Formal Affair

Lend a sense of formality to a room meant as a respite in a busy household. Appoint the retreat with antique portraits, punched-tin lighting and prim-upholstered seating. Harness the appeal of antiques by repurposing cast-off objects to deepen the character of the space. In the den, the base of a dough box becomes a coffee table, and an old stool is refreshed with a cushion fashioned from a textile that matches others in the room. “I always have to be doing something creative or I feel lost,” Daniel admits.

Before the holiday season, Daniel edits the collections that he exhibits in and around antiques such as this handsome butler’s desk in the den. He packs away pewter and stoneware pieces to make room for Santa figures, greenery and candles—but some timeless displays, like the pewter measuring cups atop the wall cabinet he built, remain in place. ★

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 112.