This client has a strong preference for a Hollywood Regency style with art deco and modern influences. She and her spouse recently purchased a new home with a partially open concept layout on the first floor. The formal living, dining, kitchen, and family rooms are either partially separated by walls or fully open to each other. Typically, when working on a single-room project, I focus on rendering only the primary space being redesigned. However, given the dining space’s location within this open layout, I felt it necessary to sketch out a rough floor plan of the entire first floor to better understand how these spaces interact.

The dining room itself has a fairly square layout, with three different entrances: one from the main hallway, one from the kitchen area, and one from the side porch through French doors. The client wanted to retain the current layout of the walls and columns while updating the dining room in a way that wouldn't involve costly construction or lengthy timelines. In my 3D rendering, I proposed a moderate-budget upgrade to the columns and wall trim to better align with the client’s style. This update would require some carpentry work for the millwork and finishes.

For the dining chairs, I recommended designs with slender legs and an open back to create more negative space in the lower half of the room. Without these elements, a solid-base table and solid-back chairs could make the room feel overly boxed in. Keeping certain areas open and unobstructed is an effective way to maintain balance and visual flow in a space with partial constraints. The final table design was modified from the initial rendering based on the client's preference for a pedestal-style base. After discussing the benefits of negative space, she opted for a spider-leg base in a powdered brass finish to introduce some brightness beneath the table.

Lighting is another critical element I focused on. When adding lighting to a space, it’s important to ask several key questions: What is the purpose of the space? Where is the light needed most? What should the eye be drawn to? What kind of mood do I want to create? How large should the light fixtures be? Should there be multiple light sources? These considerations were all factored into the design. For example, in this rendering, I selected a central light fixture that is smaller in diameter than the dining table, creating a visually pleasing triangular flow above the table. I also recommended adding wall lighting to direct light downward by the credenza and half walls. Additionally, mixing metal finishes helps guide the eye through the space while allowing the light to bounce off different surfaces. The brushed brass finishes on the credenza, sconces, window rods, table base, and decorative items bring a soft brightness to key areas of the room.