STYLE : The Last Detail

You’ve finally moved in. The furniture is in place. The cat may even be curled up on the sofa. But often a new house--or even a renovated one--doesn’t feel quite complete at first. What it needs are the finishing touches, the little details that personalize a house and ultimately make it feel like home. The answer could be a welcoming vase of sunflowers on an entry table, some artfully displayed collections or a dining room lit entirely by candles.

Perhaps the most popular trend this season is rooms that recall a more genteel time and place. A basic ingredient of this romantic approach is fabric--yards of it, draped, swagged and poufed. Soft lighting sets the stage--chandeliers, some outfitted with candles rather than bulbs, are making a comeback, as are tole lamps. Also lending period ambience are smaller items such as antique pillows, pear pomanders, herbal topiaries and wreaths tied with faded roses.

But finishing touches are just as important in modern houses and those with classical features. Here, and on the following pages, Southern California architects, designers, landscapers, artists and retailers share other easily adaptable--and often inexpensive--ideas for creating character and charm.