The Flaws: Scattered with photographs and tchotchkes, the hutch resembled a cave — you had to peer in with a flashlight to examine its contents. A fanciful birdcage on the top touched the ceiling, making it seem as if the cabinet had been crammed into the room.
The Finds: Both Kate and Charlie had inherited silver teapots, pitchers, and gravy boats from their grandparents, but since they entertain casually, the pieces were languishing in storage.
The Fixes: The birdcage was taken down and put away. Pretty white plates saved for special occasions were brought out. The combination of bright white and shiny silver objects — arranged symmetrically to provide a sense of harmony — had an illuminating effect on the dark wood hutch. It's now a more beautiful place to display a silver-framed photograph of their second son, Sam, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at five months and passed away at age five, in 1998.