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the sofas and coffee tables needed to be a bit bigger, too. Otherwise the furniture would be overwhelmed." This was especially true in the communal living, breakfast, and kitchen areas that flow into each other. "It's quite a large space, so we separated and defined individual areas with pendant lights and rugs." Antique Oushak rugs are a favorite to use, but they're hardly big enough to work solo in these rooms, so the solution was to layer them over large custom-sized sisal rugs. Antique Oushaks work well in households with kids, she says, because of their forgiving handwoven nature, with natural variations in dyes and patterns. "Oushaks are popular right now so there are a lot of mass-produced new ones out there without the artistic nature. Find an old one you love, and it'll stand the test of time." The homeowners now have three children, but you might never suspect it because the house looks so crisp and refined. "We used a lot of Romo, Thibaut, and Mulberry Home upholstery, which wear really well," Brous says. "Thibaut even does tutorials where they put a Sharpie or ketchup on the fabric and show you how to get it out with dish soap." After all, Madre is all about creating family-friendly interiors. "We both have kids and juggle Madre like it's another child," Brous says. "We know what we're doing from experience." Oh, and if you're wondering whether the interiors were finished on schedule — they were. "Everything was perfect and party-ready," she says. 58