Get the Look: A Patternful Blue & White Dining Room for the Holidays

 

My eyes basically popped out of my head when I received the latest issue of House Beautiful and I saw Lee Ann Thornton‘s jewel box redo of a Connecticut ranch house. The woodwork (which was all brand new, apparently — amazing what you can do with applied moldings), the colors, the patterns, the cozy rooms, everything, everything is right up my personal style alley. Jewel box.

It is apparently up many people’s style alley, because I’ve seen it featured on two other design blogs already.

One room, in particular, that made me gasp was the lovely, yet so friendly-and-accessible-feeling dining room.

I’d be hard pressed to find an individual who doesn’t like blue and white. It is the essence of classic.

I love Lee Ann’s employment of pattern-on-pattern, one of my favorite granny chic techniques. However, notice how carefully she plays with different pattern scales and tones/values of the blue color. That is where the designer works her magic!

While Lee Ann employs a number of very high-end trade-only sources, this is one look that the DIY decorator could imitate pretty successfully, I think, again, paying careful attention to scale and color. For some of the big ticket items, I’ve included some more budget-friendly options. Lots of vintage finds!

And, as always, note that items from companies like Schumacher, Noir, Visual Comfort, Merida, etc. are available to Home Glow Design  clients according to my pricing.

 

Get the Look: A Patternful Blue & White Dining Room

 

While it’s a pretty tight squeeze for any of you lovely readers to create a dining room from scratch before Thanksgiving, you could definitely have it done by Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year!

 

Let’s face it, this room starts, ends, and begins with this beautiful, antiqued floral wallpaper by Tyler Graphic. Sorry, trade only.

However, here are a couple of papers that give a similar look.

Which was used to much acclaim in this dining room by Studio McGee.

Or, for a much less expensive option:

The next big patterned item is that stunning hand-blocked tablecloth from Zsuzsanna Nyul. Again, trade only. Do a google search, and you’ll find a number of block print tablecloths (this is one of my absolute favorite Etsy sources for block print tablecloths, and this Chairish shop has SOOOO many cool options) but whatever you find has to play nicely with your wallpaper! And for that reason, I really like this one from Pottery Barn.

 

 

This Louis Mirror comes in gold and silver and is a really good price at $199. (Ballard is also having 25% off everything through Nov. 13.)

 

The glass globe lantern comes next.

 

Lee Ann’s is from Paul Ferrante. Having enclosed glass drives up the price of any lantern. I love the first one below because it still has a little glass for shimmer, but you can go with a completely open orb chandelier for a similar effect without the added expense.

 

 

Or this one, for the more wallet conscious.

 

 

 

 

I have a couple chair options for you.

 

And, for the more “value” end of the budget spectrum:

 

I adore mismatched blue and white china, but unless you are an avid picker, it can take a while to collect and mix and match well. This Etsy shop has a ton of sets already perfectly collected for you.

 

But if you want a mismatched china service for 12 and don’t want to spend hours and hours trolling the internet, Bunny Williams Campbell Service for Ballard is great. Again, 25% off through Nov. 13.

 

 

If it were me, I’d add a hefty dose of vintage “brown” into the mix with a gorgeous sideboard. This one is from Baker, but I bet if you scope your local Craigslist or auctions, you’ll find something similar for half the price and no shipping. We’ll throw it into the mix, so you can see what it would look like with everything else.

 

Now, time to vary up your tones of blue! Add cobalt.

Lee Ann has some gorgeous hurricanes on her sideboard.

 

 

Ginger jars are a must. I’m lazy. I tend to look for sets.

 

 

Lastly, your natural items to keep things relaxed. Lee Ann’s rug is from Merida, but most of these braided jute rugs are all similar to each other. One from a retail source below.

 

 

Water hyacinth chargers are lovely (and inexpensive) beneath your dinner plates.

 

A couple of extra accents — and a wheelbarrow-full of blue hydrangeas — and you’re done! My favorites, all together below, for your pleasure!

 

 

-Amy