“I am alarmed that many people think dining rooms are no longer necessary,” says Loren Taylor, who dreamed up this scheme for such a purpose. “I have wonderful memories of elaborate family celebrations, as my mother set beautiful tablescapes. A dining room should inspire everyone to engage in conversation and stop focusing on cellphones or endlessly posting photos of food. Today’s dining room can also function as both an entertaining and a library space, with books on grand étagères or built-in bookcases.”
Taylor’s dining room musts
- For reading and entertaining, dining rooms need both excellent task lighting and a beautiful chandelier.
- The space needs a substantive table with well-made chairs covered in a clean, classic woven or leather.
Painted wood and gilt-tole girandoles, ca. 1830, William Word Fine Antiques, williamwordantiques.com
Vintage 1940s teacup
“Meringue” in Flamingo by Clarke & Clarke, Duralee, ADAC, duralee.com
“Lady Hamilton” in Corallo by Rubelli, Donghia, ADAC, donghia.com
“Shine 36” leather, Studioart, Donghia
Isis chair by F. Schumacher, ADAC, fschumacher.com
“Antelope” carpet, Stark, ADAC, starkcarpet.com
About the designer
Loren Audrey Taylor is the founder and principal of Atlanta-based Loren Taylor Interior Design. Taylor creates classic, bespoke interiors grounded in fine architecture. She helps clients express their personalities by drawing on their life experiences, travels, family, art, and other influences. A graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University, she also studied interior design at Brenau University. She is an Allied Member of ASID and a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. Taylor’s work has appeared in prestigious show houses and magazines such as Traditional Home.
Product photographs by Whitney Ott; Girandoles: Courtesy of William Word Fine Antiques; Chair: Courtesy of Schumacher
This article originally appeared in our Spring 2016 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.
