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| Romantic Craftsman Cottage |  | | With windows flung open to the scent of salt air and roses, Claudia Darr basks in the charm of a 1930s California cottage she restored for her family. |  See Claudia's cottage |
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| Mastering the Mix |
| Jeri and Steven de Souza dressed down their antiques to fit their new way of life. |
| By Susan Heeger |
Take it from Jeri Keep details from the past when renovating. Even dilapidated wood floors can be painted. The worn floors in Jeri and Steven's kitchen look fresh and stylish with the newly painted checkerboard pattern. Also, instead of starting over with cabinets, consider just replacing the doors. For more storage, model new cabinets on the old.
photography: Roger Davies
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Invest in quality pieces of upholstered furniture with simple lines and they'll last you all your life. You can always re-upholster, restuff, or slip-cover as needed. The headboard and skirt in the master bedroom now wear fabric that used to hang in the de Souzas' former home.
photography: Roger Davies
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Choose fabrics in the same color families. When you move or arrange, the pieces will still work together. Pull your colors out of one great print and repeat them in a check or stripe. The de Souzas' home shows Jeri is a master of this trick.
photography: Roger Davies
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Pay attention to shape and scale. Use large items to anchor spaces, then insert contrasting forms: dainty, rounded chairs, for instance, near massive, boxy sofas; a circular mirror above a squared-off mantel.
photography: Roger Davies
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Mix it up. A potpourri of furnishings and materials makes rooms more inviting. Six identical antique chairs around the dining table might have appeared stuffy; instead, the combo keeps it fun. |
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