Hemlock Springs Idea House Tour

Mix Color and Style
Play with furniture styles to achieve an eclectic look. Just unify with color. The red lacquer bamboo-style side chairs add a bold punch of color that coordinates with the cabinet interiors. They also complement the simple trestle dining table. Add another color on the ceiling, such as the light green here, to create more interest in a room with lots of light.

Chair and curtain fabric: Bengali Cotton Print in Rose by Brunschwig & Fils; available through DCOTA Design Services; (954) 921-7575.

• Tour the Dining Room

Personalize Your Built-Ins
The cabinets between the dining room and kitchen open from both sides to let light pass through. Here designer Mallory Mathison added interest inside the double-sided cabinets with bold red paint. Framed prints sit on top of the molding that caps the built-ins. This informal arrangement is a great way to display art in a room without much available wallspace.

Cabinet paint: Dover White from Sherwin-Williams; 1-800-474-3794.
Cabinet interior paint: Real Red from Sherwin-Williams; 1-800-474-3794.

Back Your Bookcases
Make a big statement with simple details. The backs of the shelves that flank the living room entry are lined with the flooring material. When shelf backs have such a big look, go with a simple palette and accessories. Using unusual hardware is a great way to add interest.

Dress It Up
The design team added trim to the bottom of a basic sofa to dress it up and used a mix of custom pillows to pull colors from Mallory’s favorite fabric across the room. This room works because the many colors are repeated throughout.

Sofa Pillow Fabric: Vanessa Folly in Turquoise by Brunschwig & Fils; available through DCOTA Design Services; (954) 921-7575.
Sofa Pillow Fabric: Canwell by Cowtan & Tout, Jane Churchill collection; available through DCOTA Design Services; (954) 921-7575.
Sofa Pillow Fabric: Eaton Plain in Lilac by Cowtan & Tout, Colefax and Fowler collection; available through DCOTA Design Services; (954) 921-7575.

Try Grass Cloth
Use texture to call out favorite features in a room. Between the grids of molding on the walls and above the fireplace (pictured above), Mallory selected a neutral grass cloth to dress the living room walls.

Dressed-Up Doors
The cabinet doors on either side of the fireplace started out as basic flat-panel doors. Stock trim applied in a diamond pattern to the fronts of the upper cabinets offers subtle detail that provides an affordable yet custom look.

Opt For a Large Desk
Keep clutter out of the kitchen and incorporate a desk into your laundry room. Be sure to have plenty of desktop space to spread out projects. And don’t forget to add as many drawers as you can. We particularly like the pulls Mallory chose, which have a spot to slip in a label.

Cafe curtains: Signature in Seamist from the Barbara Barry Collection by Kravet; available through DCOTA Design Services;
(954) 921-7575.
Chair fabric: Spa & Cream Canopy by Ballard Designs; 1-800-536-7551

Add a Big Bulletin Board
Follow our example. Mallory framed a sheet of cork with base molding painted the same color as the room’s cabinets. Measuring 3 x 6 feet, it is situated on the wall to the right of the desk for easy access to notes from school, appointments, and other information.

Have an Oversize Sink
When selecting a sink for your utility room, go as large as you can. This one is perfect for flower arranging, hand-washing clothes, and filling a mop bucket.

Filled with every amenity needed for daily cooking, the kitchen opens to the grilling deck for easy entertaining. 

• Tour the Kitchen

Add a Rolling Work Surface
This versatile metal cart with a thick butcher-block top offers utility on wheels. More substantial than the average cart, it can act as a work surface, help transport necessities from fridge to grill, and even be used across the hall in the multipurpose room.

Have Plenty of Outlets
Consider convenience first. Each turned leg on the island has an electrical outlet built in for mixers, blenders, and the occasional laptop. The piece has the great look of freestanding furniture but is stationary to allow for wiring. The space underneath makes the kitchen appear more spacious and allows you to pull up a stool to any side.

Define Your Workspace
The armoire-like cabinet mimics the look of the integrated refrigerator on the opposite side of the room; this creates a frame for the sink area. We’ve outfitted the cabinet as a breakfast center holding everything from mugs to boxes of cereal.

Let the Outdoors In
With the tap of a touch screen, glass doors open up 12 feet of wall connecting the kitchen to the screened kitchen porch. The second island sitting just inside the doors is outfitted with an ice-maker and small refrigerator. On the back side it also features a pop-up leaf to double the counterspace for better service on the deck.

Designed as the perfect getaway space, this room offers comfort and personal amenities such as this coffee bar tucked into a closet.

Spa-Like Escape
The master bath mixes crisp polished pieces with textured grass cloth wall coverings and curtains to give it a warm spa-like feeling. The shower is encased in mosaic sea-glass tile and features a rainfall shower head for a shower experience that provides an instant escape. The tri-fold mirror and vanity makes getting ready for the day a little easier by having natural light and supplies at your fingertips.

• Tour the Master Bathroom

Create Custom Balusters
As opposed to standard ones, our architect specified cut-outs for the staircase.

Use Graphic Wallpaper
Get major impact in small spaces. Used sparingly, a bold design won’t overwhelm your room.

The retreat is the perfectly private cat-bird seat for reading, writing, or resting with the best view of the house.

Don’t Neglect the Fifth Wall
Clad the ceiling with flooring for an unexpectedly cool look.

• Tour the Retreat

Stay Awhile
The guest bedroom was designed with houseguests in mind. Soft colors, lush carpet, and spa-like bath make it the perfect restful getaway suite. The bed is positioned so that guests have the same amazing mountain view as the master suite.

Guest Bedding: Lilly Haven from the Southern Living Bedding Collection

• Tour the Guest Suite

Situated next door to the family room, this room provides kids with a sense of privacy and a suite all their own when adults invade upstairs.

Try New Trim Ideas
Hang inexpensive furring strips around a room for a great look. Just paint them and put them up.

• Tour the Children's Room

Tucked away on the terrace level, the family room offers a place for games, TV-watching, and relaxation.

Design a Unique Path 
Mix stone, gravel, and loose pavers to create interesting patterns and texture on outdoor walkways.

With separate areas for living, dining, and cooking, the porch spaces function like indoor rooms.

Break the Rules Outside
Four comfy chairs and a low table combine to make a casual dining spot.

• Tour the Back Porch