The Look
I prefer the cool contrast of rich blues against warm wood furniture. Here, I used denim-blue grasscloth above the chair rail and teal paint below. I also added custom plaster crown moulding (installed in a day for about $8 a linear foot) for much-needed architectural interest.
Lower walls: Ocean Liner SR11, ceiling: Jetstream SR18. Trim: Snowfall SR29, Sarah Richardson Designer Palette for Para Paints. Grasscloth on walls, Thibaut. Horse photo artwork, Love the Design. Area rug, dining table, round mirrors, Elte. Chandelier, Union Lighting & Furnishings. Light sconces, Residential Lighting Studio. Plaster crown mouldings, F.B. Mouldings.
Brass Is Back
So dive into your closets and dig out some old treasures, from sconces and chandeliers to trays and candlesticks. The last two can also be picked up for a song at consignment shops and flea markets.
Brass candlesticks, cutlery, blue glass pedestal bowl, Around the Block. Blue glass vase, IKEA.
Tripple Your Pleasure
Instead of a single upholstery fabric, use up to three for extra pizzazz. On the dining room chairs, the seats were covered with mohair velvet and the backs in a smooth, casual-looking linen, while the jaunty, wide-striped cotton piping and backs reinforce the nautical theme.
Lindsay bench, custom photography, Sarah Richardson Design. Silk pillows on bench, blue napkins, West Elm
Go Divinely Deco
If your goal is to blend classical looks with a more contemporary line, you’ll love the look of vintage Art Deco furniture. Besides being beautiful, the walnut credenza, with its curved doors, two-tier top and ample storage space, can hold vast stores of china and crystal.
Dining chairs, FOC. Dining-chair seat and inside-back fabric, bench fabric, Designer Fabrics. Stripe on dining chairs, drapes, drapery hardware, inVU Drapery Co. Sideboard, Florentine side tables, Florentine tray, Of Things Past. Orchid pots, placemats, Crate & Barrel. Brass bowls, Grr8 Finds. Chair rail (#189), Brenlo.
Get Vintage Inspiration
The colour scheme in this room originated with a set of vintage dishes discovered in a consignment shop for just $175. As for settings, start with a basic antique set, then layer boldly patterned newer plates over top.
Vintage china set, Elegant Garage Sale. Peacock accent plates, Anthropologie. Wineglasses, William Ashley.
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