Whitney Port's designer tells us exactly how to recreate a mid-century meets California casual dining room

Some of us are distinct in our design preferences, leaning more modern or preferring to foster an antique-informed space. Whitney Port straddles both sensibilities with her dining room, which fuses mid-century design elements with a California casual feel.

To achieve the look, she enlisted Dina Litt of Litt Concept House, who helped her source the antiques, create the window treatments, and select the perfect statement rug.

'As with all my projects, we kicked things off with a mood board to help align on the vision and make sure we were on the same page from the start,' Dina explains.

'Whitney shared that she wanted the space to feel more open and inviting, especially for hosting family and friends. Although she had an eat-in kitchen, part of it was being used as a den, which made the space feel cramped. Once we cleared it out, it immediately felt so much larger and more functional. 'Whitney loves antiques mixed with California-modern – think Mid-Century vibes with a twist – which served as my guiding inspiration.'

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From the bold, purple rug to the mix of natural wood furnishings, the room is a masterclass in styling complementary materials and colors. Dina says that when sourcing antiques, she tends to look at European retailers for inspiration.

'I think that some of the best antique chairs come from Belgium and France,' she tells us. 'However, English Windsor chairs are also my favorite! I think what sets our sourcing at Litt Concept House apart is that we travel straight to the source (we don’t buy local or in big cities like Paris) – castles, châteaux, and tucked-away barns across France and Belgium – to uncover the most beautifully crafted antique chairs. We seek out sets that have stood the test of time: well-preserved, richly detailed, and still intact. It’s all about finding pieces with soul and story, where centuries-old craftsmanship meets timeless style. Traveling to the source allows us to offer the best prices and rarer products to our clients.'

She tells us that she centered the room around the 13-foot elm table from Belgium, then waited a couple of months to source a staple piece from France: 'a late Qing Dynasty open display cabinet from the 1800s, beautifully crafted from Chinese elm. It has a warm, amber-toned underlayer and an authentic, timeworn patina that adds so much character. To help tie the cabinet and dining table together, I added a stunning tamarind wood bowl as the centerpiece – perfect for filling with seasonal fruit, fresh flowers, or candles.'

Additionally, the sheer window treatments were a crucial contributing factor to making the space feel light and airy.

'One of the most important layers I love incorporating into my projects is window treatments,' Dina says. 'They instantly interact with the light and can completely transform a space, especially in kitchens, where they're not used as often. For Whitney’s space, I introduced her to Everhem to help warm up her windows, and they did an incredible job collaborating with her to find just the right fit. We chose sheer drapes to bring in both softness and a bit of drama. What I love most is how they move when the windows or doors are open – it adds such a beautiful, effortless energy to the room.'

The space is effortlessly chic yet warm and welcoming; according to Dina, a major element of this successful set-up was finding the perfect dining chairs that are both aesthetically intriguing and comfortable.

'Antique chairs are always my go-to, but they’re not always the most practical,' she explains. 'Comfort can be an issue (people were smaller back then!), so unless an antique chair feels good to sit in, I usually pass. Since the perfect antique chair can be hard to find, I’ll sometimes opt for a new style and add a custom detail to make it feel one-of-a-kind,' she says.

'With Whitney, we did the sit test on about eight different chairs. The ones she loved weren’t always the most comfortable for her husband, who’s over six feet tall. In the end, we chose a new chair that had the perfect mix of shape and comfort. To make them feel extra special, I sourced a vintage fabric in the South of France and made hand-tied cushions for each one.'