Dining Room Wallpaper

I have exciting news to share!   The wallpaper for my dining room arrived and was installed this week.  You may recall from my last dining room house tour that I was considering the Moroccan tile Phillip Jeffries grasscloth paper.  (Read more here).    I think it adds so much character and depth to the room. 

 

 

  Here are some before and after photos. 

 

 

Before | Entire Room : 

After | Entire Room:

 

 

Before | View to Foyer:

 

After| View to Foyer:

 

Before | Side Room View:

 
After| Side Room View:

 
Additional After Views: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out my original dining room post for more sources and photos.  Here are a few of those photos: 

 

 

 

 

I still need to add artwork but I am thrilled with the results. It's just the extra oomph I was wanting for this room. Of course, this has sparked my wallpaper enthusiasm and I am now eagerly pursuing the Meg Braff! (Only I have changed the focus from the guest bedroom to the Sunroom to now a completely different *secret* location in the house. More on that soon). 

 

 

 

Peer Through the Window

Call me a nosey body at heart, but I love a good stroll through another person's home--with their knowledge, of course  In most cases.  (Oh come on, I don't mean you're going to find me over in my next door neighbor's shrubbery peering through their living room window--I only did that once, for the record--But, sometimes it's nice to be a voyeur from afar).  That's what the beloved decor mags are good for! Call me simple.  Call me shallow.  Heck, call me simply shallow.  But, it's so cool to see how other people live! 

Check out some of these celebrity homes. 

Candace Bushnell, of Sex in the City fame, in her NYC apartment.

Anna Sui

Courtney Cox in her Malibu Retreat

Supermodel Jessica Stam in her NYC townhouse

Keri Russell's Brooklyn townhouse

Nanette Lapore's West Village townhouse

Ralph Lauren's ranch in Colorado

Katie Holmes' New Chelsea, NYC apartment (courtesy of NY Daily News)

 (Photos courtesy of Elle Decor unless otherwise stated)




So, where can you find yourself cozying up with a cup of tea? 
You'll find me at Jessica Stam's luscious lavender-Moroccan-styled apartment.  (I want that door).  Then I may head over to Nanette's inviting living room (I've always seen that crystal ship chandelier but have rarely actually seen it in a room...I actually dig it here).  


But Mr. Lauren, oh Ralphy, what are we going to do in this room at your ranch?  This better be a media/movie room because, if it's anything else, it looks like a liquidation furniture sale on leather arm chairs (Hello?  Hub Furniture called...they want their chairs back). 


And really, my comments should lie with Katie--er, I mean, "Kate's" new apartment.  It's in a kick a$$ part of NYC (Chelsea), but if this is really the lavish decor in there, little Suri's going to have a hey day swinging from these gold gilded chandeliers.  I know you matured from age 26 to 86 when you married Tommy, but you don't have to decorate like you're a Golden Girl already!  (Sorry Blanche, honey, I didn't mean to offend you). 

Did you see Barbra Bush's NYC Townhouse?  Check here if you missed it! 

Hey, you wanna meet over on pinterest?  Here's where to find me...

House Tour: Dining Room

My dining room is a work in progress.  I have the necessities such as my china cabinet and dining table but am still working on the additional details.  True to my decorating tastes, I wanted to mix unexpected colors and patterns to create a more non-traditional eating space. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(After wallpaper--see more photos of wallpaper here)

 
Bar cart in the far corner:
 

 

 

The chairs are Arden Park from Lillian August for Hickory White.  I fell in love with the Highland Court Zoe pattern (In Currant 180936H 338).   This textile was the first thing selected for the dining room. 

My Lillian August decorator at the time was Holly Russo and she helped me find the Casamance Paris Texas fabric for the backs (361 40 40).  I love how the back seems simple and serene and then the fronts offer a pop of pattern.  The chairs are finished in a black leather contrast welt. 

The rug was custom by Lillian August.  The chairs are definitely over stated so the more subtle design in the rug helps to calm the room. 

The drapes are silk with hues of raspberry flowered embroidery.  They have a black velvet leading edge and a celery green silk finish. 

Right now, the walls in the room are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172.  It was a good neutral base when we were building our house, but once the drapes were put up, the wall color did nothing to enhance them.  Introducing, this fabulous Moroccan Grass cloth print by Phillip Jeffries.  It's on order now and I can't wait to have it installed!  (Thanks to my current Lillian August decorator, Lynne Methot, for finding this match.  Love it and it exudes my style).   

 

I selected this Jonathan Adler Ventana Chandelier when we were building our house.  It's a perfect size for the room with the right amount of 'moderness.'   The hutch in the background is Crate and Barrel.  They don't usually feature such sleek dining room furniture.  It has a Danish modern feel to me. 

Once the wallpaper is installed, I may consider painting the tray ceiling.  To see more on how much I love a painted ceiling, see here. 

Before photos:

 

And here are more samples of potential wall coverings for the room.  They were all very nice but in the end, I felt like the Moroccan weave was the most 'my style' and would also still be bright in the room. 

