Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
   Just because a house is old -- or new -- it doesn't mean that everything in it needs to date from a particular period. Nora's collections range from the 18th century to this year.It can be refreshing to mix textures, too. Nora likes to fill a 19th-century brass milking pan with cool, sculptural seashells in warm weather, and fragrant potpourri in fall and winter.
In the kitchen, function prevails, but its beauty lies in the contradiction of old and new. In the center is an imposing island with a pine top and painted base (with lots of storage). The warm wood is echoed in the countertops and ancient beams overhead. What makes the old room feel fresh is the gleaming Viking six-burner stove that stands like a sentinel at the front of the island. The sleek stainless steel hood is flanked by 19th-century engravings of Scottish boys on horseback. Advice for mixing things up: Forget what you think you know about how things go together. Forget what everyone says something is used for. Forget symmetry. Forget the way your mother used to decorate -- and combine the things that surprise you most. Keep in mind that some combinations just won't work, but you'll never know unless you try. NEXT: Lesson 5: Use Your Treasures BACK: Lesson 3: Think Small |
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