Country Style Expert: RANDY FLORKE
In his new book Your House, Your Home Randy Florke, a Country Living contributor and interior decorator whose specialty is preserving vintage farmhouses, shares smart, affordable ways to cozy up your home. Here, Florke's suggestions for small changes that make a big impact.
WHAT ARE SOME CASUAL-CHIC TOUCHES FOR SUMMER? I love weathered lawn furniture inside the house. I also love floral arrangements where garden blooms are mixed with grasses and wildflowers.
HOW DO YOU BRING SUMMER TO ENTERTAINING? Use fruits and vegetables to give your tabletop a twist. Try tying cloth napkins with corn husk. And whenever possible, entertain outdoors. I invited my family to dinner and we put the table at the edge of my property, right where cornfields begin. It gave us a whole different perspective.
WHAT FLEA MARKET FINDS LOOK STYLISH NOW? Antique replicas of houses: Farmers used to make miniature versions of their farmhouses and put holes in them for birds. Over time, the houses took on a beautiful patina. Black or red rotary phones are good too.
OTHER SOURCES FOR TREASURES? I use vintage books as accents, and public libraries often discard collections like beautiful old encyclopedias.
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