photography: Roger Davies Heather hung pale blue- and white-striped fabric horizontally as a creative twist on a classic pattern. Heather hung them high on substantial bamboo rods to draw the eye up and make the ceiling appear taller.

Heather began by creating a livable furniture plan and guiding Sandy toward fabrics and accessories that are both family-friendly and style-conscious. "Everything had to be extremely comfortable," Heather says. "So the first thing I did was send Sandy and her husband, Richard, around town to test-drive sofas and chairs." For other items in the room, flea markets were a top source for inexpensive, one-of-a-kind pieces. After all the searching and shopping, Heather wisely covered Sandy's new furniture in durable outdoor fabric to resist the stains and spills of the couple's two young and active boys, 3-year-old Charlie and soon-to-be-crawling Windsor.

"I wanted a comfortable place where Richard could relax and watch football while still hanging out with the boys and me," Sandy says. "In our last house, nothing was casual enough for us. Now I've got a place that looks good and feels good, too."

photography: Roger Davies Oversize hooks and a bench, upholstered in a sturdy fabric, create a catch-all space along a wall in the Henrys' living room.

photography: Roger Davies Fabric-tie drawer pulls turn an antique buffet into a freshened up, one-of-a-kind piece.

photography: Roger Davies Faux-ostrich vinyl, used on repainted antique chairs, is both stylish and childproof. "I just wipe them down with Windex after meals," Sandy says.