Borrow Her Favorite Ideas

While this house might not possess a lot of space, it's big on inspired approaches to decorating and design. Owner and interior designer Cindy Dunaway always had a clear idea of how her first house should look. "I kept all the fabric samples I loved in a bag and was just waiting for a chance to use them," she says. She'd also been acquiring updated yet traditional pieces for just the kind of collected look she likes.

But to give her dreams a resting place, Cindy needed to find the house itself. This 1940s charmer, located in one of her favorite Atlanta neighborhoods, won out. "I looked at a lot of houses, but this one had the most potential," she says. "Its bones were good. It just needed some cosmetic changes."

Symmetrically placed bookshelves and corner cabinets make a pleasing framework for Cindy's furniture. Details such as crystal lamps, painted end tables, and intricate prints and pillows invite attention.

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