2003 Idea Houses

Backsplash Tile: A backsplash of a different color or material from the cabinets and countertops is an effective way to add interest to a kitchen. This decorative tile creates a break in the cream cabinetry.

Window Treatment: Cafe curtains, which cover half a window or one sash of a double-hung one, enable you to see outside when standing and to gain privacy when seated.

Creative Curtains: "The magical garden theme is further reflected in the sheer curtains with their embroidered fairies and wrought iron trellis-style valances," Tim points out. The soft hues complement the wall color as well.

Outdoor Living Areas: Covered porches and terraces encompass the house. You can enjoy outdoor spaces at every turn. "The long porches go back to the early ranch houses. They shade the house, and the doors can be opened even if it's raining," says architect Mark Carlson. One porch has a fireplace and serving counter. "The overall design was positioned to catch breezes," adds builder Michael Deane.

Convenient Work Station: The wall above the desk in the versatile laundry room contains two handy ideas--a wooden dowel, perfect for holding spools of ribbon, and a chalkboard-painted niche for jotting down notes and to-do lists. The comfortable countertop height allows this room to double as an area for crafts projects.

Versatile Dining Tables:

The dining room combines the casual with the elegant in a relaxed way. Vibrant throw pillows rest in each chair for added comfort. Two square plywood tables, skirted in tone-on-tone silk, are paired with rattan chairs. The two tables can be pulled together for more traditional dining or to serve as a buffet for casual entertaining. Subtle textured walls result from a hand-troweled plaster finish. Complementary colors are used on the walls in the two-story space. Between the two colors, a scrolled stencil design, based on the table skirt fabric, spans both areas. A large recess in the wall holds a hutch for storing and displaying serving pieces.

Window Art: Simple framed botanical prints add a special look to the large paned window behind the four-poster bed in one of the teenagers' bedrooms. The selected prints are highlighted by large mats. They are attached directly to the window using coordinating ribbon and clear plastic suction cups.

Stylish Floor Covering: The family room's sea grass rug would make a handsome addition to many settings. "Sea grass rugs are affordable, natural, and don't compete with all the other elements in the room. You can also add different borders," says designer Mary Solomon. "With this material, it's easy to select the rug after the room is already put together. Also, you can customize the rug to the size it really needs to be. In this situation, as long as it was 13 feet wide, I knew I could make the rug whatever length I wanted."

Companion Fabrics: As an accent in the family room, Mary used rich red fabric embellished with images of various dog breeds. To effectively utilize a bold print, "you have to be careful not to go overboard, so always use it in accents," she advises. To change the look, incorporate an Asian print or a toile that complements your existing color scheme.

About Anaglypta: To liven up the walls of the dressing area, Mary chose anaglypta paper. This embossed white wallcovering features many patterns, can be painted any color, and is available at home-improvement stores. "Anaglypta gives walls an architectural element without being busy," says Mary. Once the paper was applied to the walls, it was painted buttery yellow. After the base coat dried, faux finish artist Krista Phillips applied a tinted glaze.