When updating a dining room in historic Leesburg, Virginia, Sallie Kjos enhanced the old while embracing the new. Traditional architectural features, such as paneled wainscoting and dentil molding, provided a complementary backdrop to the homeowner’s antique china collection—including a blue-and-white set from the 1850s that inspired the color scheme.
Under Kjos’s direction, the dining room was painted in high-contrast navy and white, softened by rich creams and spa blues exemplified in a washed rug from Surya.
“The style is transitional,” explains Kjos. “I took the traditional look and gave it sharper edges with furniture that was cleaner-lined and more contemporary.”
Twin, glass-fronted Chippendale-style china cabinets with honeycomb trellis overlays were sourced at Z Gallerie. Painted white, they are classic yet crisp and fresh, adding symmetry to the room while showcasing the homeowner’s beloved collection of Chinoiserie.
Meanwhile, the traditional, dark-stained mahogany dining table from Ballard Designs, which seats up to 12 with added leaves, lends strong visual weight to the room. To counter its mass, Kjos selected a mix of seating, also from Ballard: open-backed chairs with velvet seats and host and hostess armchairs upholstered in a light-colored herringbone pattern.
A curvaceous Kichler chandelier hangs above the table, while a sleek, brass-and-glass Pottery Barn console holds serving pieces and dessertware as needed. A modern sunburst mirror in gold from Z Gallerie is striking against the walls painted in Naval from Sherwin Williams.
“As a designer, I like the mix of an eclectic, layered look,” Kjos reflects. “It’s more interesting when things are collected over time.”
Interior Design: Sallie Finney Kjos, GreyHunt Interiors, South Riding, Virginia. Text & Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.
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