Decorate with Crafts
The Country Sampler stylists incorporate country accents in a palette of fresh hues to introduce a springtime feel to family living spaces.
The Country Sampler stylists share tips on how to introduce pretty pastel accessories into your everyday decor.
Wmoved hen Lana and Ben Sprunger
into their 1890s farmhouse a decade ago, it needed updating and, eventually, expanding to suit their growing family, which includes six children, ages 6 to 23. Last year, a large addition/remodel gave them some breathing room. “We really needed more space,” says Lana, who notes the project also entailed enlarging the family room by removing walls that separated it from the former dining room and a small office.
A raised ceiling and a retooled fireplace wall with built-in bookcases and a wood mantel gave the family room, which flows into the adjacent dining room addition, a lighter outlook, something that fits right in with Lana’s design aesthetic. “I like to decorate with whites and neutrals, and I love painted furniture,” she says. One of her favorite pieces is a built-in cupboard that was original to the house but relocated to the dining room, where it contributes old-fashioned character to the new space.
Lana enjoys infusing her everyday decor with seasonal goods, swapping out pillows, flowers and even family pictures to coordinate with the time of year. “I like my home to feel like the season,” she says, adding, “I want it to be a place I want to spend time in, and I want others to feel that way, too.”
Country Sampler stylists René Haines and Carolynn Geesaman were happy to contribute cheer-inducing vignettes for Lana’s rooms using classic springtime colors. Read on to discover their 19 bright ideas for greeting the season of rebirth.
PRETTY IN PINK
5. Hoppy headgear. Upend an old Easter bonnet for the base of a sweet centerpiece featuring blooms and greenery tucked around a whimsical wooden bunny. Complement it with a layered table covering that combines a floral pillow sham and a lacy textile.
6. Frame game. Stack matching picture frames on a low end table to raise the profile of a distinctive lamp.
7. Chicka boom. Bring a peck of color to a snack tray with cheerful wooden chicks peering from cracked eggs. Nestle a smaller chick in a greenery candle ring and set a matching Easter basket on a bookshelf to offer continuity to the scene.
8. Textile art. Frame an embroidered runner with a garden-inspired motif and accent the piece by gluing lengths of coordinating ribbon around the frame opening.
9. Pillow power. Trade or supplement your everyday pillows with seasonally inspired designs, such as chicks or rabbits. “Look for cute cushions in colors that coordinate with your decor or other items on display,” Carolynn advises. Incorporate flowing curtains or plush throws to provide more softness to the space.
10. Step it up. Employ a painted footstool to bring attention to a singular accent piece, such as a wire birdcage filled with small nests and faux flowers.