A
nail kitchen, closet-size
lug spaces in Rachel
51880
s home don't leave her
feeling confined. In fact, she finds it freeing.
“The more space we have, the more stuff we
bring in," Rachel says. “I like to keep things
simple and have only what we need."
The Mill Valley, California, home she
shares with her husband, Mark, and their
two kids is a testament to making the most
of every space. Built-ins and window seats—
some original, some new—maximize storage.
Neutral colors keep walls from closing in.
And all the stuff that can consume rooms is
contained in bins, baskets, and tubs.
This busy mom plays by the organizing
rules. Everything has its home. If you get
something out, you put it away. Even
6
-year-
old Rio has learned to follow in Rachel's tidy
footsteps, scooping up toys and doll clothes
from the floor of the bedroom she shares with
her i-year-old sister, Poppy, and putting them
into labeled bins and baskets.
When decorating, though, Rachel, a
designer and photo stylist, throws rules out
the window. She dared to paint over the
dining room’s original redwood wainscoting,
freshening the space and making it seem
larger. Furniture is a casual—and visually
light—mix of vintage, modern, and
traditional, rather than a single style.
For Rachel, the bottom line is making a
home livable, not doing what’s expected. A
small guest bedroom is now a den that gets
a workout as a place to play, watch TV, and
do homework. Cabinets in the dining room
are stocked with crayons and art supplies.
“It's fine to use things in ways they weren't
originally intended," Rachel says. “You have to
make the best use of the space you have.”
Shades that close from
either the bottom up or
top down allow
flexibility in privacy
and light control,
a bove rig h t.
Stacked,rather than
upright, books serve as
pedestals and artful
backdrops for a few
favorite accessories in
the den,
a bove left.
B E T T E R H O M E S A N D G A R D E N S |
J A N U A R Y
2011
|
B H G . C O M
2 9
