Casually elegant dining

Southern Living, Mar 2003 by Feagin, Julie

This Edenton, North Carolina, dining room is perfect for a young family and still loaded with style.

Some people have a knack for designing a room with personality, and Regan Coxe fits that description. Although she knows that a dining room traditionally has a more formal setting, that's not the path she chose to take in her own home. An informal yet elegant approach reflects the lifestyle of her young family. In the Coxe home, a traditional Country French table and chairs blend with a variety of elements to create a cheery dining room with quirky touches.

Adding Pizzazz

With a neutral foundation of creamy walls and a sea grass rug, mustard yellow-and-red toile draperies offer a punch of color. But it's the creative iron rods that add spice to the windows. Working with a local ironsmith, Regan designed the finials to resemble bunches of wheat. A symbol of prosperity, wheat is often found in Country French design. Simple panels take on a fresh look with a band of coordinating red checked fabric running the length of the draperies.

Accessories With a Hint of Black

From the iron drapery rods to the chandelier shades, black accents are sprinkled throughout the room. With the addition of a carved architectural piece hung above a simple black-and-- gold mirror between the windows, this wall has an ideal focal point. Playing off the mirror, the artwork, matted in black and framed in gold, is a family treasure painted by Regan's mother. (Tip: Reframing can dramatically change the look of prized art.) Working with the existing crystal chandelier, black shades give a more casual look to a dressy fixture.

Finishing Touches

A distressed, painted console table provides a whimsical feel when paired with the French-style furniture. Sitting pretty by the painted piece, an armchair is adorned with a leopard-print pillow. Lamps are also a key element in this room. They offer a rich glow when used in combination with the chandelier. JULIE FEAGIN

IDEAS TO TAKE HOME

* Invest in a table and chairs that can grow as your family does.

* A sea grass rug is a good neutral backdrop for dark furniture. It is durable and features a reasonable price tag, which makes it an affordable option for covering a large floorspace.

* Add new life to artwork. An updated frame and mat give a different look to the picture and allow you to coordinate with your decor.

* Soft neutral walls offer a nice contrast to vivid fabrics and rich furniture finishes.

* Brighten up your neutral room with colorful touches in fabric, art, and accessories.

CASUALLY ELEGANT DINING

Page 162: Design by Regan Coxe, Edenton, North Carolina, (252) 482-1571.