Get inspired by your surroundings.

The 2006 Dream Home is located in Lake Lure, N.C., so interior designer Linda Woodrum was inspired to use rustic furniture with Southern charm. Local carpenters made the railings and large dining table. The top of the table was salvaged from an old textile mill. To complement the table, Woodrum chose comfortable wicker chairs in a muted shade of orange for the seating.

Get the look: Work in a design element with a local story, like a Civil War-era rocking chair or a tabletop salvaged from a historic home. It will naturally work with your surroundings, and you'll have yet another tale to tell around the outdoor table.