Anchored by antiques

The owners of this Prospect home completely renovated their kitchen, which led to a dining room update. Though they wanted to give the space a refreshed look, they also wanted to incorporate some of their favorite pieces into the area.

“What was important was the fact that they had some significant and sentimental antique pieces,” Pawlak explained, adding that the refreshed space has a traditional vibe that has been updated and slightly modernized.

She added more color to the space in the form of draperies with large, bold patterns, and gave the table a refreshed feel by adding new dining chairs with oatmeal upholstery. She also added visual interest to the room with a dark bronze, quatrefoil-shaped lighting fixture, as well as aqua wallpaper with a metallic plaid overlay.

The family’s antique table, china cabinet, buffet, and goldframed mirror, however, remain.

“Don’t be afraid to mix your sentimental pieces,” Pawlak advised. “I personally have antique, sentimental pieces in my dining room, and I love it because they’re meaningful. … Know that they can work into a design, but marry them with some modern updates, and (it will be) a very nicely put-together room.” pizazz. The dining room was built to entertain, with a new table and a matching buffet that features marquetry veneers, plus new upholstered chairs that offer comfy yet elegant seating.

“We (also) paired some very substantial host and hostess chairs with it,” Pawlak recalled. “They’re modified, wingback chairs.”

A modern rug and contemporary chandelier pull the look together, along with what is arguably the most notable change in the space: the bold wallpaper with gold accents.

“This client – like many clients – was really convinced (they should do) wallpaper either above or below the chair rail,” Pawlak said, adding that people often think it will be too much to do both – but it’s quite the opposite.

“Don’t be afraid to go bold with your wallcovering,” she exclaimed. “(If you have) wainscotting down there, (installing wallpaper) just above it is perfect. But if there’s just a wall above and below a chair rail, you definitely want to get (wallpaper) above and below (it) to get the maximum benefit – otherwise it can look choppy.”

She added that the method of incorporating wallpaper on just one side of the chair rail is a dated design idea. Today, more and more homeowners are starting to realize how striking it can be to cover the entire wall, especially in dining rooms.

“(Here),” Pawlak added, “it’s a pretty bold pattern (and) it really sets the tone of the room. And the homeowner loves it.”

Home:

This is a 5-bed, 3-and-a-half bath, 3,200-square-foot, two-story traditional home in Louisville’s Owl Creek neighborhood. It was built in 1988.

Gray and gold geometric wallpaper; medium wood tone table and chairs; charcoal modified wingback host and hostess chairs; buffet; antique gold mirror; black and gold chandelier.

KP Designs/Decorating Den Interiors

An adjacent area of the house features colors that complement the dining room in this home in Louisville.