Bungalow Decorating

Modern Furniture Vs. Craftsman Style

Q: We recently moved into a 1929 bungalow. Do you have suggestions on how to keep the older charm of the house while using some more modern furniture pieces that we already own?

A: As most bungalows tend to be small with relatively low ceilings, we recommending keeping furniture spare so that the beautiful qualities of the bungalow—perhaps wood floors and window frames, stone fireplace, exposed ceiling, and wall beams—shine through.

Furnishings made of natural wood, which is more in line with the Craftsman style of the era, will blend better than those that are painted. Some modern furniture will blend better if reupholstered in fabrics with warm tones such as amber, gold, and honey, with touches of yellow, red, or green.

If your pieces are extremely modern, made of stainless steel and black leather, for instance, you might have to surrender to the fact that you'll have an eclectic home.