Enhancing the sense of serenity in this kitchen nook are pared-back furnishings like a column-style Lillian dining table from Magnolia’s line and Bruck Lighting Delfina Pendant. Gaines explains that “even if you love bold details, the eye still needs a place to rest,” adding that neutral furniture and relaxed textures play an important role in bringing balance to the look and feel of the room.
Dining Room
Focus your color palette
For the original dining room, which featured blue-violet paint on all sides, Gaines went in with a plan to answer the homeowner’s bid for more visual interest. She adopted a dialed-in color scheme that features vibrant wallpaper and some new dusty blue paint (Weathered Windmill from the Magnolia line) on the built-in cabinet in the corner, plus the ceilings and wall trim.
Identify one point of interest, then build around it
The cabinet ended up inspiring much of the transformation in the room. Joanna Gaines said she loved the scalloped detailing on it and knew that she wanted to give it a fresh coat of paint and make it a focal point of the space. From there, the team “layered in wallpaper that paired well with the color story already in place in a pattern that gave the room a whimsical, artful, and storied look,” Gaines explains.
When thinking about updating one of your own rooms, she recommends zeroing in on what you love about it first. “Look for that something special—existing features that could be built upon, like molding, original architecture, the shape of a window or built-in—that could be mirrored elsewhere.”
Find flea market inspiration
The Carlotta dining table and chairs are pieces Gaines designed for Magnolia Market “to feel found and collected,” which she says she knew would pair well with the style of the room and lean into period details that the homeowner wanted. “I also love the subtle shape that the curved chairs and turned legs add to the space,” Gaines adds. Underfoot she layered in a textured ivory rug that helps contrast the chairs and the hardwood floors.
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