“Budget was a major issue for us,” says Linn,
an interior designer with a creative streak a
mile wide. Their strategy: Balance historical
accuracy with a fresh, eclectic style and fun,
cost-saving ideas.
For Linn, that means mixing subdued
neutrals such as gray-greens and blues with
energizing dashes of persimmon and citron.
Traditional furnishings get a lift from boldly
patterned (and easily replaced) pillows and
rugs. “As a designer, I lust over British wall-
paper and insanely scaled paisleys,” she
confesses. To save on a pricey paper for the
dining room, Linn covered just the top part of
the walls, and Glen—a whiz with a circular
saw—built simple wainscoting for below.
Rather than replace or repair old plaster—a
dirty and time-consuming job—the couple in
some cases simply camouflaged it with beaded
board or wood trim. “It looks historic,” Linn
says. Plus, “we have the pride and joy of
knowing we did it ourselves.”
They also transformed the sunporch into a
home office, installing plywood shelves, a
skirted desk, and storage boxes. Bright green
carpet tiles might not pass muster with history
purists, but “my dog loves it,” Linn says,
laughing. And it’s just another way the duo
made this quirky cottage their own.
In the living room, the couple removed acoustic tiles
to reveal i 2-foot ceilings. One painting would have
looked meager on the tall walls, Linn says, so she
stacked artwork high for impact. Looking for a coffee
table with a small price tag Glen sawed the legs off
an old hand-me-down library table.
