Brown furniture isn’t exactly trending, but designer Nikki Dalrymple of Wellesley-based Acquire is confident that it’s on its way back in. “The trick is to use it sparingly, mixing in modern accents and colorful textiles,” she says. Dalrymple recently worked with an empty nester who brought a handful of wood pieces from her home in Denver to her new 1,700-square-foot condo in the Back Bay. Using the furniture as the starting point and adding globally inspired patterns, rich artwork, and quirky accessories, Dalrymple devised a design in which the relics come to life.

Galbraith Paul Lotus wallpaper in the entry establishes a worldly vibe. “She showed me boho-global inspiration photos, so I wasn’t going to suggest anything geometric,” Dalrymple says. The secretary desk, which the homeowner inherited from her parents, is the perfect hold-all for keys, electronics, and mail. Dalrymple upgraded the chair with a watercolor-like patterned velvet cushion; the homeowner’s Nantucket basket bags add playful texture.

In the living room, Art Deco prints inject a burst of bright yellow. “We both love antique portraits,” says Dalrymple. “This is a modern, cheeky update.” Clean-lined armchairs with striped interior cushions lend an urban feel, while stylized florals keep things feminine. The glass-front bookshelf, which has made many moves with the homeowner, showcases antique volumes and souvenir shell boxes.

（Source: bostonglobe.com）