The Western Design Conference in Jackson, Wyoming has been showcasing the finest in functional art for three decades. In 2018, we created a showroom in the heart of WDC’S conference hall. We imagined a lounge/dining room that would be warm and inviting but also tranquil, a great spot to relax with a good book or enjoy conversation with a friend. Our goal “was to create an art-rich dining room that was warm and welcoming but really lively,” says Jeremiah Young, “and was colorful without being obnoxious.”
The room was built in a day. It’s defined by dark hardwood floors juxtaposed with a lighter, more rustic wood on walls with white trim and centered on a 12-foot-long English walnut dining table atop a colorful vintage Afghan rug. Eight dining chairs upholstered in hair-on hide and plaid floor-length curtains in luxurious mohair inject warmth and a touch of nature. A mock hearth fabricated of shiplap wood creates the perfect place to hang a statement artwork. A seating group at the far end of the room is backed by a deep earth-toned fabric-covered panel set against the wood wall. There, comfortable armchairs and a traditional chest of drawers are flanked by rustic standing lamps from Old Hickory.
Art from the Stapleton Gallery in Billings presents fresh approaches to traditional western subject matter in paintings by Kevin Red Star, Judd Thompson and Ben Pease. Illustrated books, fresh fruit and flowers, an array of candles, and a cocktail setup — complete with crystal decanters and glasses with pewter stag detail — extend the invitation to come on in and make yourself comfortable. This project’s ability to convey welcome, comfort, and a fresh timelessness within a pop-up situation earned it the WDC’s 2018 Best of Show Award.
Check out our award ribbon winning Western Design Conference Dining Room. A feast of art and interiors!
