Showcase cherished collectibles in a stepback cupboard. Focus on a theme or category, like Christa’s assemblage of children’s toys, baby shoes and heart motifs in the master bedroom. Line the shelves with visually heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on top. For more punch, flank the cupboard with a tower of pieces that are similar in size, height and color intensity.
While carving a new master bedroom suite from unused attic space, Christa left the original wood beams exposed to contrast with the light walls. The peg rail above the window works in tandem with the beams to trick the mind into believing the room is deeper and longer than it is. Dual walk-in closets are hidden behind weathered barn doors—one is whimsically decked with a prancing horse silhouette. The bed is flanked by casual arrangements of wood elements interspersed with children’s playthings. “I don’t think your side tables should ever match,” Christa says.
Christa aged her newly constructed master bath with a rustic sink base from England topped with a marble vessel sink and a stenciled mirror. To avoid cutting several holes into the wood base and compromising its authenticity, she mounted the faucet hardware on the wall. An opening for the drain was present when she purchased the piece. She stacked two small chests nearby to keep toiletries within easy reach but out of view.