A Distinct Interior in Menlo Park, Calif.

Fresh ideas for every room: Step inside our Menlo Park Idea House for creative ways to mix secondhand finds and vintage treasures with new furnishings and eco-friendly materials.

It's how we decorate now: A flea market file cabinet sits next to a new European sofa. Inexpensive modular furniture transforms a loft. Unusual groupings of art bring pictures to life.

Inspiration: A varied collection of art has more impact when grouped together.

Set against a light-colored niche wall in the dining room, this salon-style installation by Lost Art Salon is a focal point and an irresistible conversation starter.

Steal this idea: Instead of painting an accent wall, create a quilt of artwork and hang the pieces from the ceiling to the baseboard.

Inspiration: Benjamin Moore's steel blue Flint (AF-560) creates a distinctly elegant mood in the living room. Affordable curtains from Ikea add a light, soft touch.

Steal this idea: In a room with lots of light, try experimenting with a dark paint. Paint the ceiling a lighter color to bring the eye up and heighten the space.

Inspiration: The back of this media shelving wall is painted a dark pumpkin to draw the eye and create the look of a niche. The fireplace facade is clad in a stone veneer from Eldorado Stone. A dark-colored concrete tile from Smith-Laredo defines the fireplace hearth.

Steal this idea: Add textural interest to cabinetry with inserts. Here, we used metal mesh inserts from SoReal to contrast with the warm bamboo and complement the gray floors.

Inspiration: The crisp clean design of this blue and white kitchen is layered with pops of energetic color. The red drum pendant from Croft & Little illuminates the bamboo island top from Teragren. Glass-front cabinets provide a showcase for a collection of colorful pottery.

Steal this idea: The bamboo-topped table on casters tucks under the island and can roll away for use throughout the house or outside. Mixing up the chair styles adds casual appeal.

Inspiration: Wall-to-wall modular desks from Ikea make best use of space in a narrow loft. The playful family spot is accented with colorful throw pillows from Reclaim and bench seat fabric from Sunbrella.

Steal this idea: Create a family message center using a montage of cork tiles and magnetic white boards

Inspiration: For kids' changing tastes, inexpensive style is the way to go. The album headboard is made of plywood, plexiglass, and vintage album covers found at a recycled books store. The window shade is from Ikea, dressed up with vinyl decals from BLIK Surface Graphics.

Steal this idea: The plexiglass face on the album headboard can easily be removed to change the album art or insert photos or fabric.

Inspiration: A sunny yellow paint, Benjamin Moore’s Soleil (AF-330), paired with white furnishings creates youthful cheer in this girl’s room. Collage art from Petit Collage and curtain fabric from Sunbrella add bold pops of color.

Steal this idea: Add instant, affordable art to kids wall with vinyl graphics. White floral decals from BLIK Surface Graphics are easy to apply and remove.

Inspiration: This guest room is styled for use as a home library or chill-out space once the overnight visitors go home. The sofa bed offers a quiet spot for cozying up with a book and a cup of tea.

Steal this idea: The colorful Moroccan coffee table from Rooms&Gardens picks up the colors used throughout the room. It’s a functional piece of both art and furniture.

Inspiration: Pale sage-colored walls contrast with a tangerine floral wallpaper in this quiet master suite. The green and purple pattern in the felted wool rug from Peace Industry highlights the room's accent colors.

Steal this idea: The mantle headboard was made with foam architectural trim from Fypon. It’s an affordable and lightweight alternative to wood.

Inspiration: Rich walnut cabinetry adds a warm touch to the relaxing spa bath. Deep, open shelves provide visual interest and plenty of space for towels and bath accessories.

Steal this idea: Instead of covering a window with drapery, apply a vinyl window film. Here, we used frosted adhesives from Vinyl Designyl to cover the lower portions of the windows.