Design Eye Training : 107
It seems we’re overdue for a Design Eye Training post. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do, and it brings a splash of happiness to your day! This is our seventh post in the series, and it has been a couple months since we last analyzed this gorgeous historic bathroom. Today I found an equally as impressive dining room designed by the talented team at W Design Collective. They’re actually a local Salt Lake City company that is located pretty close to our Tuesday Made office! I’m always very impressed with their neutral and layered portfolio. Click through to admire, analyze, and tour a timeless & textural dining space with me!
To quickly recap… in our Design Eye series, we observe and admire design fundamentals like scale, texture, pattern, material use, lighting plans, color, floor plan & layout, and a variety of intentional styling & interior moments pulled together by the pros. It’s an exercise I used to practice often in design school, and one I still enjoy today. By discussing and breaking down well designed spaces in greater detail, you’ll begin to train your “design eye”, build upon the design fundamentals, and can apply some of these things to your own home, if they appeal to you. I also feel like this series can really help you hone in your personal aesthetic, determining what you like and dislike… and most importantly, why. Ready to give it a try?
This dining room immediately made me think of one word: texture. It’s filled with texture galore: the wallpaper, the rug, the chairs, the seat cushions, the floral arrangements, the herringbone floor, and even the ribbed detail on the cabinetry (which you’ll notice later in this post). It’s truly a visual treat for the eyes! I really love the simplicity of this space. The neutral color palette feels warm & welcoming, but not boring.
There is also quite a bit of pattern play happening in this space, but it’s done in a subtle way… the woven design on the chairs, the pattered seat cushions, the geometric grid on the area rug, the herringbone floor pattern, and of course the ticking stripe on the wallpaper. All of these patterns work really well together because they have a nice scale difference.
The simplistic millwork really allows all of those gorgeous materials to shine. Did you notice the subtle striped wallpaper mimics the reeded cabinetry drawers? So clever! Speaking of which, that built-in is an excellent use of space in a tight dining room. That would be an ideal place to store dishes and entertaining items, while making a visually pleasing design statement. And what do you think of the vintage artwork? I think the color palette works well with the space and the super traditional subject matter is a nice contrast to the modern elements in the room- like the chandelier and dining chairs.
Despite this space being relatively neutral, I notice a lot of high contrast… the black doors, the creamy white trim, the way the wallpaper changes in the light as it nears the base, and the heavy dark furniture. I love the juxtaposition of the new furniture mixed with the antiques sprinkled throughout this space. The chest of drawers and console table in opposing corners balance the room, add character, and provide additional storage, plus more styling surfaces.
The seat cushions seem like an addition that weren’t initially purchased with the chairs, and I have to say- I’m very into them. This is an excellent idea for adding color, pattern, personality, and comfort to standard dining chairs. The styling in this room feels really nice to me… we’ve got art, antiques, florals, greenery, serveware, and even mixed metals. It’s minimal, but well done!
Switching gears… did you notice the lack of window treatments? If privacy isn’t a concern, I actually enjoy the look of bare windows that allows natural light to flood into a room. I think window treatments depend on the home, the room, and how it’s used. Personally, in this space, I would love to see long drapery panels for added drama and softness, but that’s just my preference. Can’t you just imagine light cotton or sheer treatments?
The floor plan of this space is simple… it’s a rectangular space that perfectly fits the oversized oval dining table (centered in the room), which seemingly bridges the gap between the entryway and hall. I’m assuming it’s situated at the front of the home and is setup as a formal dining room, despite the casual welcoming feel. I believe I remember seeing adequate seating in the kitchen area… click here to take the entire house tour! It’s a gorgeous home.
I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this stunning space! Are you still enjoying this series? I love the peep of the staircase behind the extra wide cased doorway from this view. It’s another great example of modern meets traditional. I would certainly enjoy having dinner or drinks in this beautiful room. It’s too bad I don’t know the homeowners- this home is located pretty close to our previous home! It’s always nice to highlight and admire the work of talented designers… even better if they’re local! Do you have any local-to-you favorites? Be sure to follow along with W Design Collective on Instagram!