In collaboration with designer Barbara Purdy, of Barbara Purdy Design, the team at Anderson & Rodgers Construction worked to give this guest house a clean, farmhouse look in keeping with its horse-farm setting. Bold checked pillows on the sofa and banquette add a hit of color and pattern against a mostly neutral background. “The clients wanted the space to feel bright and open while really maintaining the farmhouse aesthetic. White shiplap was installed on all walls and ceilings, and clean patterns were used on finishes and furniture,” they say.

The floor can be a great, unexpected place to add a pop of pattern—like an oversized check. Here, designer Jeannie Balsam of Jeannie Balsam Interiors used this approach to create a fresh, fun look in the sunroom of a second home. “Situated directly off the first floor’s main gathering rooms, this inviting space was inspired by the sun porches of historical nautical homes. The bold floor, woven blinds, and symmetrical blue valances offer maximum energy and draw you into the space without distracting you from the main attraction: the incredible water views.”

To give a cabin in the Canadian woods a cozy feel, designer Meghan Price of Maple & Plum turned to natural textures and classic rustic patterns. “Nothing feels more like a cabin retreat in the Canadian wilderness than buffalo plaid,” she says. “The bold black and red check pops off of the neutral white-wash wood, birch trees, plywood furniture. And don’t be afraid to mix plaids. By layering the gray wool plaid blanket on the buffalo plaid, we added another level of depth and interest to the space.”

“Designing rooms for kids is fun, but it can be challenging,” say the designers at Butter Lutz Interiors. “Here, we wanted to remain true to the traditional bones of our Spanish Oaks house while giving the boys a bedroom that felt fresh and youthful at the same time. Mixing a large buffalo check on the bed linens in a bold black and white color combination helped give us the balance we wanted.”