I shared with you the renovation and decoration of the Entertainment Room.  Now, I will share the changes that have been made in the renovation and decoration of the dining room.  The above picture is the dining room when it was in it’s state of renovation.  This project was a lot of fun. 

Now, remember the owner designs and determines every aspect of his hotels that meets within the guidelines of the franchisee and as a result he readily says what he wants or does not want in each room.  He was quite clear that he wanted his home to reflect his personality. I love it when people are direct about what they want in their homes.  The home should always reflect the personality of the owner/s. 

(This picture was taken at this angle with a variation of lighting numerous times, but I could not get it any brighter.)

(Click pictures to enlarge)

What did we do here? 

1.   The owner wanted bright and exciting colors.  Providing him with a wide variety of colors, patterns and designs to choose from in upholstery materials, we were able to find color and design he really liked and could live with. He wanted the decoration to be somewhat formal/classic,  with the integration of his varied sculptures and paintings. 

2.   I relied upon the great skill and expertise of the upholsterer that I have used for other projects .  When you know that a person is reliable and gives you quality work in a timely manner, stick with him/her.

3.  In the mean time,  the walls were painted in a lovely Light Buff, the ceiling was painted in Ultra White (white-white) , while the chair rails and the moulding were painted in Satin White to accentuate the wall coloring. 

4.   The right lighting was needed for this room, and we were excited when we found this  chandelier style lighting.  I was excited about the find and it strongly met the owners approval.  It was most important to remember to use energy saving light bulbs.

5.   New hard wood floors were laid.  

6.   The long dining table and the side buffet cabinet, are treasured furnishings in this home. They were hand-made many years ago in Europe.  When these furnishings were refinished, they looked new. It’s obvious that they have considerable sentimental value to the owner.

7.   The upholsterer made and covered the cornices in the same material used to make covers for the dining room chairs.  The covers for the chairs are so tightly fit that it’s impossible to determine that they are removable covers.  I love the way that the upholsterer finalized the look of all of the 8 chairs (Six at the table and one is on each side of the buffet cabinet).

8.  The drapes and customed tie-backs were made by a seamstress who specializes in “Window Dressing.”  The sheers were purchased and had to be lengthened to accommodate the windows total decor.

9.   Reframed art was placed around the walls, highlighting the owners interest in multiple art forms and displaying his love and determination to exhibit his treasured pieces.  

10.   This long mirror magnifies the room. It is the length of the buffet cabinet (6′6″) and four feet high.

11.  The hand carved busts on each side of the buffet cabinet are the result of the owners extensive travel.  In the center of the cabinet is a lovely cymbidium orchid in a dish with, what appears to be, water and pebbles.  The owner was shocked to learn that this was a faux orchid floral dish design. I took a chance, but I was happy to see that he loves it!  Only live plants and flowers are throughout his home. 

12.   Gracing the middle of the dining room table are beautifully cut rhododendrons from the flower garden.   

Final Points:

1. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to change or redecorate your home.  2.  For skilled craftsmen to do the work, learn who the people are who work in and around the homes of friends and relatives. 3. Make certain that they are highly recommended.  4. Check out the quality of their work before you use their services. 5.  Find out the cost before you hire anyone to do the work that you need.  6.  It’s always good to have a contract between you and the persons that are working in and around your home.  7.  A contract protects all parties.

Look forward to a great and exciting Spring and Summer!  Tell us what you think!! We’d love to hear from you.