Turn traditional upside down

To g et K ellies tailored b u t u n stu ffy look, try these ideas:

MIX It Lip

C

'ut the seriousness of traditional furniture by adding playful accessories

—lively pillows, modern paintings or kids’ artwork, and splashy color in

lamps,'throws, and flowers.

Neutralize

Far from boring, a backdrop of soft white walls, sisal rugs, and solid-color

upholstery gives traditional decorating a more youthfuf look.

Lighten up

Add an unexpected touch of fun in every room, like the garden table in

Kellies kitchen or her show-stopping dining room chandelier.

Display sparingly

Put out only your favorite pieces of a collection and keep the rest tucked

away, as Kellie does with her white ironstone. When the mood strikes,

swap out a few pieces for a new lode

Above:

Kellie’s budget-

conscious kitchen redo

involved new paint and

hardware for the lower

cabinets and a new butcher-

block countertop. She uses a

marble slab next to the sink as

a cutting board.

Above left:

The ironwork garden table,

once used outdoors, now

dresses up the breakfast nook.

Opposite:

A wall of shallow

built-ins was a high-impact,

low-cost addition to the

kitchen. Kellie uses them for

cookbooks and platters. "I

don’t like things that just sit on

the shelf,” she says.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MARCH 2009 1 3 1