Look beyond an item’s original use for inspiration. Transform a hefty TV cabinet into a display piece with a distressed painted finish that pairs well with other cabinets you may already own. Now presiding in the living room, this formerly gray custom cabinet was rejected by its intended purchaser, but the shopowner agreed to paint it black to match Jeannie’s prim palette. It’s now a favorite place for hosting large decorative groupings.
Jeannie enjoys symmetry in her living room—which features reproduction portraits, a pair of wall candle sconces and matching side tables—but instills a touch of asymmetry with the accessories. For example, a single red pillow with a bold design breaks up the repeated graphics. She brings in texture and pattern by layering fabrics, like her favorite country checks, on the sofa and coffee table.
A small Santa perched on a child-size Windsor chair keeps watch over one of the five trees in the house. The twig tree is the centerpiece of the home’s holiday decor, as it is visible from the street.
The massive corner cabinet was found online and balances the other darkpainted furnishings in the living room.