Here's the view from the dining room into the foyer. 

In the future, future, I'd love to have a sliding door system like this built into the foyer.  Sometimes when we have dinner guests, our voices travel right up the stairs where the kiddos are sleeping.  I think it would also add character to the entrance.  If anyone can tell me where to find fabulous doors like that, let me know!

View of room with table set

I'll be sure to post updated photos of the dining room once the wall covering is installed and additional accessories are added.  If you'd like to see some of the other inspiration photos for my dining room, please feel free to check out my 'Dining' board on pinterest.  (This started as a repository for wallpapers that I wanted to consider for the room and has since grown into a space for all dining rooms that I love). 

 

 

Big update:  the wallpaper is up!  check it out here. 

It's been a pleasure to show you around this room.  If you'd like to visit the rest of my house, you're welcome here anytime. 

'Home Goods' Heaven

For those of you that know Vivid Hue Home by now, you know that we are HUGE lovers of One King's Lane.  Ok.  Huge may even be an understatement. 

There are many of these "exclusive", "by invitation only" online storefronts that have popped up over the last few years (read more here).  But, One King's Lane continues to be my go to.  I've found everything from Trina Turk Pillows, Massimo Vitali Artwork, Designer's Guild Accessories, and unique character accessories for any home. 

Trina Turk

Now here's where I'll contradict myself. 

As enamored as I am with the offerings from OKL, I have also discovered that it pays to know the value of what you're shopping for.   Many of the discount retailers purchase their goods from the same manufacturers.  So what you find on One King's Lane one day, may also appear on the shelves of Marshalls/Home Goods the next.  And they are often the same items.  At different price points.   (And I bet you've already guessed which store is more expensive...ahem...OKL). 

Example: 
The turquoise table was featured on One King's Lane recently.  It's a World's Away Studly Dresser that retails at $340, on sale at OKL for $149.  Good deal.  (And LOVE the color). 

Here's a Moroccan Studly Table (not World's Away and not turquoise) but with the exact same features and brushed nail head details.  I saw this at Home Goods this week for $29.99.

Don't get me wrong, you will probably never find Trina Turk or Designer's Guild at Home Goods.  But some of the accessories with non-descript brands are undoubtedly found there.   Keep your eyes peeled next time you're browsing Home Goods and keep an open mind for what you might find. 

Here are the other great things I discovered on my recent trip to Home Goods: 

This high backed butterfly settee may seem over the top but I actually contemplated putting it in the corner of one of my guest bedrooms (paired with blue and white sear sucker stripes).  I love the butterfly pattern and can envision this accessorized with contrasting pillows.  (Remember the butterfly mania prediction?)  $499

This side console is very weathered and 'Old Worldly.'  Not the style of my own home, but I recognize a good accessory when I see one.  The same piece could be spotted in an antique shop.  And if you have a passion for Moroccan style decor, this would be an awesome accessory for only $499. 

This rug was super stylish in person.  Same Moroccan theme but with great teals, jute and turquoise shades and the quality of the rug itself was a durable loop hole (sometimes the rugs at Home Goods LOOK less expensive).  This 8X10 was $399 and would really make a statement in a room. 

I had this long farm-looking basket in my cart and ready to purchase for $59!  I fell in love with the length and the rustic red that looks like it was painted decades ago and then forgotten about in your Grandpa's shed.  I could envision this on my long kitchen table (see below)...just a subtle accent of red to match the burgundy ottoman in the living room.    Hmmm.  now I'm wondering why I put the thing back.  Except, in full disclosure, these feelings of "must have" happen quite frequently and I would become a hoarder if I purchased everything I fell in love with! 

This orange lacquer Chinoiserie box had my name on it too.  Wouldn't it be cute on a dresser in a guest bedroom as a pop of color?  Only $14.99

There is nothing better than real flowers in the house.  But I must admit, they make some decent fakes these days and these faux cacti caught my eye because they looked so real.  I would set them outside on my patio table and not have to worry about the heat getting to them all summer long.  And at $11.99, it's worth it not to have to worry about keeping another thing alive (I already have to remember to feed and bathe the kids, yah know! <<sarcasm of course!!!!>>)

And lastly, I hate clutter that is out in the open for guests to view.  So what do I do?  I stick all of my clutter in organization boxes like these.  Sure, the inside looks like the worst kind of junk drawer.  But that's why these beauties come with lids!  Hey, no one should see your dirty laundry.  These started as low as $11.99.  Imagine how perky they'd be in a laundry room, a kids room or even out in the open! 

This was a fun trip for me.  And my husband loved it because (for once) I walked away without actually making a single purchase (in this store anyway!)

The lesson learned is not to undermine the possibilities for home decor in your local Marshalls, Home Goods, Target or TJ Maxx.  These stores are getting serious about competing affordably in a 'discount-saavy' market and the quality of their offerings has become very competitive.  Save One King's Lane for your higher-end designer brand purchases!