Art as Inspiration

Quite frequently, I don’t have the luxury of starting with a clean slate.  A client will often bring to a project something that drives the design process.  In this instance, it was the wonderful abstract art prominently displayed in this dining space.  These clients built an exceptional beach house on the CT sound.  While the architectural style of the home is shingle-style and traditional, it’s interior reflects their casual lifestyle and broad travel experiences by presenting a very eclectic mix of styles. 

In this open-plan dining space, the strong curve of the Caldor art suggested the use of a round table.  Using the klismos chair around the table reinforces the curve but does so in a very classic manner since this chair’s design harkens back to ancient Egypt and is one of the most historically significant chairs ever designed.  The Spanish-colonial sideboard topped with Japanese teapots and the traditional New-England lantern complete the statement: this room isn’t paying homage to any design period.  These elements hang perfectly together because their silhouettes echo each other but aren’t “matched”. The overall affect is one of freshness and individuality.