One Room Challenge Spring 2017 ~ Week 2

Hello to Week 2 of Spring 2017 One Room Challenge! Being inspiring by the Croma Design Inc and Nam Dang-Mitchell Design Inc (see more of their fab projects from Week 1), my dining room is soon to take on a very different personality: from bold and vibrantly colorful to calm and modern sophistication.

This was my dining room featured on Style at Home magazine a few years back.  I am still in love with the dynamite wallpaper and what a "wow" statement it made, especially for night-time entertaining.

images courtesy of Style at Home / Donna Griffith

However, one short coming in my dining room is the lack of storage.  OK correction, there is NO storage in this dining room and for a home decor addict, it means piles of beautiful "stuff" EVERYWHERE.  You haven't seen my dining room for a while because it has slowly turned into hmmmm ... a storage locker?

To rectify this situation (I honestly can't look at this sight much longer), I have decided to incorporate as much storage in this small dining room as possible while keeping the space feeling light and airy.  I have looked in stores and online for off-the-shelf solutions that fit my must-haves: 

• dimension: max out storage but not intrusive or bulky
• material:  intricate mix of woods and marble
• function: serve as sideboard for entertaining and desk for home office
• style: sleek, contemporary and can stand the test of time

It's a tall order and for that, I've decided to go custom.  I must have gone through 10 different versions with my cabinet guy (poor him) and these are my inspirations:

I will also be using these beautiful brushed brass knobs from Lew's Hardware available at Upper Canada Specialty Hardware.  Fingers crossed these cabinets will be done in time for Week 6!

I am a big fan of wallpaper (in case you haven't noticed it yet) and to up the serene and sophistication factor in my dining room, I know I need to work with Calico Wallpaper!



Based in Brooklyn NY, Nick and Rachel, along with their talented team, create their sensational non-repeating large scale murals that:

"blend the beauty, play and abstractions of art with the functional utility of design, thereby creating a product that inspires and invigorates the backdrops of our lives." ~ calico wallpaper 

I would love to dress my entire room in Inverted Space, but keeping budget and resale in mind (the general buyers in Toronto are still rather conservative when it comes to home decor), I have opted for Mist from the Aurora collection for a soothing ombre effect for a couple of walls and an extra special treatment with Andromeda for the display nook.  Can't wait to see them both installed!

images courtesy of Calico Wallpaper 

Lighting solution is key in a dining room, especially when mine is also doubling as a home office.  I knew the Bocci 28 series will be my chandelier one day and today, my dream comes true with the 28.7.  It will be stunning in my new dining room.

images courtesy of Bocci 

Speaking about love at first sight, I fell in love with these amazing Horizon wall sconces designed by Christian + David of ANONY Studio at the Interior Design Show.

The design duo has invested a lot of time and energy in designing. sourcing, and manufacturing these showstopping fixtures locally in Toronto, and best of it all, they are an absolute bliss to work with!  Here is David sharing with us why these sconces are so special:

To make these sconces even more incredible for night-time entertaining, we will layer a pair of acrylic panels in front of the fixture to up the sculptural factor and for ambience.

images courtesy of ANONY 

Last but not least, I need a new dining table!  I know I want something classic and visually light, and immediately the Platner dining table popped in my head.

images courtesy of Design Within Reach 

Slightly too large for my space and a lot more so at the budget department, I have found a hidden treasure (literally) similar in look and scores green light on both scale and the bank book from HomeSense.  Finding fabulous for less ... no kidding!

A lot of work to be done in the next four weeks! Wish me luck and come back at Week 3 to check on my progress.  Can you feel my excitement at #OneRoomChallenge?