Designer John Cole has transformed a standard 1950s ranch into an elegant English country manor with a mix of patterned fabric, floral accessories and an abundant use of color. He shares with Kitty Bartholomew how he created a high-style look fit for casual living:
- Antique and custom-made furniture is paired throughout the house.
- A floral theme in the fabrics, wallpaper and accessories unites every room.
- Accessories are everywhere and in every form--from candelabras in the living room to copper pots in the kitchen. In the living room, almost every inch of wall space is decorated with balanced arrangements of botanical art prints and iron sconces.
- Freehand painting and detailed stenciling adds interest to the trim in the dining room and pass-through.
- Rooms are blended together through the use of color and fabric--the green and white check dining chair fabric is found on the walls in the pass-through.
- Rough-hewn ceiling beams and colorful wallpaper and upholstery allow for a more casual look in the garage-turned-family room. On the back wall, a round oval mirror gives the illusion of depth.
- Aged finishes reinforce the feeling of an English cottage. In the breakfast room, plaster and a 7-layer paint technique adds texture.