Room of the Day: Traditional Dining Room Shaken With a Twist
Though these homeowners aren’t necessarily the most buttoned-up formal types, they recognized the importance of a formal dining room in their colonial-style home. And so did their designer, Taylor Jacobson, who completed renovations throughout their house. “These clients were wonderful to work with. They have great taste and a wonderful art collection,” she says. The dining room provided a start to the larger project, and the bodacious new blue botanical wallpaper that covers its walls inspired them to use the hue in many important spots.
During the update, a glossy and glamorous new bar replaced a butler’s pantry between the kitchen and dining room. Perhaps the most important take-away is that finishing a bar as quickly as possible can help you survive an extensive decorating project.
Photos by Amy Bartlam
Room at a Glance
What happens here: A young couple enjoys formal dinners. As a bonus, the room shares a chic bar with the kitchen.
Location: Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters); about 20 feet by 15 feet (6 by 4.5 meters)
Being in view of the main entry, the dining room makes a statement as soon as people walk into the house. “The house has colonial style and called for more formal spaces,” Jacobson says. That didn’t mean the owners couldn’t put their own twist on it, however.
One of the first selections was the dining room wallpaper, Raphael by Sandberg. “Blue wound up being a strong element through a lot of the home,” the designer says. “It started in here.”
The fantastic botanical pattern nods strongly to the tradition of wallpapering colonial dining rooms. Jacobson shook up the tradition with a distinctive Widdicomb midcentury modern dining set found in Palm Springs, California.
Adding a twist is an unexpected chandelier. It’s a custom, one-of-a-kind piece made by local Echo Park artisan Jason Koharik.
Light fixture (similar): 8 “J” Arm Chandelier
A painting that is a family heirloom enjoys an honored place. Its blue background is just the right hue for the room.
Jacobson transformed a hallway between the kitchen and the dining room from a dysfunctional butler’s pantry to a chic bar. Contractor Alden Cusick did the build work.
The cabinetry is custom made and covered in a high-gloss lacquer. “We made sure the finish on the top could stand up to splashes,” Jacobson says.
Cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball
A mirror backs the bar, and glass shelves give it an open look. Jacobson arranged the bottles artfully and broke things up by displaying clear glassware on the middle shelf. Brass hardware, brackets and lighting add to the glamour.
“Lighting is really important in here,” the designer says. She bought the brass double-light sconce fixture from British company Besselink & Jones.
To the left, you can catch a glimpse of the other side of the bar that leads to the dining room from the kitchen. The wallpaper and brass finishes play off the kitchen’s Hicks pendants.
The room’s design honors not only the tradition of formal dining in a colonial home, but also the fun and glamour of cocktail hour. Cheers to that!
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