At almost every turn in Anne Grubb’s house there’s a well-composed still-life moment. But this is no museum set full of fine antiques and precious untouchables. The 1921 Colonial Revival home is an eclectic yet uncluttered realm full of finds from garage and estate sales, antique and junk markets, retail catalogs, even an occasional roadside cast-off. Each room is layered with earthly neutral hues and a mix of soft traditional patterns and furnishings that play alongside modern accents and personal art.
 
As an incurable shopper, Anne thrives on the hunt, easily swinging from scouring an upscale market to making a tablecloth from a bedsheet. “It’s all about color and style, and what catches my eye,” she says.

It’s also about layering. Anne often starts with wallpaper, which she uses more as a paint color than the room’s major focal point. “Wallpaper does so much to help soften a room,” she says. Then she freely mixes styles—French Regency chairs, Chinoiserie chests, Victorian breakfronts—with modern sofas and lamps. She adds framed prints, old books, her children’s artwork, and sentimental treasures.

To pull it all together, Anne relies on symmetry and repeating colors. Pink is a design thread that now runs from the front door—painted a soft peony color—to subtle touches through the house. “Funny thing is, I never really liked the color until recently,” she says.

Anne’s love of collecting and her decorating style may have deeper roots. “I had an Italian father and Danish mother; he loved what was ornate and heartfelt; she wanted streamlined and modern,” she says. “When I look around here I see that both can work together. Essentially, that’s my style because of them, and it’s a sweet thing to realize.”

Shopping: “Go anyplace that has interesting goods, and then work quickly on instinct. I’ve always hated shopping with other people because I like to go in and scan. Usually what I like will jump out at me fairly quickly. If nothing does, I like to move on.”

Display: “I don’t like things that match for matching’s sake, but I do like symmetry. It’s easy on the eye and puts people instantly at ease.”

Rugs: “I started collecting old—I mean, really old and decrepit—Oriental rugs because I love the muted color and softness. And they were cheaper, especially when smaller. I’d ask the rug merchant to see the rugs that were in the lunchroom, maybe, or rolled up in a dusty corner. I also look for them at estate sales, and rotate them around the house.” Freshening: “Many people don’t realize how easily they can change the look of a room just by changing the lampshade.” Anne prefers paper ones, which are more affordable, and she keeps a stash in the basement.”

Comfort: “Nothing is sacred in this house. We like to live in every room in the house, so we prefer furniture that will withstand a good plopping into.”

Adding life: “You have to have fresh flowers in a place, I think. Even if you just go pull some branches off a tree or bush. That just seems to make everything and everyone feel alive.”

Copyright 2007 by Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. All rights reserved.
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