1. The rose print linen on the walls and chairs is feminine, but the oyster and grey colorway and grid pattern keeps it from being overly sweet.
2. The more modern mix of wingback and Parsons chairs is a great counterpoint to the traditional Louis Philippe table.
3. The settee -- I love bench style seating in any dining space!
4. The silver leaf screen; because every dining room needs a touch of elegant Chinoiserie.
5. The painted tin ceiling adds character and texture without distracting from the upholstered walls.
6. The simple panel drapery mounted on a bamboo rod lends a more casual and modern air, despite the floral print walls and strong use of metallics.
7. The sisal rug takes the entire look down a notch and warms up all the gray.
8. A tight monochromatic color palette keeps all the pattern from overpowering the small space.
So what does all that add up to? One great room in my opinion! But it also showcases a new twist on classic English style, which I think we'll be seeing a lot of in 2011. Classic English decorating is marked by floral fabrics, matching prints, tin ceilings, touches of Chinoiserie, an eclectic mix of modern and antique furniture. Windsor manages to make this style feel fresh, young and a bit more undone with the addition of the sisal rug, less fussy drapery and a more monochromatic color palette.
What do you think? To see the rest of this gorgeous California home, check out the House Beautiful feature HERE.
