Decadent dining rooms.......come take a seat. Au Revoir!

In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular.  ~Kathy Norris

How divine! Who doesn't love walking into a glorious dining room? OK, granted most of us only use this room a few times a year...I know I am guilty of it but I can't help it.....there is something so magical about walking into a beautifully done dining room. So here I have put together a lovely little collection of a great group of different  styles of dining rooms. As I am starting to plan out my own dining room, I am realizing I am not as sure of my ideas as I had once thought. The ONLY thing I know for sure, is that I want to use a chinoiserie on the walls, other than that I am open to ideas! 


 I know I have  a few favorites...do you? I got a few great ideas from these "inspiration photos" I have always loved seeing a sofa or small love seat in a dining room. I like seeing two or even three chandeliers....if it works in the space, it makes it interesting. I love two round tables if the room allows for it. Love book shelves in a dining room...could it not feel any more inviting and well lived in?  Would love to know what you like and why. If you had a plain room with absolutely nothing in it and four blank white walls.....what would you do to it to create your dream dining room? Would love to hear your ideas! 

This fabulous dining room by Janet Simon is a favorite, love the pale green chinoiserie paper

Thomas Pheasant used an abundance of rich orange and red in this opulent and decadent DC dining room

Keith Johnson put this eclectic grouping together of antique pieces and it works beautifully

Love the laid back but sophisticated vibe of this dining area, done by Ray Booth

Rinfret designs created this elegant dining room with painted and glazed walls/niches and painted murals

Another Rinfret Dining room....always liked a round table in a room if it works

Fabulous rich dark colors create a dramatic dining room by Samuel Botero

Blue is so soothing in a dining room....love that lantern

Very opulent dining room by Juan Pable Molynueax...check out the gorgeous DeGournay mural

A very pretty and inviting neutral palette dining room, the chairs look so comfortable

A bright, happy and cheerful more casual dining room as seen in Architectural Digest (notice the books- makes me feel inviting and like a room you are more apt to spend time in)

This french styled dining room by Alexa Hampton is glorious in a rich green color palette

This dining room with its clean lines and dark walls was voted a readers favorite in Architectural Digest by Lorena Polon

This is a very dark, gothic looking formal dining room, too dark for my taste but grand for sure

This light and airy beachy dining area is very inviting and cozy by William Waldron

Rich chocolate chairs and gilding make for a very decadent dining arrangement in this room by Craig White

Love this gorgeous rich warm room so decadent but inviting at the same time....love the millwork and windows

This is so pretty, love the brick wall, the beautiful Ralph Lauren leather chairs, the pretty panels..its such a soft and inviting combination

The velvet beige chairs with a pretty shape make this transitional dining room dramatic and elegant

This formal and opulent dining table set for oh about 40 is beautiful, what do you think about the two toned painted paneling?

I love books in a dining area! It makes it feel so inviting, so livable.....this just feels like such a great and happy, well lived in space

This dramatic space in this contemporary home opts to go minimal with the emphasis on the view and a great table

Ralph Lauren's private dining room looks might inviting! Love all the art on the walls, the loden green walls and the plaid backed chairs.

This ultra posh and luxurious over the top dining room fit for a king is by Morposa Ciptak, the color of the walls, a dark apricot is so warm and just glows at night

Bunny Williams goes with a more art deco feel here and uses yellow as the accent color in this dining room

This cozy Hamptons dining room by Greg Jordan mixes black woods and natural woods, I like using a sofa or love seat in a dining room

Dining room by Bunny Williams in the Caribbean in happy colors of pinks and ivories

Elegant monochromatic dining room by Michael J. Siller is luxurious but not stuffy because of the light and airy colors used

Bunny Williams designed soothing dining room in blues and whites

A stunning proper Georgian dining room with Gracie paper is the picture of elegance, interiors by Cullman and Kravis

The clean Tuscan lines of this beautiful dining room is by Marjorie Shushan

Ok, ok.......I know this is not a formal dining room, but I had to throw this in, how could I not....I would take this hands down over ANY of the above dining rooms.....this to me, is saving the best for last!

It is inItaly (of course) by Craig White

Hope you enjoyed these.....I go back often and reflect back on the smallest details and sometimes find things I didn't see the first time around. Every picture has a little something to offer. I hope I was able to give you some inspriation on some level too!

