Before the remodel, this stairway landing was, in Sam's words, awkward as hell. But now, with the addition of oversize square poufs and new finishes, it's the most popular gathering spot in the house. "We love the wallpaper," says April. "It gave us the idea to use silver and gold throughout the interior. It's actually peeling and flaking." The wallpaper is a rugged backdrop for the couple's frame collection, trophies of many flea market expeditions. "They were empty when we bought them, but we got the idea put quirky things in them," says April. Today, they surround everything from a Kewpie doll to a jackalope head.

The couple had planned to mount old doors from a Tenderloin gym on barn track over the entry to the bedroom, but when it didn't work out, the vendor mentioned that he had an airplane door from the first Pan Am airplane to complete a transatlantic flight. Sam and April's response: "YES!" The door, now illuminated, adds an industrial air to the space.