Like the welcoming open arms of a loved one, the outstretched tree limbs of artful dogwoods sprawl along the walls of a Dallas dining room, greeting guests of all ages just through the front door. The area off the entryway topped the Texas homeowners’ to-do list for designers Lindley Arthur and Nicole Groth of Lindley Arthur Interiors, who transformed the lackluster entertaining space into a gracious family gathering place swathed in decorative garden scenery.
With its robin’s-egg blue background and pink-and-white blooms, a wallpaper from North Carolina-based House of Harris sets the tone for this formal dining space that’s at once sophisticated and inviting. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk in the house,” says Lindley Arthur, whose eponymous firm blossomed out of the small antiques booth she started in 2008.
The newly married clients, who have young children, appreciated the traditional charm of their red-brick abode, but the interiors presented a blank slate. Lindley’s associate and longtime friend Nicole took the lead on this project, drawing on the couple’s classic style sensibility and love of blue in the hunt for a beautiful scenic wallpaper. “We wanted to find a paper that was going to be a jumping-off point for the home,” says color-savvy Nicole, who has an art degree from Southern Methodist University.
While the price of artisan-rendered chinoiserie wall coverings can be discouraging, Nicole explains, high-quality printed options like this one are becoming more prevalent. “There are so many wonderful machine-made options now, where you might not get to customize the colors, but you can customize the height of the panel. They are much more affordable than hand-painted versions,” she says.
Creamy linen draperies trimmed in a braid design by Schumacher and a pair of Murano glass lamps complement the focal point wallpaper. Both custom-built by local craftsmen, the sideboard and scalloped-edge table boast a striking high-gloss finish and a stain that’s lighter than the dark wide-plank floors. Blue grosgrain ribbon and pewter nailheads dress up white chairs upholstered with easy-to-clean faux leather.
A beaded brushed-gold chandelier from Visual Comfort lends a dash of sparkle and shine, while an organically shaped ceramic bowl and other textural finds on the buffet contribute to the overall layered aesthetic. “We used some vintage brass pieces to give that patina and age we wanted the space to have, while the Made Goods bowl is funkier and unexpected,” Lindley says. From the low-maintenance chair cushions to the durable sisal-and-wool rug, Nicole and Lindley carefully considered each element to suit the family’s desire for an elegant entertaining space that’s also comfortable and kid friendly. “It’s not too fragile,” Nicole says.
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