Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
 Off-the-shelf products make floors, walls, even ceilings look like a million bucks |
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 Wide trim makes a lasting impression. It looks especially good on tall, wide doorways. |
| by Dennis Wedlick It's the details in high-end homes that delight us. Fancy flooring, custom-made moldings and woodwork, and unexpected architectural elements make a house feel substantial and full of character. But creating such a home doesn't have to be the exclusive right of the well-heeled. In fact, it isn't the cost of the materials we react to; it's how they're used. With a little effort and a few basic lessons in good interior design, a cost-conscious homeowner can introduce a custom look in a modest house using standard, off-the-shelf building products. Good materials don't have to be the most expensive -- what is important is that they have integrity. A building material is said to have integrity if it is soundly constructed, stands the test of time, and is, above all, authentic. These traits are inherent in natural materials like wood and stone, but many less expensive, composite materials can meet those criteria as well. It is easy to give a modest home a substantial look and feel when each surface -- floor, wall, and ceiling -- embodies integrity. That, with the bonus of one or two unusual, well-designed features (see Small Moves with a Big Effect) is all you need to make your house rich with character. NEXT: Classic Flooring that Won't Break the Bank |
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PHOTO: ERIK KVALSVIK
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