LIGHTEN VINTAGE FURNITURE TO HELP IT BLEND IN AT HOME
Designer speaks on cottage style and finding your own ‘look’
Artist and entrepreneur Dana Gibson launched her design business 20 years ago with a line of hand-sculpted porcelain wares. Fashioned by hand and painted in garden colours, many of the same floral and pastoral themes continue to abound in her work today.
Gibson has evolved from a craft artist to a manufacturer, expanding the range of her home accessories line to include lighting, decorative pillows, furniture and more. She is a master at accessorizing, vintage shopping and upcycling.
She spoke from her family river cottage on — appropriately
enough — ways to enhance cottage style in one’s home:
Q I recently inherited a sideboard and desk from my aunt. Both belonged to my greatgrandmother. She lived a much more formal (and, frankly, wealthier) lifestyle, so the pieces are grander than anything I’ve acquired. However, I want to keep them. How do I incorporate them into my more relaxed, small home?
A I love this question because saving family pieces is a value I share. Have you thought of painting or stripping them? This can be shocking to some, but the dark, formal stains of yesteryear simply don’t work these days. Lightening and brightening is the new rule. I like pickled wood because it’s a lighter tone. I would also suggest you get a professional to strip or paint, if you can. If not, chalk paint is really easy and a quick fix. Google “painted furniture” for some inspiration. You can also search online for pickled tables.
Q Five kids later, our house is in need of a makeover. Where do I start? I’m not sure what my style is, which is part of the problem. I love vintage and antiques, but that’s just not the
type of house we have. We have four kids in college, so we’re on a budget, too.
A If professional help is not in the budget, start from scratch. My best advice is to paint everything white, off-white or grey and use furnishings that are in neutrals: white, cream, grey. Slipcovers purchased online are a great and cheap investment. With a basic white, spare canvas, add pops of colour in pillows, a feature wall and accessories. The point now is to edit all that you’ve accumulated over the years and spruce it up for you and your spouse. Throw items that are not working in the attic. Start col- lecting photos of your favourite rooms, and you will quickly see what your taste in home decor is.
Q My house is very neutral, with creamy walls and a deeper cream in the kitchen. We are putting our house up for sale in the spring, and it looks as though wallpaper borders are out. I have a wide one above the white cabinets in the kitchen and one in a bedroom. Do I strip them off and repaint the rooms?
A I always say, it is pretty much impossible to “inherit” someone else’s wallpaper. The choices are just too personal. I’d pull the border down and repaint. And the rest of your house seems in shipshape.
Q I have a long, narrow front porch, about two feet wide and 25 feet long, on my cottagestyle house. I’d love to come up with some decorations for it. It does have a pretty, white front railing, but I haven’t been able to come up with anything else because of how narrow it is. Any ideas?
A Bistro-type chairs may give you a chance to sit down and enjoy the porch. The other thought is window-type planters for the railing. Wave petunias in the summer, or red geraniums if you have the right exposure, would add a ton of charm. A local plant nursery should give you good options. These planters would draw you out of the house, and in the future you might find yourself using the porch more.
Q I have a very small cottage with an unfortunately low ceiling ( below eight feet), yet I need a ceiling fixture in the living space. Could I even have a ceiling fan? What suggestions do you have?
A Ceiling fans can definitely work in low-ceiling houses. I have been cursed with several lowceiling houses and have used ceiling fans in many of the rooms. If anyone in your family is over sixfoot-10, I’d advise against it. But fans can be charming. I like white or a light wood, so it doesn’t call a lot of attention to the fixture.