Creative New Decorating Ideas

When Gretchen and Daniel Scardino moved from New Orleans, La., to Austin, Texas, in 2002, they found the house they wanted right away: a 1907 Victorian with a large porch on a friendly looking block. The only problem: It wasn't for sale! They ended up buying a two-bedroom bungalow across the street from their dream home, but five years later the dream house was up for grabs.

Thanks to a strong offer, the house was theirs. After a series of hapless renovations and weird configurations (it had once served as a school dormitory), the family moved in. Then Gretchen set about filling the home with loads of clever decorating moves. We bet you'll find yourself thinking, "I never thought of that before!"

"My style has always been a bit nonconformist," says Gretchen, which is one of the reasons she combined the modern Bertoia-style chairs, made popular in the 1950s, with the pine farm table from a local flea market in her kitchen. The chairs keep the room from feeling too country.

Rather than more predictable pendants, Gretchen hung two vintage chandeliers over the table. They're similar in style but not identical twins. "Crystal is unexpected in a kitchen," she says. Most likely meant for a powder room, the chandeliers add glamour to the hardest-working place in the house.