Sheila Bridges with guest Frank Faulkner in his unconventional home, a converted church, in New York's Hudson Valley.

• Decommissioned churches have been transformed into dance clubs, concerts areas and art galleries.
  
• When painting, refer to historic color charts for shades that might have been used when your home was built.
  
• A few layers of industrial varnish over painted floors give a glossy resilience comparable to marble.
  
• Stacked books add architectural detail when placed in strategic spots other than in bookshelves.

Designer's Notebook

• Consider the natural structure of your unusual space and work with it rather than changing it.
  
• Check for hazardous materials, like lead paint and asbestos.
  
• Expose original brickwork, plaster and pipes to give your home a unique edge.
  
• Create fixtures or furnishing out of materials original or organic to the space.
  
• In extremely large spaces, choose oversized furnishings, and then arrange in clusters.
  
• Before you buy, arrange a building inspection. Make sure your unusual home is a hit, not a money pit.

Sheila's Fab Finds

• Roman or Greek Busts
  From $38
  www.statue.com

• White Cotton Slipcovers
  From $69
  www.surefit.com

• 16-inch Natural Male Manikin to use as a lamp base
  $33
  Pearl Art Center,
  www.pearlpaint.com
  

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  Sheila Bridges: Designer Living : Episode FLSBD-206
  •	Remodeled Church Home
  •	Brooklyn Clock Tower Home
  •	Manhattan Rooftop Tent Home