The colorful house welcomes an extra burst of character this time of year.
“This wasn’t a house that I put together instantly,” he says.
“I collected these ideas while we waited until we could do it right.”
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
“This keeps it festive without taking away from the decoration of the house,” Katie says.
“It’s a design opportunity that can be missed if you don’t pay attention to it.”
Tiles are a less-expensive alternative to stone, he says, and are a subtle way to boost style.
“In rooms with neutral sofas, tile adds a little bit more pattern.”
This crescent tile replicates one he found in a Charleston shop and saved for years.
The tile also inspired the inset stars on the island and upper cabinetry.
“It was a cool detail to mimic throughout the kitchen,” he says.
“No one gets excited about plain drywall,” he says.
This year’s annual Christmas cookie-making marathon with friends put the Howards' kid-friendly kitchen to the test.
Unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware warm up the cool tones in the white kitchen.
Andrew isn’t worried about the maintenance or the finish’s current “it status” fading.
“I’m good with surfaces wearing out and looking like they’ve been used,” he says.
“And brass is not trendy.
It’s in 200-year-old houses in London.”
“Chairs don’t have to back in and out, so it saves some space.”
The vinyl-covered seat is home base for all their meals (and making gingerbread houses and clove-covered oranges).
It’s so popular with the boys that Andrew rarely scores a spot there.
In an inspired moment of DIY, he painted stars on the pendant’s drum shade.
“Anywhere I can do something, I will,” he says.
he points out) in a rich Prussian blue, the deep sofa, and a wallpapered ceiling.
The custom bamboo-and-leaf mural is meant to surprise guests, but its durability is even more unexpected.
For the same reason, the baseboards are painted rather than stained.
Underfoot, he laid a tough-as-nails, easy-to-mop porcelain tile fromMosaic House.
“If the Kennedys did it, then it has to be cool.”
“We have the best of both worlds,” Andrew says.
A fresh bay leaf garland and knit stockings from Sundance Catalog enhance the cheer.
Take A Chance
Andrew suggests experimenting in a guest bedroom because it will rarely be used.
“It felt like a smoother transition than having just white,” he says.
A vintage rattan four-poster bed and nightstand match the exuberance of the walls.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Liz Strong
