From a surfboard that doubles as a coffee table to a canoe mounted from the ceiling, we love these design ideas because they're unexpected - and unforgettable.
1. Surfboard Coffee Table
Purchased from a vendor who makes tables out of vintage surfboards and skis, the coffee table in the family room of this Cape Cod beach house gives the room a relaxed, lived-in feel. "Every room should have something that makes you smile," says designer Annie Selke.
Related: The Year's Hottest Color
2. Mirrored Cabinet Doors
With a mission to transform a small and narrow Brooklyn townhouse into a family home fit for four girls, designer Jonathan Berger corrected the home's layout and added chic, feminine touches throughout. The antiqued mirrored glass on the kitchen cabinet doors helps enlarge the space while also adding girly, glamorous style.
Related: Home Offices for Every Style
3. Rattan Hanging Chair
The sunroom of fashion designer Liz Lange's Westchester home is both chic and cheeky, thanks to a playful, swinging seat selected by designer Jonathan Adler.
Related: 20 Decorating Secrets
4. Canoe as Ceiling Decor
Inspired by a restaurant in Vermont, the pantry of an Idaho barn-style house by architects Sandra Vlock and Glenn Arbonies harbors a wood canoe in winter. It also coordinates perfectly with the home's classic American style.
Related: A Confident and Colorful L.A. Home
5. Upside Down Mirror
When a window left little room for an above-the-sink mirror in the guest bath of a Malibu home, designer Lawrence Rizkowsky looked up instead - mounting a shaving-style one from the ceiling.
Related: A Hollywood Regency-Style Apartment
6. Easel TV Stand
In order to bring lightness and ease to this 1970s Palm Beach condo, designer Vicente Wolf repurposed a Magasin Sennelier French oak easel on wheels into a moveable TV stand. By floating it in the room, rather than pushing it up against the wall, Wolf created the illusion of a larger space.
Related: Designer Living Rooms
7. Chandelier Bulletin Board
Ellen O'Neill's apartment in Manhattan is a tiny studio, so she needs extra space anywhere she can find it. Turning to the ceiling, her "bulletin board" is Ingo Maurer's Zettel'z 5 chandelier. O'Neill uses it to hold notes, lists, directions, sketches, and even a hat.
Related: Quick and Easy Makeover Ideas
8. Gingham Ceiling
To bring a suburban New York home's extremely high ceilings down to a more comfortable place, designer Gideon Mendelson had Silvère Bureau paint a graphic design on canvas. Then he installed it above the kitchen island, which he painted a custom pea-green color.
Related: Expert Kitchen Tips and Ideas
9. Rope Railing
Designer and television personality Thom Filicia created a modern and classic interior for a Designer Visions showhouse. For the staircase, he chose heavy rope in place of a traditional railing and angled the runner to reveal a hint of bare floor.
Related: Colorful Kitchens
What unexpected decor do you have on display in your home?
More from House Beautiful:
- One-Day Home Makeover: Before and After Photos
- Brilliant Ideas for a Tiny Kitchen
- Eye-Popping Headboard Designs
- Bedroom Designs We Love
- Get More Creative Ideas for Your Home: Subscribe to House Beautiful Magazine
