Design Vibes Mash-up: A+S Dining Room

I created "Design Vibes" when I realized how limiting design styles are for my clients. Design Vibes encompass the look, feel and experience that can be created in a space. By highlighting a handful of words, my clients help me understand what they're drawn to. If there is more than one decision maker on a project, I have them both fill out the design vibes sheet. I then have to find a way to blend both of their vibes together, see how I can incorporate each of their vibes into the home. My friend Brooke came up with the term "mash up" to describe this process and I love it. I'm doing a mini series where I solicited 5 couples' help so I could show all of you my process behind mashing up vibes. Second up in this series, are my friends A + S.

A chose: clean, comfortable, cozy, fun, sleek, and timeless.

S chose: classic, cohesive, cottage, timeless, unique, colonial, custom.

They both selected timeless, and classic + clean can pair well together. In doing this exercise with couples, it's nice to see where the overlap is happening, what they have in common. The biggest challenge in mixing these particular two vibes would be mixing sleek with cottage or colonial. Sleek leans modern and cottage and colonial lean the opposite way. It's important to me when designing, that both people feel heard and that their vibes are accounted for in their home.

This is what I came up with for the A+S vibes mash up. I know that at some point they want to tackle their dining room, so I wanted to created a vibes moodboard for that space to get them in the headspace for that. I want this moodboard to serve as inspiration for them. Where I'd focus on the cottage/colonial/classic pieces: dining table, sideboard, paint color and window treatments.

I chose two historical paint color options from Benjamin Moore for the wall colors. I'd go light-medium shade of blue, more muted vs. bright. I'd want the dining table to have some type of detailed, architectural element. Here you see the base of the table has a very custom look. See below for more examples of architectural details (I like to just call them "fun details" personally). Having fun details in a table or sideboard also hits the "fun" word from her list. For window treatments, I'd do some classic linen drapes--almost formal, installing them close to the ceiling. I'd add a fun trim to the drapes that brings more blue color to the space. I'd bring in sleek for: chairs, chandelier, and artwork. The chairs are a more modern look, with a velvet like upholstery (many people think velvet type materials would not be "kid friendly" but it's usually performance fabric!). The artwork is more modern, but does provide interesting detail. The rug could honestly go either way-- something antique/vintage looking or something modern. For me, with the rest of the moodboard, I wanted something subtle, that almost just blends in. I did choose an easy care, kid + pet friendly rug since it's in the dining room, and also--they have kids + pets!

These tables are more examples of having fun, architectural details or that could give a more classic look.

Now A+S can use this moodboard to make all the decisions needed during a dining room revamp because they have a clear vision and end goal in mind. In a client project, I'd use this as a starting point, a jumping off point to help me make a design and select all the details that go with it. It's not really meant to be THE design, but rather help see where there's overlap and also how to incorporate what each person cares about. Getting those vibes right is so important!

Need your copy of my design vibes sheet? Get the updated version here.

See Design Vibes in action here.