Using the homeowner’s collection of antique wooden panels depicting the 12 zodiac symbols, designer Sam Ciardi created a Southeast Asian designed dining room. The room is a warm and cozy space, according to Ciardi with Samuel Robert Signature Spaces, who chose to center the room around a custom dining table.
Every inch of the zen-inspired room breathes life into the space, from the abundant green plants to the dark, earthy ceilings, to the bespoke credenza painting. The “deep bold, ‘Palm Frond'” transports you to the perfect paradise that encompasses a tropical, tranquil elegance.
For more information on the ASPIRE House Princeton Designer Show House, click here.
Sam Ciardi
Samuel Robert Signature Spaces
Rockaway, New Jersey
973.376.770
signaturespacesnj.com
Instagram: @samuelrobertsignaturespaces
Photography by Mike Van Tassell Photography
With the last few weeks of summer ahead, now is the perfect time in much of the country to embrace the warm summer days and spend time in the sun. A perfect outdoor dining area can allow you to spend more time with family and friends and soak in the sun at the same time. Here are a few tips to design the area that will best work for you and your home:
Photo courtesy of Chaplins Furniture
Photo courtesy of Go Modern
1. Consider the Colors
It’s always important to take into account the colors of the outdoor area. If the outdoor area is more centered around nature, consider more earthy colors that blend right into the background, creating a soft, calm atmosphere. For a bolder style, however, pick a color that contrasts sharply against the background.
With this area, the lighter pinks and tans behind the dark table and chairs create a beautiful distinction of colors. Whichever your style, make sure to consider various colors in your design process.
2. Working with the Landscape
When working with nature, there are mainly two choices: working with the land or changing the landscape to fit your needs. Keeping the land untouched will allow for a more natural atmosphere, while changing the landscape may be more accessible and practical for an outdoor dining area.
For example, this bench by the pool allows a great lunch or dinner with family and friends. While nature is not emphasized, it creates a sleek, clean design that’s easily accessible to the house and pool, allowing for gathering around the table at any time.
Photo courtesy of Garden Trading
Photo courtesy of Go Modern
Photo courtesy of Lagoon
3. Creating Shade
While the idea of an outdoor dining area underneath the bright sun is important, practicality should always be a factor. With the sun out all day, it may get too hot to stay outside and enjoy the summer air. Remember to provide adequate shading, whether that’s with a tree or a canopy, so you and your guests are able to spend as much time outside as you would like.
This outdoor dining area was built with a roof for this exact purpose. Crafted with natural wood, it forms a calm atmosphere blocking the sun but keeping everyone close to the nature that surrounds them.
4. A Style that Fits You
Whatever the design, make sure that it fits your personality and will be used often for gatherings of family and friends.
Photo courtesy of Lagoon
Because there’s an endless wealth of kitchen, living room and bathroom interior design articles, we’re looking at one of a home’s most forgotten rooms — the dining room. As a gathering room often used, it’s odd that there’s little to no talk when it comes to dining room interior design and how to get it right in a contemporary residence.
And while redecorating a room is a fun challenge to take on, it can be a puzzle figuring out where to start and how to decorate effectively. To help inspire you to make the most of your dining room, Décor Aid is sharing easy-to-manage cues to consider to elevate the space. If your room doesn’t need a major overhaul, these are still tried and true, resourceful practices to take in to easily transform your dining room.
TRY A DIFFERENT LAYOUT
A dining room layout should offer a refreshing surprise — without being too daring. That said, do try your hand at thinking out of the box when it comes to exactly where you place your furnishings and how you can make them stand out objects.
USE WARM WOOD TONES
Wood tones can add a polished, warm vibe to a dining room of any size, even for small dining room decorating ideas. You don’t need to worry too much about matching wood tones as subtle nuances between flooring and furnishings allow the eye to travel.
Photo courtesy of Millarc
Blending warm wood tones, the dining area at 15 Jay St — located within the Tribeca West Historic District and designed by the Meshberg Group — also offers a unique, open plan layout.
Photo courtesy of Quada
BE CREATIVE WITH TABLETOP DECOR
Easy to source and decorate with, consider different approaches for the items that live on your dining room table and/or console daily and move them around, rotate them, or add new items with little to no effort.
This dining table — located within Harford Manor, a 40-acre estate near Windsor, Berkshire — displays beautiful, elegant tabletop decor
BRING IN ART
Art can bring a sense of relaxed elegance into a space. Note how a vibrant painting gives the room depth and a sense of drama with just one piece.
Photo courtesy of Quada
Photo courtesy of VDP
CREATE AN INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE
The more relaxing and comforting your dining room interior design is, the more you’ll want to entertain in it. Think a small grouping of furnishings that boast plush surfaces, relaxing hues, and what would make you feel at ease in an intimate setting.
This one-of-a-kind dining room — located within the Penthouse at Nine on the Hudson — was designed to bring people closer together with an intimate, less traditional arrangement.
GO OLD SCHOOL
As memories and culinary experiences are deeply linked, do transport your guests to moments from your past. Though we aren’t recommending a completely traditional overhaul, there’s comfort to be found in the familiar, so consider injecting your dining room interior design with elements that hint to the past whether through vintage quirk or a grand gesture.
Designed by Room Resolutions, this dining room features antique elements — including the traditional chandelier and detailed crown molding.
Photo by Shay Velich
For a complete list of Decor Aid‘s dining room design tips, head to www.decoraid.com
38 Prince Street
The townhome at the Residences at Prince combines the strong lines of a late Federal house with the stylistic Greek Revival flair. The expansive open kitchen with its extensive marble countertops will be a joy to cook in for the holidays and leads through a dining room with a fireplace to a large south-facing, bi-level garden.
277 Fifth Avenue
Spacious dining rooms were designed by interior architect Jeffrey Beers as the ideal space for hosting any size holiday celebration. The open-layout floor plans allow residents to easily entertain guests from the gourmet kitchen, while putting the final touches on a meal. The homes’ warm color palette create an inviting, comfortable environment for holiday mealtime.
1000M
The ultra-luxury condominium development coming to Chicago will offer residents an intimate, chandelier-lit private dining room with stunning views of the city and access to the sky terrace. Located on the 72nd floor, this space is sure to upgrade any dinner party.
One West End
This Upper West Side condo includes a contemporary chef’s kitchen and private dining room that pair the panache of New York City’s Michelin-starred restaurants with the intimacy of a private home. After sharing a meal together, family and friends can mingle in the media room, which includes a fireplace, billiards and a large comfy couch.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Miami Beach
The Penthouse, with seats for 14 people, is the perfect spot for a dinner party. Featuring panoramic views, a 20-foot-tall wine cave, a private terrace on the first level, a BBQ terrace, a complete outdoor bar, and a 2,000-square-foot deck area with dining seating and lounge areas, this penthouse will help you and your guests ring in the new year with style.
Brickell City Centre’s REACH and RISE
Featuring an exclusive fête room, these two luxury towers allow residents to host the ultimate holiday soirée with stunning views of the Miami skyline. Located on the 7th floor, the sophisticated social room features an elegant furnished living room, dining table and eat-in, chef-worthy kitchen, creating the perfect space for a celebration.
Call your friends, pop the champagne, plate the cheese and have the most stylish affair around — simply because you can.
There are many reasons to throw a dinner party, especially around the holidays. Having the right spectacular space to impress your guests is crucial. From sky terraces and amazing views to fireplaces and stunning chandeliers, these dining room’s “wow-factors” will surely be the talk of your dinner party.