New Weekly Article - In Black & White || Home By Design

Another fresh idea!!!

Have you wondered what to do with your dining room?  How about a crisp and clean modern look?



New Weekly Article - In Black & White || Home By Designa

New Weekly Articles - A Study in Contrast || Home By Design Weekly Article

Perhaps you don't live in a Manhattan Condo or even a 1200 Ghent Condo....but you still may have that bedroom, family room or dining room that just seems a bit cramped.

The hints provided can apply just as well to your home as to condo living.   Small spaces are always interesting projects.


New Weekly Articles - A Study in Contrast || Home By Design Weekly Article

New Weekly Articles - Drama in the Dining Room || Home By Design Weekly Article

A wonderful aspect of owning a home is making it your own.   Frequently, a homeowner has a strong desire to place their stamp on a house to make it "home".   Yet, with so many options and perhaps a mate that doesn't agree on every point, the desire can go unrealized for years.

Hopefully these articles from HomebyDesign Magazine are helping you break through on fulling your dream to make a "home" out of the bricks and sticks that make up the house.  

This week article address the dining room.  Such a key part of the home during the holidays as we all host various family, friends and cohorts from work throughout the Thanksgiving to New Years period. 

Enjoy the ideas presented...take one or more and make it/them your own!!!



New Weekly Articles - Drama in the Dining Room || Home By Design Weekly Article

New Weekly Articles - Shimmer and Shine || Home By Design Weekly Article

New Weekly Articles - Shimmer and Shine || Home By Design Weekly Article

If you love to entertain, this is a great article to read....click the link below to see pics and article.  If a bit short of time, just read below.

It’s no wonder the dining room in this Toronto home has become a popular destination for family and friends. In a sophisticated space such as this, guests are encouraged to linger long into the evening.

WRITTEN BY JEANINE MATLOW

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BAGOSY

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

OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2012

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.”