Shimmer and Shine

A Soft Palette Sets a Dreamy Tone for This Distinctive Dining Room

Written by Jeanine Matlow
Photography by David Bagosy

Though Laura Stein, principal and CEO of Toronto-based Laura Stein Interiors, designed the entire first floor of this home and more, there was one exception: the living room, which is on hold until the kids get older. But because the living room, which serves as a temporary play space, is the first room that people see upon entering the home and “is filled with toys,” explains Stein, “they wanted the dining room to be a grown-up space that could seat a large number of guests.”

The Toronto home, which was built in the 1980s, had very little architectural detail. “It’s a nice builder-basic house, but there was no character or trim detailing,” says Stein. “The rooms had nice proportions and a nice flow on the main floor, so we had a good starting point. We added crown molding and wainscoting, and we added paneling to the dining room to add character and polish to the whole space.”

Her client wanted a dining room that was dramatic and romantic. There was already a gray-and-blue scheme with whites and warm neutrals in the kitchen and family room, so Stein created a sense of connection among all the spaces. “It is a relatively neutral room, so we used the colors in unexpected ways, like the dark taupe on the walls that lends a sense of intimacy to the space,” she says. “The blue on the ceiling gives it a little bit of the wow factor, while tying the color scheme together through the rest of the house.”

Previously, the dining room was crowded with larger pieces. “She needed ample storage for good dishes and linens with enough space to avoid feeling cramped,” says Stein. So she placed a mirrored buffet beneath the window—the only source of natural light in the room, with a view overlooking the house next door—and added a soft roman sheer to block the window’s view without compromising the light.

The transitional-style space features clean and simple lines. “It’s not fussy, but it does have some classic detailing to it,” says Stein. The dining table comes equipped with extra leaves for additional seating, while the dark tone stands out against the grayish-blue chairs, which are covered in stain-resistant fabric. “The silver nailheads add a little sparkle,” Stein adds.

Each piece serves a purpose while making a contribution to the room. The crystal chandelier is a family heirloom. “The mirrored buffet adds some pop and some light,” says Stein. “The curved shape juxtaposes the straight lines in the room. So does the roman shade. A wool area rug adds warmth, color, texture and pattern to the wood floor.”

The success of any project should not be measured on aesthetics alone, but on the actual use of space. In the case of this dining room, the accomplishment is evident in the steady flow of guests who come and go. “The couple has a large extended family and constant activity in the house,” says Stein. “That room gets used a lot.”

[Source: Matlow, Jeanine. "Shimmer and Shine" Home By Design. October-November 2012. Web. 16 October 2012.]

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