nterior designers like
James Little are trained to
keep their eyes peeled for
inspiration everywhere.
He found his in the kitchen,
where a quartz countertop
in mottled browns and
blues launched the masculine color
palette that flows through this
1,400-square-foot ranch.
“I thought that if the colors were
consistent, the whole house would
appear larger,” James says. Tobacco-
color walls and upholstery are a warm
backdrop for accents of blue that shift
from peacock in the public spaces to
pale slate in the bedroom. “Blue feels
calming and cool for a Florida climate.”
You might not know it from the luxe,
layered look, but James and his
partner, Glenn Bradley, are bargain
hunters. Auctions, estate sales, and
discount stores helped them round out
what they thought was going to be a
temporary home. Now, they like it so
much they’re staying put. “We ended
up falling in love with this house.”
DECORATING
W ho: James Little
W here: A 1970s ranch
in Naples, Florida
Best M ove: Using a
consistent color palette
to make a modest-size
home look larger
8 8
SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
