I was recently watching the Architectural Digests series on Tan France’s house. I was struck by how authentic and accessible his home was while having an expensive price tag. And that’s usually not the case because I take issue with their open-door series. The homes featured there are ostentatious, impractical, and all about wealth, and we see the same things all the time, like the Tom Ford book and a bowl of lemons.
We get to see every aspect of the design of Tan France’s house and how he wants the home to be an authentic English home with touches of South Asian and American design. This home has so many things it’s doing right, from excellence in craftsmanship to a balanced design, and there is so much to love about this home.
Dining room
Tan has a simple post and lintel stone surround around his dining room fireplace that coordinates with the colors in the wallpaper. The whole dining room is balanced, with nothing competing with each other. And you might be thinking the fireplace is usually the focal point of any room. But there’s another quiet and sophisticated way to have a room balanced like an ensemble instead of too many main characters competing.
I can’t tell you how often I have seen a new home with giant living spaces and tall fireplaces covered in stacked stone. It’s an eyesore for the space. Some of us have a lovely fireplace with trim or brick, and I prefer these simple yet refined fireplaces. Do a subtle trimmed-out or stone fireplace surround. You can even find remnant stone pieces from a local stone yard for much less than buying new ones.
Tan France’s house has all the details right. The trim in the dining room is just so gorgeous. You can see all the details and the variety of depths in the millwork. We can see shadows and highlights. It works well with the home’s overall style. An English Tudor home. Where you would see a lot of beautiful woodwork and excellent craftsmanship.
I’ve said this before, but modern American homes need better trim. It’s too small, too flat, and doesn’t look like much. You’re supposed to be able to look at the trim and see all the nooks and crannies, but you see nothing. Adding more prominent and ornate molding is one of the best ways to upgrade your home. Even if you have short ceilings, you must be more careful with your sizing, but it can be done.
Kitchen
The marble floors in the kitchen are gorgeous. The scale and size of the tiles fit the space, and the black and white diamond pattern is something we’ve been seeing a lot, but it’s a timeless look. Everything works together with the floors, windows, and warm wood.
If you’re remodeling your kitchen, consider your flooring choices. I always recommend a timeless look because, as a designer, it’s hard to see the amount of waste from people removing their tile for tile that the next person won’t want. And the tiles I see are just boring. Choose something timeless and try to go against the grain for an excellent backdrop for the rest of your kitchen.
All the small details are what really make a design come together. The carved hardware, lights, and designs on the end panels on the island and cabinets make the space personal and luxurious with the infusion of South Asian style into the home via these details.
Ensure you are looking at the small details in your renovations or refreshes. The details make it go from “looks better” to “Wow, this space looks amazing!”. You can add some end panels to the ends of your cabinets on the perimeter and island. Or find engraved hardware with a pattern that has significance to you. Install wood beams or other details to your ceiling that fit the style of your home.
Primary Bedroom
I love Tan’s choice to make the primary bedroom an appropriate size. Too often, I see enormous primary bedrooms, and it’s just a waste of space. But Tan’s primary bedroom has a modest-sized bed, nightstands, a chair, and a fireplace. That’s it. And yes, his home is large, but it’s authentic. It’s an English gem with beautiful craftsmanship. It’s not more for the sake of more.
Sometimes, people feel insecure about the size of their homes and wish for bigger and better things. But it’s all about quality over quantity. Do you have enough space to sleep and get dressed? If yes, focus on laying out the room better and invest in quality pieces that work for you.
Once again, the fireplace is stunning. A traditional-looking fireplace with a marble surround that coordinates with the wallpaper. It’s enough to warm the space and not a huge focal point. Your eye bounces around the room because it’s balanced and mixed with old details and modern furniture.
The best way to achieve balance in any room is to pick one element to design the room around. Wallpaper, rugs, or a piece of artwork are some of the items you can use. If you found a beautiful antique rug with deep reds, greens, browns, and pops of blue and orange, use those colors to inform the rest of the space. Coordinate all the pieces together to help get a balanced and luxurious look.
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