite unique and classy. The candle sticks, reminiscent of vintage wooden thread spools, are used instead of fussy candlesticks with traditional tapered candles. The casual vintage lace runner finishes the overall look but is not so pristine that you'd be terribly worried about spilling on it.
I love the simple accessories here as well. Twigs from the yard, a vintage wire egg basket and books of all things, make an interesting display on the console table. Speaking of which, this table is most likely meant to be used as a sofa table in a living room but it works beautifully here.
The artwork appears to be a simple cupboard door whitewashed and lightly painted with a strie pattern using the blue wall paint. This is a simple art project. Again, leaning the painting on a table rather than hanging it on the wall creates more visual interest and speaks to the casual country feel of the space.
This is probably an older home so the lighting is probably substandard. No fancy chandelier hanging from the high ceiling. Instead, a simple drum shade is suspended from the ceiling fixture. A casual floor lamp in the corner and candles can be used to cast a soft glow as the sun sets.
The large window sans window treatment is nice if you can do it. It's hard in the city to leave windows uncovered but at the very least ensure that the drapery treatment can be opened fully during the day. You could also consider non-traditional treatments such as an etched glass effect, which will provide privacy but will still allow a stream of natural light into the room. Natural light plays a big role in the overall look and feel of most rooms in the home.
You'll notice the small air vent near the ceiling that is painted white. I do understand the thinking behind doing this as the fretwork of the air vent is pretty but I'd prefer to see it painted the same colour as the wall around it so that it blends into the wall. It's an odd place to feature this kind of architectural detail. If you have similar oddities, consider whether they are something you want to feature before you paint them in a contrasting colour. Don't paint fire alarms because it could diminish their effectiveness. These safety items must remain as is, unfortunately.
The general lesson here is to be open to all sorts of colour palettes for any room you plan to decorate. In this particular example, soft spring colours make for a very hospitable and pleasing dining experience. This room says "I'm really glad you came."
connieoliver@shaw.ca
