Project Van Dyke: A Dining Room Reimagined

HoHoKus, NJ 

THE STARTING POINT

It’s always a joy when a new project comes from a familiar connection. For this one, I had the honor of helping a family I know from my CrossFit gym transform their dining room—a space that just never felt quite right to them.

Matt and Katie are busy parents of three little ones. They work hard, prioritize their health, and still make time for family life—a balance I deeply admire. After investing time and money into updates that didn’t fully solve the problem, they decided it was time to call in an expert.

A modern dining room with a dark wood table, six upholstered beige chairs, and a high chair on the near side. There are large windows with white blinds on the left. A unique rectangular chandelier hangs above the table, and a blue accent wall is at t
A dining room with a black table and six beige chairs, blue paneled accent wall, large window with white curtains, and a hanging light fixture. There is a baby bouncer and part of a sofa visible in the foreground.

THE TRANSFORMATION

On paper, their dining room wasn’t “bad.” It had a nice navy accent wall, a table that worked, and large windows with beautiful light (and great window treatments that we kept). But something was off. The dark navy wall against the dark-stained floors felt heavy, the room had awkward “dead space,” and the light fixture was undersized and positioned the wrong way.

I knew that reworking these key elements would make all the difference:

  • Lighting: By swapping out the cage pendant for a longer chandelier and hanging it lengthwise with the window, the room immediately felt larger and more balanced.

  • Accent Wall: While I loved their paneled wall, the navy was too heavy. Katie had always loved green, so I sent her a few options, and she fell in love with Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage—a soft, fresh shade that completely brightened the room.

  • Furniture: Katie knew she wanted a round pedestal table with a marble top. We found a gorgeous one from Williams-Sonoma and paired it with upholstered chairs from Joss & Main. The mix of cool marble, warm wood, and soft fabric gave the room both sophistication and comfort.

  • Finishing Touches: To tie it all together, we added a natural-textured rug, simple framed artwork featuring sand dunes (a nod to their love of the beach), and candle sconces for a cozy glow.

A modern dining room with a round marble table surrounded by six beige chairs with black metal frames. A vase with greenery is on the table. Light filters in through windows with white blinds. A green paneled wall features artwork and two wall-mounte
Modern dining room with a round white table, upholstered chairs with metal legs, a large mirror, and a green paneled wall with framed art, a wall sconce, and a potted plant.
A woman standing in a dining room with sage green paneled walls, a round marble table with a plant in a white pot, and modern white and brass lighting fixtures.
A white round table with a green plant in a white vase surrounded by four beige upholstered chairs in a well-lit room.
A woman adjusting white curtains in a dining room with a rounded marble table, six beige chairs, green paneled wall, framed artwork, potted green plant, and a modern gold chandelier.
Modern dining room with a round marble table, four chairs with cushioned seats and backs, and a branch of green plant in a white pot on the table. Light green paneled wall with framed art and two wall sconces, large white and gold chandelier overhead

THE REVEAL

The transformation was stunning. The new palette brought a calm, bright energy, while the furniture and textures added both elegance and warmth. The space finally felt complete—ready for family dinners, holidays, and gatherings with friends.

In my clients’ words:

“KRI made redecorating our dining room a breeze! The space wasn’t being used optimally, and Katie envisioned a more ideal setup and décor. She designed the space beautifully. We absolutely love how it came out and appreciate how easy the process was from sourcing to setup.”

For me, the best part of this project was seeing Matt and Katie finally fall in love with a space that now reflects both their style and the way they live. Making time for family includes creating a home you want to gather in, and I’m so glad they invested in that vision with me.

“ KRI made redecorating our living room a breeze. The space wasn’t being used optimally and Katie envisioned a more ideal setup and decor, and she designed the space beautifully. We absolutely love how it came out and appreciate how easy the process was from sourcing to setup. Highly recommend KRI for interior design and looking forward to using KRI in another room for our house!”

– Catherine & Matt

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