Golden River Project: A Dining Room Designed through Heritage
When I’m called to design a space in a client’s home, I view it as an absolute honor; a homeowner is trusting me to bring their vision for their home to life!
And this time, it was no different.
During consultations, I usually ask homeowners the standard, “what’s your design style?” or “how will you use this space?” But, to really bring in the personality of the client, I like to ask what song they imagine themselves listening to when in the space, or how they want to feel in the space we’re designing. These questions help me determine the colors, textures and patterns to incorporate in the design.
For this project, the homeowner told me she wanted her dining room to “make a statement upon entering her home”. She also wanted this to be a space for her dinner guests to feel royal, yet comfortable enough to enjoy good laughs and a good meal at the table she built.
Moreover, she wanted a space that truly reflected her as a person.
With that, I had everything I needed to get to work!
(And might I add, I was uber excited to work with this homeowner. She’s a good friend and an artist I’ve respected for a WHILE now. So when she called me to collaborate on her space, I jumped at the opportunity!)
Where We Started
I basically had a blank canvas to begin with! This made it easy for me to identify the immediate updates I needed to make:
Update the lighting
Remove the old window treatments
Bring in COLOR
And since the homeowner’s base design preference was Mid-Century Modern - a favorite style of mine - I brought in geometric shapes, plant life, and furniture options that helped communicate that design style.
During the consultation, the homeowner mentioned that she would be making a live edge, gold resin river table . . . At that moment, I knew our collaboration on her dining room would be gooooood! Oh, and now you know how the project earned its name: The Golden River Project!
To see the table-making process from start to finish - and the challenges (overcame) in between - follow the artisan behind this masterpiece!
Photography: Kim Thomas
Now that the foundation of the design was established, it was time to layer in the elements that truly told the story of the beautiful person who lives in that home. Here are a few ways we made that happen!
Art
When selecting art for design projects, I like to present options to clients based upon their taste, what speaks to them, and their desire to have themselves represented in their homes. The pieces for this project are meant to amplify and celebrate black heritage in subject matter and from where I sourced the works. I like for homeowners to see themselves reflected throughout their home and for their artwork to tell their guests who they are without them having to say a word.
Sourcing tip: The abstract pieces are from a dear friend, Monica Lewis
Color
To communicate the sense of royalty and creating an elevated look for this dining room, I presented the two color options: A deep teal, and a purple. Initially, the homeowner told me one of her preferred colors and one she would like to see featured in this space was plum. I at first hesitated at proposing that the walls be painted purple, and almost opted to simply bring this color in through accessories. But something told me to present this wall color option despite the hesitation. Needless to say, we went with the purple walls that have a plum hue to them (in person). The color we used is called “Purple Rain”, and unbeknownst to me, the homeowner’s mom’s favorite musical artist is Prince. It’s as if this color chose itself - as it added another layer of familiar connection to this space! Plus, the color purple is a color used to represent royalty.
Goal accomplished!
Ancestral Heirlooms
Photography: Kim Thomas
As we were finishing up the install, I needed a few final items to style out the bar cart. I went into the kitchen to cut the flowers for the centerpiece. On my way back into the dining room, I noticed on the countertop these beautiful green and gold coupe glasses! They were exactly what I was looking for to finishing styling out the bar cart; I mean the green echoed the chartreuse chairs and window treatments to perfection!
Little did I know, these glasses once belonged to the homeowner’s grandmother - to whom she has a great connection. So for them to be sitting out, waiting to be selected as a featured item in this room’s design hardly seems to be by coincidence. For me, design is rooted in intention, even when we don’t at first recognize it. The room, now, felt complete!
Tip: during installs, I like to “shop” the homeowners’ house - with their permission, of course - to find those last, special details that really bring in the personal touches to an overall design. Antiques or collected items are a great way to do that!
As a design statement I live by: our homes are meant to reflect the beautiful people we are. So when selecting furniture, art, colors, or fabric even, never be afraid to fill your home with the things you love and the pieces that truly represent who you are, inside and out!
To see in more detail how the Golden River Project was styled and how the room came togther, check out the video below. (Song: Tales by Moonlight by Tiwa Savage)
And when you’re done watching the video, let me know how/if you like to layer in heritage into your home!
