The challenge in this project was to take a small, non-descript dining room, and turn it into a space that reflected the owner's love of art. Formal dining rooms are often the least used space in a home. Our desire was to make this room a place where guests would naturally gravitate to the art collection, which expresses the originality of the collector.

This space is only 11 x 14, and its only interesting architectural feature was the chair rail. We added custom wainscoting moldings to balance the art on the walls above. The original light fixture was a standard builder's grade chandelier. I replaced that with an artsy crystal piece that reflects sparkling light patterns on the walls, which is a nice foil for the simple, unframed canvases. Provisions for lighting art were not originally wired into the room. We added a low voltage cable system to spotlight the art.

The result is a completely original space, filled with vibrant color and light, which reflects the personality of its world-traveled owner.