The Challenges

Patti and Todd Bender were at a loss for decorating ideas when it came to the living room in their mod 1950s tract house north of San Francisco. They bought a leather couch and a sleek armchair, hoping the pieces would update their pine furniture basics. Instead, they just made the room look hodgepodge.

• Zero color: White walls and bland hues left the room lifeless.
• Tired table: This boring pine design occupied center stage.
• Random mix: A mod chair was mismatched with bulky furniture.