When it came to transforming a tiny cottage into a true family home, Donna Francis decided to keep it simple by sticking to a scheme of black and white.








White Kitchen

Soapstone counters, vintage lab stools, and a bank of whitewashed wooden cabinets add to the warmth of an already sunny kitchen.



Tableware

Glassware and pewter chargers gleaned from yard sales and antiques shows fill a hutch in the kitchen.



Family Room Style

The family room boasts an 11-foot-wide aerial photograph of Long Island and a chair covered in black-and-white ticking.



Living Room

In the living room, a Shabby Chic love seat sporting a squiggled slipcover energizes the otherwise neutral scene.




Bedroom

In the house's new addition — designed to look old — Francis splurged on an ebonized four-poster for the master bedroom. She found the oil painting at a local antiques store. A sturdy bench makes a more practical choice than a just-for-show ottoman at the foot of the bed.





photo credit: Keith Scott Morton