Our gatherings in 2020 may be smaller for now, but they are just as special.  Whether it is our kitchen or dining table, creating a welcoming space is a designer’s joy. This kitchen table has ample seating for eight and a rugged top. Thank goodness, because it’s used every day for gatherings and homework!

The homeowner brought their huge dining table made of a barn door. It’s a perfect style for their new Bucks County home. I started with Sherwin Williams Peppercorn on the walls and ceiling. It’s a deep charcoal that envelopes the space and creates a cozy vibe. A charcoal and cream palette is a classic combination, and the homeowners were thrilled!

A beautiful rug in The Magnolia Home collection adds a striking medallion pattern. The high contrast of black and white is dynamic and interesting. The materials on the chairs and settee are linen, cotton and dark ash leather. I selected these fabrics to create a balance of traditional and rustic elements.

When you use the most classic palettes, textures abound to add interest to each element in the room. One of my favorite ways to treat a window is with elegant panels and a fabulous tape. Schumacher has some of my favorite trims and applying this graphic black and white scroll design was the perfect addition.

This is everyone’s favorite photo from the photoshoot. It’s quiet and elegant. Literally picture perfect. It’s funny what photos don’t capture … the two labradoodles scurrying back and forth; the kids running about, looking for their bags; the sound of bringing in groceries and calling for assistance; the bleats of the goats outside, waiting to be fed. We love perfectly designed rooms and the professional eye of the photographer, but it’s the homeowners who breathe life into the space.