Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“Is $14,500 excessive for a custom made marble dining table? … We chose our slabs out of an available 9 slabs. Table is 96″x 48″ with a matching marble pedestal base. Pattern is a unique pattern found in a quarry in China–linear array of chocolate brown, light beige, grey and putty clay color. The marble store is high end…. I’m ready to spend money but I’m not used to it so wondering if I’m off the deep end! We will have it for as long as we live in this house (10+yrs).”
Large Oval Saarinen Dining Table in a Client's House
So we all know that marble is expensive, that’s a fact of life. But when does expensive turn “excessive”? In the case of your 96″x48″ slab table, $14,500 isn’t completely unreasonable. Knoll makes a large oval Saarinen dining table 96″x54″ in their White Extra marble that runs $14,236, which you can see on the product page is the highest price for a Knoll Saarinen dining table. However, you can get the same size table from Knoll in a natural Carrara or Emperador Dark marble for only $6,091 which is less than half of your price and Knoll’s most expensive Saarinen table.
You want to know if you’re going off the deep end. My answer is no, but you are at the top end of the reasonable range.. Investing in a large marble table is just that, an investment. You plan on having it for several years and can even consider it a heirloom if you have children and want to pass it down to them. There are definitely cheaper alternatives when it comes to marble tables, but as long as you know that and are comfortable with your expenses than you shouldn’t regret your decision.
[Side Note: Knoll has a marble called Calacatta which has an ivory white background and features strong gold random veins with additional veins varying from cream to green and grey. Sounds slightly similar to the one you described. A large oval table in this marble from Knoll is $9,223 for coated or $12,173 for the natural finish.]
Design Direction
“I have a cape cod contemporary two story on the water with large windows facing east. We have a beautiful whitewashed cedar ceiling. The floor has stark white 10″ floor tiles that are very hard to keep clean. I’d like to replace it with porcelain floor planking that looks like wood. I’m stuck trying to decide on the color for the floor. There are so many options. By the way, the doors are all whitewashed with a bright white wood trim. My style is classic with a bit of contemporary thrown in. We are planning on a redo of the fireplace as well as well as the kitchen.
Here is a summary of my decorating challenges:
- What color floor planking (porcelain) to put on the floor.
- What color to paint the new wood around our new fireplace.
- The kitchen cabinets are white washed. I’m selecting white painted ones. What color granite – light or dark for more or less of a contrast?
- The wood doors are all white washed too. As is the railing going up the stairs. Do I paint the railing white or?
- Do I paint the walls a lighter or darker color?
Whitewashed Cedar Ceiling
Here’s what Vastu senior designer Sarita Peresada had to offer: Read more
Design Direction
“Hey Vastu! So here’s my problem. I just purchased a new home and in the dining area is a standard, and ugly, brass chandelier, similar to the picture. It’s too traditional for my taste and the brass finish just doesn’t fit my style at all. I’d like to replace it with a more modern chandelier but am not sure which direction to take or where to look. Can you guys give me any ideas?”
Here’s what designer, and Vastu co-owner, Jason Claire had to say: Read more
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“I want to redecorate my kitchen, dining room, and great room (open concept), but don’t have any idea where to start because I really don’t want to paint over the venetian plaster. We currently have a whole wine/grape theme going on in all three rooms and as I look to redecorate, I would also rather not have such a specific theme.
We have an odd floor plan and large furniture to contend with as well (such headaches!) – we have a beautiful corner floor to ceiling fireplace that is in the opposite corner from the open staircase and railing to the basement (our foyer is also on that side of the wall). We also have a wall of floor to ceiling windows flanking one side of the fireplace and that wall leads into the dining/kitchen area. Our flooring in the foyer is a natural slate in gray, green, red, and tan tones. The carpet in the great room is a low-medium shag in mixed browns. The floor in the kitchen/dining area is 16×16 ceramic tile in a whole wheat bread shade. Our American Woodmark cabinets are maple with the mocha glaze. We also have stainless steel appliances and brushed nickel finishes on our lights, faucets, handles, etc.
I feel clueless about where to even start injecting color because of how much beige and brown and tan and BLAH we ended up with and I really don’t want a “theme” like I ended up doing – I feel like I walk into a touristy wine shop every time I walk through my house! Not a good feeling! I do love rich tones and my husband and I both especially love blue, but somehow have not used it to decorate at all. So any help would be appreciated – even just a jumping in point! I don’t know if I’m getting thrown by the fireplace… or if I’m just cluelessly decorating.”
Here’s what Sarita has to say: Read more
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“Due to the economy, I am downsizing from a 3600 sq ft home to a 900 sq ft home. I am desperately trying to figure out what furniture to keep and what to say ‘good-bye’ to. I would love to turn this not so exciting move into a cozy home for my daughter and myself. I feel overwhelmed and desperate. Please help!”
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“We bought our first house a year ago and remodeled the kitchen, master bedroom and bath. During the renovations our baby girl was born. Suffice to say, we haven’t had much time to devote to the actual decoration of the house. Specifically, we are struggling with what to do with living room and dining room area. We want this space to be modern, grown-up and loungy… a place for quiet conversation and adult time. We don’t know where or how to start except that we want warm, vibrant tones (leather, reds, oranges, yellows/gold) and we want to use some of our Brazilian art paintings. Can you help in terms of how to place the seating/arrange the room…should we consider tearing down the wall between the living room and dining room to open up the space??? Any help you can lend would be appreciated! We would Vastu!”
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“I am buying a new house on the water. I want to make it warm but I need to use my old furniture that is black and red leather, black and red carpet, and also a glass coffee table. How do I combine it with my dream of a warm, light and woody living room?”
Ray says…
Hello! Congratulations on your new home! In order to achieve a warm, light, woody living room, I would consider introducing some Asian-inspired motifs. Silk embroidered pillows, wall hangings with black script, roughly hewn wooden bowls and vase – think Shanghai in the 1920′s. Read more
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“I want to know if it is possible to paint the fabric on an upholstered dining room chair. The chair is in perfect shape but the color doesn’t go with my dining room. I believe I saw this done on TV a long time ago. Thanks.”
Jamie says…
Yes, it is possible to paint upholstered furniture. Read more
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“I have the old ugly olive green bath tub, toilet and sink. The counter top has a green and white swirl look, the floor has 3 different kinds of green mixed in it. There is a beige and olive green tile border around the shower and bath tub. In my opinion there are too many greens, they don’t match – the whole things looks straight out of the 70s. I will get it all redone one day, but for now do you have any suggestions? We don’t have much money to put towards the project right now, but I’m wondering if we should paint or maybe wallpaper? Thanks!”
Design Direction
Do you have a challenging space or need some design guidance? Design Direction is a chance for you to submit photos or videos of your design challenge(s) and a Vastu interior designer will provide you with some help. Every Wednesday we will feature one reader’s submission.
“Hello. I just moved to DC into a rental building in Columbia Heights. Other than painting walls, what sort of non-permanent updates should I consider to make my new place reflect my style more?”
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