Perfect Balance

In today's world, formal dining rooms are beginning to become obsolete.  Be honest, how many formal gatherings do you have where you actually eat in the dining room?  The formality that typically comes to thought when thinking of dining rooms tends to make people feel like they need their pinky in the air with every swig of coffee and the posture of a princess while eating dinner.  

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The dining space above is perfectly adaptable to today's changing view of formal dining rooms.  This space could be created in any nook of your home.  There is a fashionable casualness to the selection of colors and materials.  There are elements paying homage to your traditional dining space, such as the oval back Victorian inspired chairs and the silver tea service, but there are also more casual elements like the upholstered banquette and rustic iron base table.  

Click to Enlarge- Factory Table, CUC3023

  The combination of wood and iron creates instant charm without all of the stuffiness of a matching dining set. With this table, you can create a transitional space or even an industrial space.

Click to Enlarge- Medallion Side Chair, B004 E106 C003

With a nod to history, French and otherwise, this chair adds a feeling of history, but the mid-tone wood stain and neutral fabric exude a modern flair.  Mixing wood finishes adds a casual, collected vibe to any room.

Click to Enlarge- Bombay Bowls, Set of 2, 2498

Large wooden bowls will be the perfect center piece to fill with interesting finds, greenery, candles, or food items.  A collection of interesting accessories on a dining table provides instant dining conversation as well as strays away from the expected center floral arrangement or candle sticks.

Click to Enlarge- Antique Silver Oval Madison Tray, R275

A large silver tray will provide the perfect sparkle to a dining table.  Fill the tray with any collection of items your heart desires.  When you have a sprawling dinner party, you can easily remove the tray to clear up table space, or even re-purpose the tray from holding decorative items to food items.  Do not be afraid of mixing your metal finishes; think of them as neutrals that coordinate with any color scheme.
 

Click to Enlarge- Pinders Rectangular Chandelier, CUC9389

 The light fixture in the original inspiration image is unique in the fact that it does not look like a traditional tiered chandelier.  More of an island light, the fixture adds an instant focal point that grounds the rest of the collected table accessories.

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For a large open wall like the inspiration image, a grouping of multiple framed pictures adds drama without the large price tag of one over-scale art piece. The variety of images will keep any dinner party interesting.  Pick inspired visual topics like images from your travels, antique botanical images, machinery close ups, or still life layouts.




You can find all of the featured products on The Great House Store's website at www.thegreathousestore.com

Let There Be Light!

Lighting is one of the easiest design tricks to create any ambiance for any occasion.  Layering levels of light by means of table lamps, sconces, chandeliers, pendants, and recessed fixtures will insure you have ample viewing capability in a task area or romantic, soft lighting for a quaint dinner party.  Lighting in dining rooms is extremely important to consider when creating your dream space.  Do you want understated elegance or do you want a punch of personality?  All of the impressions from conservative to modern can easily be created with the proper selection of a chandelier evoking who you are and what you want to express. 

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Do you embrace nature and clean lines?  This dining room will definitely spark your interest with a play on textures.  The geometric shelving recesses backed with wood planks serve as the perfect backdrop for spot lights to create shadows.  A large drum inspired light fixture hung unusually high in a dining room insures no conversation and view interruption at this table.  You may want to create your own natural escape with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Mambo 8 Lt Pendant, 135-410-F

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Do you have a flair for Modern Baroque style?  The juxtaposition between historic Baroque moldings and black lacquer furnishings will prove to be a showstopper in any dining room.  Graphic elements such as the black and white Marilyn Monroe art piece and the cluster of cylindrical crystal chandeliers will leave a lasting impression upon your guests.  You may not live in an old Baroque Chateau, but you can start to recreate this room's personality with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Karel 12 Lt CHNDLR IMP-CH, 632-12-514

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You may be more inclined to embrace classic design in your dining room.  Muted colors and reflective surfaces create a glow in this space that can be recreated at night with the use of a stunning chandelier and buffet lamps.  The chandelier below adds a touch of sparkle without being too ostentatious.

Click to Enlarge- Crystal Lights Chandelier, Large, CUC9891

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If you embrace whimsical design, try staggering a cluster of pendants or chandeliers above your dining table. These chandeliers give the appearance of glass orbs floating in space, an unearthly ambiance for any dinner party.  On a smaller scale, more fitting to most homes, use a cluster of crystal pendants for a similar feeling.

Click to Enlarge- Wanderlust Chandelier, CUC9001

Click to Enlarge- Moonlight Pendant, CUC9067

Click to Enlarge- Roundabout Pendant, CUC905

All of these light fixtures can be found on our website at www.thegreathousestore.com

A North Carolina Custom Retreat- Simple Elegance Included

We at The Great House have been working with a wonderful couple in North Carolina this year.  Incredibly, this couple had the opportunity to travel to France and gain inspiration for creating their own custom dream dwelling.  To accentuate the French architecture they love, Randy Hall and our staff used design techniques from the past as well as present to accentuate the design of this lovely French home.  The results of combined partnership between homeowners and designers create an elegant space appealing to most any taste.  A bit of traditional, a touch of French flair, and a tad of rustic elegance all working harmoniously to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.  Due to the time of year, we also were able to add Christmas decorations to the finished product.  By keeping holiday additions minimal, our adornments do not overpower the casual elegance created with this dining and entry space. 

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The warm yet neutral color scheme instantly provides a sense of warmth and home.  The over-scale French inspired mirror is one of Randy Hall's trademarks.  Sitting atop the fabulous painted buffet, this mirror and accessories will be sure to be a beautiful yet functional serving piece for all of the home owners' holiday gatherings.  The addition of full garland and neutral ribbons provide the holiday vibe without overwhelming the color scheme with traditional bright reds and greens. 

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Have you ever wondered how to dress an arched window?  We had a rod custom formed to the shape of the dining room window and selected a beautiful gold stripe silk that effortlessly pleats and puddles on the floor.  The reflection of light off the gold fabric further emphasizes the warm glow that radiates around the space.

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We all love the light fixtures in this space. Each one has an antiqued gold finish that adds a sense of age and depth.  If you will notice, there is no shortage of light in this dining room.  Lit recessed ceiling fixtures, a chandelier, sconces, and table lamps add options to the lighting scheme needed for any gathering.

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This is the entry vignette.  A painted cabinet with tassels adds the rustic charm of a French farm house, while the addition of a modern adjustable arm lamp adds unexpected interest.  We have included pops of greenery throughout the dining, entry, and foyer designs to continually draw the eye through the spaces.

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We at The Great House absolutely love the homeowners' selection of this iron stair banister design.  The dark iron evokes a French feeling of days gone by while also adding an unexpected black accent to the muted warm tones.  This contrast of colors automatically makes the curved staircase an instant focal point.  To accentuate the small cavity formed below the staircase, we created a small sitting area with decorative accessories to complement the dining room.  We like to think of this small sitting area as a snug place to read, a place to drop your purse or coat as you come home from an event, or even a place for the husband to wait for his wife to finish getting dressed for the evening.  

All our best wishes for a happy holiday from The Great House... 

Written by Cameron Coxworth