LIBRARY LANDING

Homeowner Betsy Bruce

confines most of her book

storage to a stair landing,

right,

and an upstairs guest bedroom.

“Bookshelves by nature are

busy-looking,” she explains.

“That's why I kept them out

of the living room."

DINNER PARTY Catalog

wicker side chairs,

left,

were

navy blue until Betsy repainted

them. A pair of armchairs also

pull up to the flea-market

dining table.

E

Betsy Bruce succeeded as a corporate executive because she was highly organized, keeping one

eye on her short-term goals and the other on the big picture. Two years ago, she transferred that

skill to the dream of reorganizing her life and becoming a design consultant. Her newly built

farmhouse-style home in Rhinebeck, New York, is a case study for how to combine quiet, elegant

style with smart everyday function. “A house needs to be beautiful,” Betsy says, “but it also needs

to work for your lifestyle. It’s all about having a clear idea of how you use rooms, where your

furniture will go, and where clutter will gather.”

Since evety home’s primary entrance is a magnet for disorder, Betsy designed an efficient

mudroom/breezeway between her garage and living areas. Deep drawers beneath a stair landing

and a huge built-in closet swallow winter boots, coats, and umbrellas with ease. Well-planned

storage in the living room and kitchen streamlines entertaining and cleanup. A first-floor bedroom

doubles as a comfortable guest suite and hardworking home office.

Betsy creates a consistent look throughout her rooms, mixing catalog furnishings with the

occasional high-end showroom piece and low-end yard-sale find. She’s always on the hunt for

quirky vases and candlesticks that reflect her personality. “I’m really glad I tried this,” Betsy says.

“I had this house in my head for years. It was great seeing it come to life.”

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JANUARY 2009

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