Whether you live to dine or dine to live, your living and dining rooms should be comfortable yet statement-making. These rooms are the heart of your home and should showcase your finest pieces — the parts of you that you want to share with all who visit.
Have a Nice Clay Designs in the Alex Marshall Pottery collection of dinnerware and ceramics — from square stacking plates and chunky, spherical vases to modern teapots and repeating-form lamps — are compelling in their individuality and artistic imperfections. To hold one brings an instant childhood memory of squeezing cold, malleable clay between your fingers — filled with the possibility of all you could create. Marshall layers signature glazes in earthy colors; and each piece is lead-free, microwaveable, dishwasher-safe, and can be warmed in the oven. (Prices vary.) Moller’s Garden Center, 72235 Painter’s Path, Palm Desert; 346-9415.
Wood You, Could You? - Designer Mark Newman plays with the visual texture of wood grains’ natural patterns in his new collection. An “X” veneer detail tops the Naples Petite Caffe Tables, some of which showcase a mix of different woods. The Linea Console is available to the trade in 12 finishes. (Prices vary.) (800) 871-7701, www.newmanstudio.com.
Thai Me Out - Straight from northern Thailand, the handmade S Chair ($280) is made of strips of renewable-resource bamboo formed in a modern East-meets-West silhouette. Its dark finish finds a fine home whether in the den or at the dining room table. (888) 365-0056, www.uncommongoods.com.
Loco for Cocoa - Paint transforms a room faster and more cost-effectively than almost anything else. Chocolatey walls in this den by home stager Dressed to Close lend a cozy vibe and complete the space with great contrast against crisp white built-ins and furniture. Intense hues give small spaces an air of wealth and success. “We often use paint to quickly update a home for the sale,” says president Beth Ann Shepard. “Secondly, I love to add a new lighting fixture. This is another reasonable investment that goes long way toward setting the stage. Lastly, we add a stylish, new area rug. These three fundamental steps led me to start www.FabulousbyFriday.com, an online design source that promises you only need to buy three fabulous items to implement major style and change in your home.” (310) 556-0418, www.dressedtoclose.com.
Dark and Handsome - Santos Rosewood doors and gold or silver gilt trim accent a sultry black lacquer case on the Occasional Cabinet from Bolier. Available in two sizes — 65 inches ($3,675) or 82 inches ($4,095) — the cases make an exotic dining sideboard or a cabinet for a plasma television and entertainment components. Passages, 69930 Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage; 328-4550.
Take it for Granite - If you can’t find a dining table to suit your taste, go custom. Arizona Tile created this tabletop of Amarillo Gold Granite. 72700 Dinah Shore Drive, Palm Desert; 321-2005, www.arizonatile.com.
Book Nooks - The lacquered wood of Jadora’s Sheen Bookcase ($850) endures a nine-step finishing process to achieve its signature shine. Towering in perfect balance, its eight askew compartments create a compelling and functional focal point. Also available in Stark White and Poppy. (415) 865-9807, www.aldeahome.com.
Fantastic Plastic - Roots and Shoots tableware by Working Class Studio, a product development venture of the Savannah College of Art and Design, is perfectly sized for sandwich-and-chip combinations, salads, and pasta dishes. They take their inspiration from the abstraction of natural objects and the flourishes of letterforms. The lightweight, dishwasher-safe plastic plates add casual style to any gathering. ($48/set of four). (912) 525-5180, www.shopscadonline.com.
Have a Nice - Clay Designs in the Alex Marshall Pottery collection of dinnerware and ceramics — from square stacking plates and chunky, spherical vases to modern teapots and repeating-form lamps — are compelling in their individuality and artistic imperfections. To hold one brings an instant childhood memory of squeezing cold, malleable clay between your fingers — filled with the possibility of all you could create. Marshall layers signature glazes in earthy colors; and each piece is lead-free, microwaveable, dishwasher-safe, and can be warmed in the oven. (Prices vary.) Moller’s Garden Center, 72235 Painter’s Path, Palm Desert; 346-9415.
Just Makes Scents - Create instant atmosphere with Alora Ambiance reed diffusers, which absorb fragranced oil and fill the air with pure, energizing scents. Bella (shown) is a blend of lemon, ying yang, and ginger root. They’re more expensive than the imposters, but worth every penny. The owners of Home 101 in Palm Springs say they are “the best diffuser on the market. They started the whole craze. They smell great and last 10 times longer than most” — up to six months. ($60) Home 101, 392 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 318-9886, www.home101store.com.
