An Entertaining Remodel

Your dining room is probably one of the least visited rooms of your home, but that doesnt mean it goes unnoticed. Since you usually only gather there to eat on special occasions, holidays and for dinner parties, the decor should make the space feel special. And, the dining room is the perfect place to show off your fineries and entertaining skills, while reflecting your personality and style.

Designer: June Price, ASID
Firm: K.L. McCall Interiors Ltd.
Style: Classic traditional
Location: Brookhave

A little color can go a long way as it did in this corner niche. It often helps to coordinate accessories in any room. Photos by Sharon Black, courtesy of K.L. McCall Interiors Ltd.

The design team at K.L. McCall Interiors used the beautiful Waterford crystal chandelier as the focal point of this dining room makeover in an historic Brookhaven home. Along with the stunning chandelier, the dining room also features a unique built-in niche. In the makeover, the niche was painted a peach color to coordinate with the same accent color found in the Oriental rug. Then, antique porcelains were displayed in the niches shelves. The rooms walls were painted and finished with a watercolor glazing technique, and a tall chest replaced the original low-profile sideboard. To complete the homeowners desired traditional look, silver and crystal accessories, along with candles, were displayed on the chest and small shades added to the chandelier.

Designer: Marsha Harper
Firm: Harper House Designs
Style: Traditional
Location: Marietta

Decorating a room can be quite daunting, but anything can be done with the right vision. After photo by Jan Stittleburg. Before photo courtesy of Harper House Designs.

This dining room proves that anything can become grand with the right vision. The before photo was taken just before designer Marsha Harper purchased the house. Harper knew that the room could make a more dramatic statement because the design elements of the molding, windows, columns and straight lines were already in place. The process began by changing the wallcovering to a bright salmon color and a pattern that would compliment the lines in her furniture. A very traditional chandelier was added to bring elegance to the room and reflect light off the mirror and crystals. Next, the dining room chairs were recovered and new chairs were custom made and upholstered to pull out accent colors in the walls. A new Karastan rug was added to help complete the room and tie accenting colors together.

Designer: Sandy Walter, ASID
Firm: Walter and Moncada International
Style: Contemporary with a Traditional Edge
Location: Buckhead

Masculine, yet elegant, this dining room is fit for a bachelor who loves to entertain. Photos by Ricardo Moncada, courtesy of Walter & Moncada International.

Beginning with only a white room containing a grand piano, the design team at Walter & Moncada International was able to transform this bare box into an elegant environmentperfect for entertaining this bachelors friends and clients. The custom Italian square dining table, in walnut travertine with bull nose edges, allows eight guests to be seated comfortably for a formal evening meal. To complement the table, the dining chairs have a coordinating deep walnut finish with a tone-on-tone Intexx Dupioni silk. A bronze and crystal chandelier was added to create the perfect glisten and glitz for a room of this style. To enhance the ambiance of the room, the window treatments were custom designed to provide style without becoming too heavy. The finishing touch is the large gold and terracotta striped faux finish on the walls and the wash finish on the ceiling; together they complement the entire environment and create a perfect setting fit for a bachelor.

Designer: Linda Pittam, ASID
Firm: Pittam Associates Inc.
Style: Eclectic
Location: Brookhaven

Dining rooms can be as “entertaining” as any other room of the house. After photo by Jan Stittleburg. Before photo courtesy ofPittam Associates Inc..

Therell be no stuffiness here! This dining room evolved into something quite fun and artistic. The rooms main focal point is the round glass table surrounded by mohair-covered chairs, but its the vibrant colors that make this dining room stand out. The room has a boldly stated Atlanta connection: The window coverings were made from 1996 Olympic banners. Additionally, the upside down beach volleyball legs, which is actually a birdhouse (housed in the volleyball), is certainly an attention grabber and was purchased at a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. The colorful yellow rug lends itself to an artsy feel coupled with the homeowners fun paintings. Another focal point is the multi-colored chandelier the couple bought while on vacation in Venice. If you stay long enough, youll feel entertained just being in the room.