Though inspiration for a home's decor can come from anywhere, I've usually taken my cues from hotels and restaurants. The recent sale of the ornate black glass chandelier that hung in my dining room set the scene. I needed to find a light fixture to replace it. A lunch at The Beachwood Cafe, recently given a brightening up by architect Barbara Bestor, provided the aha moment!
Like my kitchen/dining room, the old coffee shop had a dark 70s feel, complete with knotty pine. New wallpaper by Geoff McFetridge brightens up the space, and Granada tiles provide whimsical splashes of color on the floor. (Like Barbara, I'm especially partial to this variety of tile; Fez, the pattern in the Bestor-designed Intelligensia coffee shop, is a favorite). Hung here and there, dioramas by Claire Cresbo and David Tagel draw the eye around the room, creating a comfortably casual yet stylish setting for the cafe's American classics with an Asian twist. Barbara herself describes the makeover as "half Provençal, half Tokyo supergraphics".
But the (no pun intended) lightbulb moment for me came when I spotted the ginormous paper globe that dominates the cafe's back room. Dramatic without being heavy, it balanced out the pine trim. That was just what I needed to do in my own home. A quick trip to Chinatown, twenty dollars, and a lighting kit (mine's from Ikea), and the 36" globe makes my formerly drab dining room my new favorite spot.
(Photos: photo 2: Bestor Architecture; all other photos: Abigail Stone)
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I like your inspiration (I hope you don't put in a condiments bar, though!). I'd like to see very bold, colorful items on the shelves (the little stuff is lost there) and a balancing low colorful bold item (singular) on the table.
Like your dining room better than the blue yellow BC. But yeah, your nice shelves need some bigger pizzaz.
your dining room is gorgeous. what a nice space.
How much light does the lantern throw- just curious as I'd like to try this. :)
Thanks for the inspiration.
The Beachwood Café is a cheerful, lively space that feels so welcoming you never want to leave. The whimsy is a large part of its charm. So glad, Abigail, that you successfully borrowed some of that whimsy for your dining room.
For Granada Tile, this project was a delight from start to finish. We loved the owner Patti Peck, the architect Barbara Bestor, and the fact that they selected our handmade cement floor tiles to complement the decor.
Barbara Bestor always gets it right! And who in LA doesn't love Patti Peck and the Beachwood Cafe?! Such a great mix of great design and food. What a plus for the neighborhood. As a fan and friend of Clare Crespo, I had to make the spelling correction to her name. She also has work at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs that is worth the trip.