American Farmhouse Style – June 2019

JUNE/JULY 2019 • 57

Architecture and décor can, and should, work together. See how Gary Brewer, an architect and a homeowner,

uses décor to emphasize the architecture.

HOW TO COMPLEMENT

ARCHITECTURE WITH DÉCOR

Focus on architecture first. For Gary,

decorating is secondary to highlighting the

architecture. Make sure you draw the eye

toward architectural details such as exposed

ceiling beams, window trim, wainscoting,

and wall siding by not blocking them with

furniture or window coverings. Of course,

an architectural emphasis doesn’t mean you

can’t decorate well—Gary still took great care

in the furnishings he chose.

Add contrast. “The best rooms are those

that have a lot of architectural detail, such

as window casings and trim,” Gary says.

When renovating his home, he made sure

to accentuate these details. Part of this was

using colors. The window and door frames in

the kitchen really stand out because they are

painted green while the casings are white.