HAMPTONS DINING ROOM DESIGN GUIDE

My husband accuses me of not listening sometimes. But this post proves otherwise. On Instagram questions last week, someone asked if I could share resources for more of our home in Southampton, NY. I’m happy to do so. We were fortunate enough to hire an amazingly talented interior designer, Paloma Contreras. We had just finished a grueling renovation, and I was out of steam and time. Plus, I had been following Paloma for years on her blog, and as much as I loved her work, I knew I couldn’t pull it off nearly as well as she could. So we were tickled pink when she agreed to take on our project. Although I wasn’t the designer, I want to say a few things about this room in particular.

I’m a big fan of a white background, and I knew I wanted that for the entire house. There was a time when white wasn’t cool. At least I thought it wasn’t. But now, it’s all the rage. Because it’s clean, fresh, calm and serene, and allows you to use art, fabric, and texture to add interest. If you want to redecorate, you don’t have to go through the trouble of repainting because white goes with everything. The trick is choosing the right white, and that part has a few variables. Do you want a cool or warm white? Or are you going for white white? Do you want a certain color as an undertone? How much light does the room get? The same paint can look very different in two different houses and even two different rooms in the same house. For paint in this room (and throughout most of the house), we used Benjamin Moore paints. The walls are Calm in a Flat Finish. Why flat? Because it’s an old house, and although we did a lot of skim-coating, the walls still aren’t perfect, and flat paint shows fewer imperfections than other finishes. The millwork and doors are painted White Dove in a Satin Finish. I always prefer a Satin Finish on wood.

Now onto furnishings. Let’s start with a few things from Restoration Hardware. The dining table was a steal because it was on clearance for $800. That was good news for us. The bad news is that the exact table is no longer available, but I found a similar option here. It’s a turned leg dining table in oak. A lot of people freak out and are bewildered when they see white fabric dining chairs. The good news is that for most people, these chairs are not a problem because they are covered in Perennials Performance Classic Linen Weave stain-resistant fabric in Natural. Red wine has been spilled on them, and they’ve been saved. Wine-Out (this exact brand) has been a lifesaver and is a secret weapon of mine that is great for any stain, not just wine. HOWEVER, if you have small children who like to wipe their hands on a chair as if it was a napkin, these are not the chairs for you. At least not in this color. My kids have their own chairs, and you can tell which chairs belong to them. But I will say that the rest of the chairs look almost brand new, even after many guests have sat and eaten in them for four years.

Belgian heavyweight linen panels dress the windows over woven wooden shades from the Shade Store. The linen panels, as you’d guess by their name, are heavy and thick. They come in two widths, 50 and 100 inches, so you can choose based on the size of your window. I had them hemmed to fit the windows, so with all of this, we have a custom look without a custom price. The Shade Store bamboo grass shades were named Hampton-2 when I purchased, but it now appears the shade is named Almond. The hardware is from Pottery Barn—rods and drapery hooks are both in cast iron.

Lighting should never be an afterthought. It is to a home what your favorite necklace, bracelet, earrings, and/or handbag is to your wardrobe. It’s the Jerry McGuire of a room—it completes it! It is so critical. The beautiful chandelier and sideboard lamps are both finished in aged iron, adding dimension and depth to the room and coordinating with the window hardware.

Many people opt to forego rugs under dining tables, but if it’s durable and hides stains, why the heck not? Because rugs complete a room, adding warmth, and let’s be honest, they feel better underfoot. I love the layered look, which we also have in our formal living room. The seagrass rug is available in many sizes, while the layered striped rug is available on Amazon and Target in a few sizes!

Now let’s get to the art. All three pieces in this room are original pieces, so they aren’t available unless you commission it from the artist. The large piece over the white scalloped lacquer sideboard is by Caroline Boykin and was purchased from Gallery 1930. This gallery provides amazing and friendly service, and they carry work from so many talented artists. If you’re looking for original art, this is a great place to begin. Framing was provided by Framebridge, and this piece is finished in the Valencia Floater Frame. If you don’t want to invest in original art, Katherine Freeman sells well-priced large prints of her original pieces. Lemon Drop is a great one. The two pieces over the head chairs (which reside against the wall most of the time), are by Aubree Bunch, but a very similar print is available from minted.com, as is a huge selection of art prints for all tastes.

As with any room, accessories are important. Vases, bowls, and platters are all appropriate for a dining room and can add color, texture, and interest, so don’t forget the finishing touches. You can find these things at Target, HomeGoods, West Elm, and Pottery Barn if you’re looking for big box recommendations. In my opinion, looking for these “things” that make a house a home is always the fun part, so look at antique shows, flea markets, and specialty stores when you travel. For any additional questions, always feel free to message me. And if you’re looking to makeover your dining room, I hope this provides inspiration and even a cheat sheet for something I know you and your dining guests will love for many years to come.