Dining Room

Susan carried the kitchen's clean, simple palette into the dining room, where she paired a faded wood table with feminine slipcovered chairs. "I love how the table's color connects to the driftwood mirror, and I think round is a wonderful shape because the room is almost square," she says. "The slipcovers make the room feel more relaxed and inviting." She also continued the theme of mixing old and new, adding a narrow, distressed console and a modern glass centerpiece. "It gives the room a bit of sparkle and makes it a little more contemporary," Susan says.

To soften the space and to stay consistent with the color scheme in the adjoining living area, Susan hung paisley draperies in soft blue, green, and sand tones. But because the room gets ample natural light, she also installed woven shades to filter the early-morning sun. "The different textures relate well to each other and make the room feel cozy," she says.

Michael and Brandan separated the dining area from the living room with columns rather than walls to keep the space light and airy. "[The columns] give the house rhythm and structure but open it up for modern living," Michael says. "And they open up views from one space to another."

NextGuest Room