Add Patina to Your New Home

Consider adding natural materials in other places, too. "People are often seduced by new construction because all of that shine, and gleam can be refreshing, especially if you've previously lived in a creaky old house," says Susan Fredman, a Chicago designer. "But I try to tell my clients that it's okay for surfaces to have a little movement to them, a little change as they age. Stones like granite and limestone can chip, copper gets a patina, wood can peel and crack."