Inspiration for my dining room design started with the house itself, a historic Charleston single house built in 1850. I looked to “Southern style past” for inspiration, and took cues from iconic designers, including Colefax and Fowler, Billy Baldwin, William Haines, and Frances Elkin. Charleston’s heritage played a large role in the design. The hand-painted Gracie wallpaper provides a historically accurate feel and palm trees create a connection with the landscape of Charleston. I wanted to incorporate traditional period window treatments, but reinterpreted in a modern way. High contrast black and white fabrics and embellished trims in modern colors and form made the translation, with iconic handwoven Gullah sweetgrass, an important part of Charleston’s cultural heritage. A neutral background sets the stage for explosive color. Unexpected color is found in modern art and sculpture. A formal Southern table is set for entertaining, but the unexpected layering of mixed china patterns and colors lend a playful and relaxed feel.