Anyone still believing that country style must be limited to farmhouses need only behold the home of Annie Brahler for compelling proof to the contrary. Located in Jacksonville, Ill., the stately, six-bedroom house is a landmark of that city's historic district. On the outside, it is pure architectural sophistication; on the inside, it's ...

The Victorian Cottage, owned by Kate Swope and dating from 1895, is typical of this village of summer homes, with its shingled exterior, charming gables, and small covered entry. A white picket fence and cottage garden complete the picture. Blue & White Entryway A house needs a jumping-off point - ...

Annie and her husband, Whitney, take in the view from the home they rented in Aquinnah on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Adding the colourful touches she is known for, Selke created a home family members could call their own for two weeks. The site and the view, on the oceanfront clay cliffs were spectacular; the ...

When Budapest native Nina Schwinghammer settled in Wellington, Fla., she thought she'd have to sublimate her love of Old World style in favour of the shiny newness of an American neighbourhood of contemporary homes. But upon moving in, she realized that she could, indeed, begin a step-by-step "backdating" of the house. "I had ...

A rich autumnal palette of earthy shades - creamy ivory, golden tan, deep russet, and warm brown - harmonize to transform a Connecticut home into a lovely tone poem. Autumn Hues The earthy warmth of wood is too often lost when a home undergoes a renovation: Floors are covered by ...

A desire to downsize inspired Ann Nicholson to help a neglected North Carolina bungalow on Sunset Drive live up to its glowing name. See how a vivid imagination and pails of yellow paint made this house shine. Bright Living Room Walls had been removed and windows had been added to brighten ...

Virtually everything in the century-old Illinois farmhouse Pat King shares with her husband shows her expert hand — at sewing, painting, restoring, and reinventing. "I like old things and figuring out how to make them work," says Pat King. "Then everyone pitches in." "Everyone" means her husband, Ike, four children, their ...

Designer Hillary Wallace uses country charm to soften the hard edges of a contemporary New York City loft. Hillary offers techniques on working with large open spaces. Cosy Chaise She may be a partner in a prestigious New York City law firm, just in her thirties, who's earned the prize ...

When a collector of valuable blue-and-white Cornish ware came upon a stone former schoolhouse in Pennsylvania, he had the interiors designed to accommodate the colours he had long coveted. Renovated Schoolhouse Decorator Bennett Weinstock was antiquing in New Hope, Pa., with an old friend from Philadelphia's Main Line, when they ...

It was the imperfections of an old house that sold a couple on buying it. Their goal then was to fill it with period furnishings. Antique Cupboard Even though Lucia Ginesin likes every style from "Biedermeier to Bauhaus," she is happy to live in a house without "a single straight line ...

Susan Oostdyk has a knack for salvaging old things. When she started her vintage textile business some years ago, it was a way to marry her love of old fabric with frequent trips to flea markets in France. She bought American quilts and textiles, too, and soon expanded into a shop and upholstery business. ...

Sophisticated, serene, yet kid-friendly, the weekend home of interior designer Victoria Hagan doesn't sacrifice a bit of style. Exterior of Hamptons Home The well-manicured homes and sparkling beaches of the Hampton's make it the summer community of choice for many New York City dwellers. It's also where Victoria Hagan met ...

In Southwest Harbor, Maine, a 19th-century family house is opened up as a stylish destination for travellers. Diane and Jay Speakman are fairly new to the Maine lodging scene, but Rice Cottage has been part of the Southwest Harbor landscape since 1874. Jay's great-grandfather, who ran the town's general store, once ...

Childhood memories are a continual source of inspiration for interior designer Alexandra Stoddard. Stoddard Home Alexandra Stoddard grew up in the countryside and her earliest memories are of her mother's garden. "Ever since I was a little girl, my favourite colours have been those I associate with flowers ...

A dreamy, pure white palette graced with pink and green accents makes an ideal backdrop for a home filled with treasured vintage and roses finds Elegant White Dining Room As owner of The Faded Rose, a home furnishings boutique, Patti Silverman lives and works among the things she loves most, ...