I will be away for the next five days to one of my favorite cities on earth, Paris! We are attending the Masion & Objet, a fabulous furniture show as well as taking some tours and visiting. I have my camera charged and ready to shoot and will be sure to take lots of inspirational pictures (in a city as grand as Paris that is not difficult to do) Speak to you next week....AU REVOIR!

My heart is a flutter....with all this color!

"It is better to wear out than to rust out"

-Richard Cumberland

In Feb. I am going to be doing my first giveaway! I will be giving a way a pair of fabulous needlepoint pillows (they are from the same company that does private label for Pierre Deux). If you like what you see on my blog, follow me or subscribe for a chance to win....

Do you dream in color? Even if you don't you might after seeing these gorgeous rooms! Though I am the first to admit I have been timid about using bright colors in my own home (maybe because I have been waiting to reserve them to  furnish my Caribbean retreat...lol)  A big trend in the furniture and home textile industry is lots of bright vivid colors and they are showing a lot of them right now. I guess one thing I have always thought is you can't just do one room with a punch of color, it has to flow with the rest of the house....so does that mean you are destined to have  a crayola box of rooms? Don't know if I am ready for that.
Like it or not there is no denying that bright colors add instant life to any room and the proof is the rooms below. It does add a lot of punch to a room..no doubt. Below is a showcase of many different rooms each infused with a lot of color.  Let me if its a like or a love!

Kendall Wilkinson boldly mixes a bright blue turquoise and orange and somehow it works!

This is really well done, I love the splash of orange against the crisp white in this fabulous beach house guest/hangout room (Coastal Living)

Lots of vibrant blues, check out the nautical striped floor! I happen to think this is a lot of fun for a beach/vacation house.

Kendall Wilkinson did a beautiful job of mixing gorgeous shades of blues and reds here

Luxurious theater by Kerry Joyce in an all red color scheme is quite luxe

A colorful creamy orange hall by Thomas Britt

A blue and orange study with punches of red by Thomas Britt

A grand Palm Beach living room by Juan Pablo Molyneaux

Bright green walls warm up this cozy dining area

Another view of the this Kendall Wilkinson room

Fabulous rich apple green velvet sofas add a pop of color to a traditional library

This dark navy bed is a bold statement in an otherwise neutral bedroom

A cheery yellow painted wall makes for a sunny and happy space in this center hall

Blues, yellows, pinks, and orange? All in a one room? Somehow I think its effective

This is bold with the orange damask walls, lime green chairs and blue panels on the windows

Bright sunny yellow at it again.....

Rich navy and white...very sharp 

Love the green accents here, especially the way it pulls the green from the beautiful oriental rug

Great pops of color in this fabulous outdoor space

Beautiful Robin's egg blue against white is so pretty and crisp

The periwinkle blue against the dark woods is a nice surprise

Lime green in a very traditional room....unexpected but lovely

Lime green covered chairs in a very traditional room is fresh looking

Beautiful blue and white is so inviting

Stunning coral/red against the green works..I like this combination, very "Palm Beach"

More blue and white...always a winner

Gorgeous outdoor terrace with periwinkle blue wicker seating

Bright red room is dramatic, love the blue and white lamps

A huge study done entirely in orange in this DC townhouse by Thomas Phesant is a unexpected surprise

Thomas Pheasant chose to do a red living room in the same DC residence

This Miami penthouse done by John Barman has punches of bright colors against a white palette to showcase the fabulous view and endless views of the ocean

Love this room....the green chairs, the bright yellow walls, it all comes together beautifully!

I like the pop of the orange chair...such a pretty shade

Reminds me of a creamsicle! I really like this room, a rosy red/pink guest room

A cozy dining area in a nontraditional red library

A green dining room, very unexpected in such a traditional room, the orange chairs take some getting used to....

Chartreuse walls? Works with the black chairs in my opinion.

I love this color orange...so pretty and warm..bet its beautiful at night! (love tufted ottomans)

Navy walls and different shades of blues somehow make for a very cohesive and cozy feel (I like the navy bookcases instead of black or your usual wood)

So let me know what you think about all this color....would you use any of these palettes in your own home or is it just fun to look at them in design magazines and books? I love to hear from you....hope you have a wonderful day!