The dining room photo gallery
includes barn wood frames as
well asprofessionally framed
photos.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

With Ann's family in Ohio and Ilkka's in Finland, it's important to the couple that their Los Angeles kids know their relatives -- family photos decorate and educate.

Purchased frames made from painted barn wood compose a colorful, casual backsplash in the kitchen. The dining room gallery is slightly dressier, with neutral-color barn wood among professionally framed photos.

Ann's knack for mixing extends to the furniture. Sturdy dining room seating consists of a new painted bench and old school-house chairs. In the kitchen, new iron chairs beside an old table give the kids a place to write stories while Dad cooks dinner.

Ann believes that, like their furniture, she and Ilkka are the ideal mix. She co-owns The Gate House, a decorating business in L.A. Nearby, Ilkka works in his furniture shop. Under Cover. "It's every designer's dream to be married to a furniture makes," she says jokingly.