DC Dining Room: Quiet Luxury
Luxury has been defined as, "the state of great comfort and extravagant living." Luxury is actually a very personal state. For a business person who is often tied to their devices, luxury is a quiet place, free of all things digital. For a work-at-home-mom, luxury might be putting on business wear, getting out, and reclaiming her professional life. We all crave our version of luxury, but it's my estimation that we don't require extravagance so much as a more quiet version of luxury, one that elevates our inner being. It was this notion of quiet luxury that directed the design I completed for a busy family in Washington DC.
“We all crave our version of luxury, but it’s my estimation that we don’t require extravagance so much as a more quiet version of luxury, one that elevates our inner being.”
The client came to me wanting to complete the update of her dining room that she had started with another designer. The room has fantastic bones and the quirky features that are expected in any old home, and the design groundwork that had been laid was a great jumping-off point.
The room had a creamy, barely-there leopard-print wallpaper, matching cabinets lacquered in robin's egg blue, and an attractive chandelier. It was very subtle and soft...but my risk-taking client really wanted to add some punch!
We first selected a new dining table with sleek, Art Deco lines. The side chairs were covered in a metallic leather - trust me, it's like buttah! Everything clicked when we brought in the custom host chairs - upholstered in a chartreuse zebra print that my client adores (remember, she *loves* animal print!)
I wanted to get the right mix of textures, and suggested a tailored silk curtain to continue the polished look without getting fussy. The unexpected color combination - soft grays and blues, punctuated with zingy greens and peacock blue really sealed the deal for my client for whom quiet luxury means having an elegant space for entertaining, but one with a good dose of personality and charm.
Photos: Robert Radifera Styling: Charlotte Safavi
