Antique Linen creates settings that are both bright and brimming with classic elegance. Combine stately Old World elegance and dignity with a bright, sunny personality. That may seem like an impossible order, as the Old World theme is very often expressed as dark and heavy. But the Showplace Antique Linen offering gave the owners of this lovely family home the freedom to express their own bright vision.

Showplace Antique finishes capture the flavor of aged painted surfaces. The Linen tone is a warm off-white, while the silver-grey Pewter glazing picks out detail, and gives the impression of decades of character.

The large U-shaped kitchen is centered by a functional, granite-topped island. A pleasing spatial balance is achieved with wall cabinets that alternate between closed, open and glass-doored styles, varying in height and depth. Valances, corbels and feet add elements of detail and harmonious repeating shapes. The upper border provides bold definition with its stacked crown and dentil moldings.

Take note of the stylish interplay of textures. The smooth surfaces of the raised-panel Covington door style, the linear flow of beaded panels, and the geometric precision of the dentil moldings harmonize to keep the design vivid, dynamic, and full of life.

Mullion glass doors are adjacent to the window, giving a sense of harmony and balance to the design. Note how the Pewter glazing "hangs up" in areas of textural detail, drawing attention and suggesting an aged surface. Stacked moldings and intersecting angles add to the exuberant personality of this lovely design.

With historic sold-color appeal and the durability of the Showplace catalyzed varnish finish, Antique Linen combines the best of old and new. Note the many authentic details, like the Rosette corbel and beaded end panel.

The Showplace Antique finishes can be created with any of four glazing tones. The kitchen and fireplace surround used the sliver-gray Pewter glazing to maximize the aged, historic personality of the rooms. In the master bath, an Ivory glaze was selected, creating a slightly brighter, cleaner look. The his-and-hers layout of this bath is sleek and functional, with strong linear themes. The mirror recesses are topped with graceful Roman valances, while an understated crown molding caps the creation. Note how the large textured glass doors bring subtle translucency and visual variety to an inherently limited space.

Showplace Antique finishes are offered on a wide variety of door styles. The raised-panel, cope and stick Covington door style used here is a timeless classic that will never look dated. It offers a detailed decorator edge profile that works well with glazed finishes. The solid raised center panel of Covington also displays glazing well, and gives each door a solid, substantial heft.