Before: The Room

When Patti and Todd Bender decided to leave San Francisco to make room for their daughter, Grace, 2 1/2, they weren’t looking for a modern house. On the contrary, the couple loved their city apartment’s classic crown moldings and period detailing. Yet they couldn’t help falling for a mod 1950s tract house north of San Francisco. Floor-to-ceiling windows and knockout views helped bring about the change of heart. “It really felt like California living,” says Patti, 41, a marketing executive.

When it came time to decorate, though, Patti and Todd were at a loss. Their first stop? Modernist mecca Design Within Reach. “We were looking for comfortable designs with a modern look,” explains Todd, 41, a sales executive. They came back with a leather couch and a sleek armchair, hoping the pieces would update their pine furniture basics. Instead, they just made the room look hodgepodge. “We had no idea how to pull it all together,” admits Patti. Or how to give it personality: White and beige ruled the roost.

But with Real Simple’s direction, the Benders were able to solidify their style, use the furniture they had, and transform their living room from blah to beautiful in a single weekend. And with the tips, tricks, and timeline on the following pages, so can you.

The Challenges

Patti and Todd’s living room has good light and space to spare — but a boring color scheme, mismatched furnishings, and an odd arrangement did nothing to maximize the room’s assets.

No Focus: Without art or a mantel, the fireplace was lost.

Open Shelves Ugly electronics and messy wires were left exposed.

Zero Color: White walls and bland hues left the room lifeless.

Tired Table: This boring pine design occupied center stage.

Clutter: Framed photos got lost on overstuffed shelves.

Random Mix: A mod chair was mismatched with bulky furniture.