Curated Maximalism: Dining Room Design Featured in Chapel Hill Magazine
How do we create luxury in a home design while also keeping it comfortable, and looking like real people live there? We fill it with personality and meaning. Sometimes called curated maximalism, this approach to creating homes that last has deep roots in the timeless tradition of pairing old with new: mixing modern with the traditional, heritage with contemporary. And most importantly, keeping it all anchored with a careful selection of meaningful, treasured items. This dining room design was a deeply personal creation for some of our long-time clients, and we were thrilled to have it featured in the latest issue of Chapel Hill Magazine.
Making it Personal
This dining room design speaks to the heart of this couple, their shared history, and their life passions. The space is designed to be a reflection of who they are and what makes them happiest. In the studio, we call this “your aesthetic happy place”- something we work to discover during the early phases of the design process. For this couple, their custom-built home in Hillsborough is surrounded by beautiful woods and their own garden beds, and one of their favorite hobbies is bird watching. After getting to know them, we took these meaningful personal details as the inspiration for the design, leading to the selection of a beautiful wallpaper that defines the space. We also loved that the print oh-so-subtly includes the colors of the couples’ alma mater, where they first met.
Layering deep blue wainscoting, jewel-toned green custom upholstery and vibrant nature-inspired wallpaper gives the room depth and interest, with a personal touch that speaks to the clients’ shared history and the things they love most.
Intentional Abundance
Thankfully, the concept of curated maximalism does not mean “random stuff everywhere”. Rather, it’s the art of designing your home a way that is mindful, with an intentional abundance of pieces-both old and new- that are not only significant to you, but truly bring you joy. Truthfully, we have always designed this way. The magic in knowing our clients is that we can create rooms that are inviting, ready to be truly enjoyed, and spaces that genuinely feel like home for them. It’s the undertone of quiet, livable luxury that is seamlessly polished, but still feels so warm, welcoming, and comfortable- a true reflection of who our clients are.
A Storytelling Space
Weaving in personal history- those memorable moments and significant events that shape us- creates a storytelling space. It is a creative, impactful way we can reflect our clients’ lives in their home design. In our work we often include art that has deep personal significance to our clients. For this couple, demanding careers make vacation and travel even more meaningful. This image was one that our clients captured while on a trip to Zion National Park, which we had printed and custom framed for them. It’s now an integral part of the dining room design, where it can continue to be enjoyed in daily life.
A HUGE thank you to Chapel Hill Magazine for this gorgeous feature, and John Michael Simpson for these beautiful images.
You’ll see more of this home design later this week (hint: you’ve seen this home before!). We’ve worked with these clients over many years, designing and furnishing their dream with so much intention and lots of love. As we continue to fully complete their spaces, we’ll have much more to show you.
We’re so glad you came over to the CFD blog today.
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