Like their life, the house flexed to meet
the needs of baby Anne-Claire. A home office/
den became the nursery. In the living room,
treated fabrics take the worry out of messy
fingers and muddy paws—not to mention the
occasional wine spill. Early on, Reiser had
suggested a palette of pale blue and wheat. But
when Susan found herself craving more color,
Reiser added bright orange lamps and pillows
to the living room, then repeated the cheerful
accents throughout the house.
Reiser also helped Susan organize family
photographs and mementos that had been
gathering dust into a meaningful wall display.
“As you walk down the hallway, you can see
the story of how her parents met, their love
story, and the life Susan and Scott have made,”
Reiser says. Like the rest of their home, “it is
charming and real.” And flexible enough to
allow for whatever changes life brings.
In the nursery, which
multitasks as a den
and occasional guest
room,
r i g h t
, a versatile
palette of pale teal and
beige is pretty without
being babyish.
In the kitchen,
b e l o w ,
Susan and Scott
scrapped plans for a
wet bar by the back
door in favor of an
antique school bench,
a handy place to drop
the diaper bag or
groceries.
y
Give an
ornate mirror
a modern face-
lift with a coat
of soft, neutral
color.
M A K E
I T
E A S Y
N i c e
a n d
E a s y
San Francisco designer Kelly
Reiser shares ideas for keep-
ing your home pretty and
polished, even with children
and pets.
FORGIVING FABRICS
“Look for fabrics that age
well, like nubby washable
linens and leather or patent
leather. If you fall in love with
a fabric that isn't kid-friendly,
send the entire bolt to be
sprayed with a stain-resisting
treatment such as Nano-Tex.”
n a n o - t e x . c o m
MINI SLIPCOVERS
To minimize wear and tear,
Reiser has matching covers
sewn to protect the parts of
upholstery that get the most
use, such as the top of an
ottoman or the headrest of
dining room chairs.
FLEXIBLE FURNITURE
“Grown-up furniture can
easily double as baby
furniture.” Instead of a
changing table, invest in
a beautiful dresser and
changing pad. You’ll enjoy the
piece long after the baby is
out of diapers.
■
-O
For buying inform ation see page 187.
