Inexpensive Table Solution via Nathan Turner + MDD

The space shown below has been a longtime favorite of mine. It was published in the 2009 December/January issue of Domino magazine (and yes, I still have the issue). The photo is of Nathan Turner's dining room. There are many things that I love about it (like the beautifully layered bookshelves) but the element that I love most is the custom tablecloth. Constructed with fine-wale corduroy fabric and trimmed with a thick black canvas border, it's simple yet sophisticated and alongside the coordinating ivory/black upholstered chair seats, it really makes the room look chic instead of disheveled.

Photo published in 2009 December/January issue of Domino magazine via Nathan Turner, photograph by Miguel Flores-Vianna

The table looks pretty swanky, right? Well, the amazing thing is that the table itself is actually particleboard! If you're wanting to recreate the look without spending much money, you can get the same kind of table as Nathan did and just use an off-the-shelf tablecloth instead of a pricy custom one.

Heavy-duty particleboard tables are used by restaurants, caterers, etc. so it's easy to find gently used ones on Ebay or Craigslist. Of course, there are plenty of online retailers that sell them new too. As for the tablecloth, I suggest adding some thick rayon Petersham grosgrain trim to an off-the-shelf tablecloth to give it a custom look. You can either take it to a seamstress or DIY with an iron-on adhesive like HeatnBond. Also, don't forget to have a glass top cut for the table like Nathan did...it's not expensive and it'll keep your tablecloth from getting dirty and stained. Anyhow, thanks to Domino and Nathan for the inspiration!

Speaking of Nathan Turner... have you been watching Million Dollar Decorators? Along with Jacqueline (Kathryn Ireland's housekeeper) and Mary McDonald, he's one of my favorites (partially because of how lovingly he treats his ADORABLE labs Nacho and Daisy). You can read his posts here on the Bravo blog. If you haven't watched yet, try to catch up on the reruns because it's quite interesting!

Here is Nathan with Daisy...I'm obsessed with this dog. In one of the episodes she cuddles up on a John Robshaw dog bed at Peter Dunham's fab LA shop Hollywood at Home and it completely melted my heart.

Image via katiedid 

Here's Mary McDonald pondering about taking on a potentially disastrous client. During this scene I couldn't take my eyes off of that malachite ring - LOVE it. MM has such fabulous taste...

Mary McDonald via Bravo.com

 A guest house that Mary put together on the show...

Design by Mary McDonald via Bravo.com

 And because it's Friday and I love MM's work, here are a few of her greatest hits from the past few years...

Design by Mary McDonald,  photograph by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Design by Mary McDonald, published in October/November 2008 issue of Western Interiors, photos by Karyn R. Millet

Design by Mary McDonald, published in October/November 2008 issue of Western Interiors, photos by Karyn R. Millet

Don't forget that MM has an amazing book, Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style, that is chock full of many many more inspiring photos of her work. I have a signed copy and it's definitely one of my all-time favorite design books.

If you have been watching Million Dollar Decorators, tell me what you think of it! Who are your favorite characters? Who has the best design aesthetic?

Have a great weekend!

House in flux

I'm constantly moving stuff around our house...occasionally this happens as a result of bringing something new into the mix. This was the case with the mirror in our dining room. Et voila...what do you think?

It replaced a gold antique carved mirror and I'm really liking the larger size of the new one. It's from HomeGoods so it was only $200!

So the entry is the gold mirror's new home...

Which means that the botanical print got moved here...

While we're focusing on this area, check out my cool new black and white chevron throw. It's Nate Berkus from HSN! Never thought I'd be an HSN shopper, but the NB stuff lured me in (on the website, I do not watch it on TV). The quality of the throw is really impressive - it's very thick - and it was under $40!

Because I still hate the look of the right side of this room, I'm thinking of ordering the rug below to see if it improves. The current rug is too beige/bland/light. Thoughts?

Anyhow, back to the musical chairs mirrors/art talk. My husband's dad gave us this great mirror made from an old window and I initially thought to use it in the middle guest room, which is where it was put...long ago. You've never seen a photo of this room because it's been faithfully serving as my overgrown junk closet. I finally forced myself clean it out and thereby rediscovered the mirror. Since the color is blue, the executive decision was made to put it in the den. So...."hang giant window mirror" is officially crossed off my to-do list :)

I like how the old wood of the mirror looks next to the modern art.

Don't worry, there's more to this story. Like Phil said of Claire in Modern Family, I can "make lists for days" so the to-dos will never cease :) You'll have to see where Pink Floyd poster ends up. Quite the cliffhanger, eh? Stay tuned for the rest...to be posted on Monday!

Cooking up a Dining Room

After getting lots of great feedback from the Room Recipe post last week, I figured that I'd better put together another one! This time our dining room is the dish. As with the bedroom post, inexpensive alternatives to the sources used are provided since some of my stuff isn't available to buy.

 1. Paint - Home Depot Behr Paint & Primer in One - Fashion Gray UL260-6
2. Chandelier - Z Gallerie - Tuxedo Chandelier
3. Rug - FLOR - Side by Side
4. Chairs - Restoration Hardware - Martine Dining Chairs
5. Table - Custom 70" round, solid Walnut wood
6. Lamps - Home Goods
7. Mirror - Antique
8. Buffet - World Market
9. China Cabinet - Macy's
10. Prints - Taschen - Temple of Flora

Lighting - Overstock Fabric Shade Chandelier

Rug - Burke Decor Westport Collection Indoor Outdoor Rug

Chairs - Home Decorators Becca Nailhead Dining Chair

Round Table - Z Gallerie Sonoma Dining Table

Lamps - Target White Accent Lamp

Mirror - Smart Bargains Cooper Classics Rondel Tarnished Gold Mirror

Sideboard - IKEA Trollsta

China Cabinet - IKEA Edland

Prints - Etsy Framed Original Linocuts

Let me know if you have any other ideas for "ingredient" substitutes :)

Finally, so sorry for the lack of posts over the past week. After being out of town, I've been trying to catch up on things and haven't made much progress. Hopefully I'll get it together before Friday!

Birthday Flowers

My sweet in-laws sent me this beautiful arrangement on Wednesday...thought I'd share since it's so pretty.

  

Looks great in our dining room, doesn't it?

Happy weekend!

Pièce de résistance

The chairs are here....finally! After more than five months of waiting, the chairs were delivered from Restoration Hardware on Saturday.

 

Every step of the process of getting these chairs was riddled with hiccups, they even made two in the wrong fabric. RH customer service was apologetic and super helpful in trying to get the problem fixed. They have agreed to pay to have them reupholstered here instead of reordering from the manufacturer (which would take until May at the earliest). The fabric is an ivory linen, so hopefully it won't be too hard to find a match (RH apparently can't get me the fabric from the manufacturer). I'm annoyed because it adds another thing on my to-do list, but grateful that they are open to accommodating a quicker resolution.

Besides getting the final two chairs looking like the rest, I also need to get the chairs treated by Fiber Care to protect them from any stains. I should get the ball rolling on that sooner rather than later because I have lots of red wine drinking friends!

It's been frustrating but I'm just glad that I have eight amazing new chairs. To celebrate, I set the table. I definitely felt like a little girl having a fake tea party, but it was kind of fun. Now I need to invite some people over for dinner!

  

  

I do need to find a new buffet/sideboard...this one is way too rustic. It's from my husband's bachelor pad days and is from World Market. Looking to go a little longer, skinnier, and maybe a little more modern. The hunt is officially on!

  

 

  

Don't want the booze to be too far away!