Pamela Harvey understands traditional design, but she also knows how to make it feel fresh and new. When clients purchased a center-hall colonial in Oakton, Virginia, Harvey’s directive for the dining room was to create a simple, updated space where they could easily entertain.
She took color cues from her client, who hails from Florida and misses the blue hues of the ocean and sky. “Blue was a good choice,” reflects Harvey. “Sky blue, especially, is bright and cheerful yet subdued enough for classicists.”
Whites and shades of greige temper the color choice. The ceiling, moldings, and wainscoting are crisply painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, which perfectly complements the wallpaper above the chair rail, giving it maximum impact. Farrow & Ball’s Lotus Flower pattern in blue and white provides a striking backdrop to the room.
A double pedestal dining table by Somerset Bay, also in white, fills the space. It pairs well with upholstered host and hostess chairs in a pretty Schumacher print. Blue linen fabric covers the seats of the clients’ existing Queen Anne chairs, which were also refreshed with white paint.
Meanwhile, floor-to-ceiling windows with decorative transoms sport unfussy, white cotton-duck panels. Modern Lucite rods keep things light, creating a visual connection to the crystal chandelier from Circa Lighting. Overscaled, glazed-ceramic lamps on a half-moon console add visual weight and help ground the room.
“We added touches of gold for understated glamour,” says Harvey. “Gold accents the lamp bases, drapery hardware and nailhead trim on the chairs, as well as the chandelier.”
Interior Design: Pamela Harvey, Allied ASID, Pamela Harvey Interiors, Oakton, Virginia.