To the Brim

Combine stoneware, photographs, greenery and a folkart Santa to turn a dry sink’s basin into a captivating grouping. Hang a wreath above the sink, set a bowl filled with pomegranates on a lower shelf, and drape a textile on the open cabinet door to form visual stepping stones. This furnishing is one of Daniel’s favorite New England–crafted antiques, and it occupies a prime spot in the dining room. “Some things, when found, talk to you. It’s an inner feeling that you must have this in your home,” he says.

Daniel removed a wall between the staircase and dining room to open the stairwell and create a period look. A rustic ceiling beam for hanging baskets complements the millwork that plays host to pinecone-dotted garland. His handiwork serves as an ideal setting for a cupboard filled with stoneware, sewing machines and a Santa chocolate mold.