A Moody Modern Dining Room Remodel
I'm so excited to share my latest project reveal…. The Lilac Lane Dining Room. This project in Cherry Hill, NJ was subject to many COVID delays along the way, but the end result was more than worth the wait. It’s a space filled with bold contrast, texture, and the pull between light and dark, heavy and light brings so much depth to this home.
When the homeowners called me they wanted to make their open space dining room feel like a reflection of their modern tastes, to feel at home in their modern split level style home, and be a special place to spend with friends and family. They had some furniture in there, but it felt wrong for their style. They host a lot of family meals and wanted this space to be a beautiful and comfortable space to spend time with family.
The bulk of the work design was done during the first year of the pandemic, and luckily these clients were so patient and willing to wait for the perfect final product because we definitely dealt with those long lead times, delays, and backorders you hear about in the design world. But rather than trying to find something that would work in a hurry, they trusted the process and waited for what they really wanted. The end result is a moody and bold, textural space that feels dark and dramatic all while feeling light and open and punctuated with that bold pop of cool from the statement artwork.
The biggest change to this space was the addition of custom cabinetry. The long, empty wall was the perfect space to build a statement built-in. I loved designing this custom piece with a mix of dark charcoal paint, modern shaker-style cabinetry, with a natural rift white oak on the interior of the cabinets. I played with texture and created something bold with the juxtaposition of dark and light. And I’m so proud of how all the little design details of custom cabinetry really shine in this space.
Layers of dark texture were added with Soapstone countertops, a gunmetal sink and faucet, and a textural charcoal colored seagrass wallpaper that anchors the huge piece of cabinetry and acts as a foundation for the bold artwork. The dark built-in is paired with an oval marble tulip table, and I love how the veining of the table plays off the veining of the soapstone. And the oval shape of the table cuts through the sharp lines of the rest of the room and caning details on the chairs add lightness and tie in with the white oak on the cabinet and the shape of the grid on the upper cabinet on the side towers.
The bold geometric fabric on the windows on mimics the movement of the painting and to add a touch of softness with a vintage style rug was brought in to break up some of the harsher lines and contrast. And we can’t forget about the lighting. Brass warms the space and the statement chandelier feels dainty and modern and allows the eye to see the artwork throughout the space.
The end result, I think feels so cool and I just love the play on dark and light through all the layers of color and texture. And I’m especially thrilled that My Domaine showcased this project in their makeover of the week feature. I don’t go into much of the before here, but let’s just say it was a time capsule with a lot of pink. Check it out!
Until next time! Libby