The Coastal Dining Room

Lisa Johnson - MOD Society Magazine

 

Interior designer Lisa Johnson was tasked by her client to refresh her Hilton Head home in a relaxed and kitsch-free coastal vibe. I love the dining room.

More Chinoiserie Kitchen

Colleen Bashaw - House Beautiful

 

Another look at the kitchen from yesterday's post, I wanted to point out the chinoiserie wallpaper flanking the range. I also LOVE the Frances Elkins style loop counter stools at the island. The palette here is exactly that of mine in my home - soft gray, white, pink, green, and blue and white.

And greetings from Champa Bay!

The Chinoiserie Kitchen

Bungalow 5

I love this kitchen. I will never ever tire of a beautiful white kitchen. I have dreams of a white kitchen with marble counters in my next house. In my last house in Virginia, I had Corian which was hot when we bought the home and is having a bit of a resurgence now. It is so easy to live with and I loved it. In this house I opted for quartz in a marble look-a-like - Silestone Calacatta. It is such a classic.

With my late husband who was a coffee drinker and red wine drinker, and then Golf Guy who is likewise a coffee and red wine drinker and messy as well, I was too nervous about marble. I have been really happy with how easy care the quartz is, but it's not marble.

This kitchen is gorgeous. I love the Bungalow 5 Frances Elkins style loop counter and breakfast table chairs, the white and brass pendants, and of course the blue and white Chinese porcelain filled with flowers.

I love the combination of Frances Elkins loop chairs and Chinoiserie and a bit of history. I grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois. My favorite store was Marsall Field's and most of my clothes as a child came from there. They opened their first branch in Lake Forest in 1928 because they lived there. Famous architect David Adler and sister Frances Elkins designed many of the great homes of Lake Forest and the first four loop chairs Frances designed in 1932 went to Mrs. Marsall Field's Long Island home.

I can't see what the counter material is, but I am not sure I like the visual of the black cooktop on the island. I think I might have chosen a white glass cooktop so as to not have that large rectangle of black in this white space.

Aerin Lauder - Elle Decor

Here is another wonderful white kitchen featuring Frances Elkins loop chairs. Also saving this for my new home file - I love the blue walls and pale blue ceiling and the lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly. This is in her East Hampton home.

Although you don't see a lot of blue walls in a kitchen, in a beach house I like this look a lot.

Did any of you choose marble countertops and are you happy with your decision?

Saturday Inspiration - Chic Dining

Katie Rosenfeld Design

Frances Elkins loop chairs, a Saarinen tulip table, curtains in Osborne & Little Maharani, and a fax bamboo chandelier combine in this chic eating area.

Black Friday

Bunny Mellon

Enjoy your Black Friday shopping today. I am spending the day getting ready for a photo shoot but will head out Saturday for Small Business Saturday in Old Town Alexandria. These black and gold japanned loop chairs were Bunny Mellon's sold at auction at Christies. My idea of Black Friday love.

The Chinoiserie Breakfast Room

Katie Rosenfeld - Traditional Home

Celebration Week - Inspiration Boards and a Fabulous Giveaway

This coming Saturday, May 4, 2013 is my four year blog anniversary - with well over 2,000 posts. I plan to celebrate with a whole week of inspiration boards for each room of my fantasy Chinoiserie Chic house and the announcement of my blogiversary giveaway on Friday that you will not want to miss.

The Chinoiserie wallpaper is by Griffin & Wong "Song Sassoon" in a beautiful blue. The large circular table is silver leaf by James Mont circa 1940s. Six Frances Elkins loop chairs will surround the table. They are lacquered in white with gray leather seats. The faux malachite painted console table has gilded edges. For some fun, the console table will have a pair of Jonathan Adler Georgia breast lamps -  check it out here. A Marjorie Skouras chandelier is a wonderful focal point. A pair of antique Famille Rose Chinese garden stools will be tucked next to the dining table. My go to curtains, interlined silk taffeta, here in my favorite coral pink, will hang at the windows.

Now pop over to The Glam Pad to see my virtual makeover of the backyard of the Chinese Village House for inspiration on bringing Chinoiserie outdoors.

Subtle Chinoiserie

For those who gravitate toward a subtle approach to color and to Chinoiserie, here are two lovely examples. In the dining room above, Suzanne Kasler uses a celadon and blue palette. The Frances Elkins loop chairs and Louis XVI chairs are a wonderful alternative to the Chinese Chippendale chair, grasscloth in a soft green is used on the walls, and white tureens, reminiscent of blanc de Chine, grace the table. Below, Phoebe Howard uses a beautiful soft palette with pale lavender walls, framed Chinoiserie panels, and a Chinese Chippendale bench.

Tuesday Tidbits-Morsels of Chinoiserie Inspiration

Today I bring you six great Chinoiserie ideas for your home.

First, above is the latest from Caspari-Chinoiserie Blue. So pretty!

Love framed botanicals but want a Chinoiserie flair-parrot tulips are a natural.

Here is my Annie Selke gold pagoda bed but done in Robert Allen's Crystal Lake. Wonderful fabric, but the bed is so stunning on its own, not sure the fabric doesn't detract from it. But this a great Chinoiserie toile for the price.

I love this idea from Martha Stewart-use vintage and new Chinoiserie tea cups, bowls, and plates to organize your jewelry drawer.

Have you seen Anne Harwell's latest work of art? I love it. One of these Frances Elkins loop chair prints is going to end up in my house.

Recall my post showing those gorgeous huge houndstooth curtains? Here we have oversized houndstooth fabric used for a bedskirt.

(Courtesy Martha Stewart, Annechovie, New York Social Diary)

Saturday Blue Inspiration

My dream chairs-Frances Elkins style loop chairs-these at Todd Merrill Antiques on 1st Dibs. Circa 1940s-turquoise blue lacquer with peacock blue leather seats.