The combination of multiple fabrics creates an effect that's anything but ordinary. When making a tract-home into a custom escape, the more unique the better.

A stunning home is more than a lavish piece of property; it is an extension of the people that reside within. You can tell much about a family just by taking that first step through their French doors. With so much attention placed on the idea of modern luxury and sharp, distinctive home adornments, it is difficult to find a home furnished with natural, soft colors, rustic influence and antique-inspired furniture. Still, it's these qualities that make new homes feel lived-in, comfortable, nostalgic, safe.

Without the discovery of the Stevenson Ranch dwelling featured in the following pages, we would have thought cottages were a thing of the past. With a specific vision and an amazing design team in tow, Cort and Nancy Howell received the home of their dreams.

Cynthia Piana and Lori Souza, the powers-that-be behind Piana Designs, one of the most sought-after interior design firms in Southern California, are directly responsible for turning the Howell's 5-year-old home into a cottage retreat. They were hired by the Howells to transform the approximately 3,000-square-foot home into a vintage cottage.

This chic pink bedroom has everything a girl could want, all the way down to the fuzzy slippers.

The smooth country hues Piana Design selected for the interior of the home gently encourage lucky guests into an emotional place of calmness. The pair used luscious butternut shades in the entryway as a visual means of greeting the owners and guests alike and preparing them for the jaunt into the remainder of the home. Entrants are visually drawn through to the family room where the walls' coloring is reminiscent of baby artichokes. Piana says that the team chose "sun-warmed hues because they embrace you with warmth. We also used berry accents to make the room come alive."

After learning of Nancy Howell's affinity for all things garden, Piana Design was inspired to reflect this sentiment throughout the home's walls. Antique accents and an outdoorsy feel make the home a cozy retreat, where if you closed your eyes, you would be transported to a remote location deep within the lavish foliage of an abode circa 1920. The pinch of roses laced throughout the house gives off an ultra-feminine influence along with the hint of pinks and rouges. The cobblestone columns that surround the front of the house also allude to the interior's rural flare.

The appearance of fresh produce or dried flowers blurs the line between interior and exterior. Bringing a bit of nature inside the house is a simple way to add color and charm.

Nature's feathered friends also played a large role in the design of the home. Piana and Souza embraced their client's adoration of birds by adding birdhouses into the wholistic design. These small reminders of nature blend beautifully with the vintage cottage-feel of the home. For example, in the dining room you'll find a bird nested inside a large chandelier. She perches delicately above the crystal beaded light-fixture. A family of spry robins also is featured in the home. This group adorns a pillow on one of the dining room chairs. In true Piana Design fashion, the pillow fits perfectly with the designer and vintage fabrics that cover big overstuffed sitting pieces. Piana states, "All of the fabrics selected were vintage, and many of the fabrics were imported from France and Italy. Some of the fabrics were reproductions of prints from the early 1900s."

There is nothing harsh or contemporary in the Howells' home. Each hidden nook contains another tiny whisper that conveys the cottage's interior message. Your home is where the heart is, and you can tell that the Howells are quite content in their comfortable quarters. The same goes for guests. Everything, from the shades used for wall coverings to the comfortable, relaxed furniture, is inviting.

The home is reminiscent of an English countryside resort, charming and sophisticated, yet untarnished by egos and power. The romantic elements combine with the luxurious layout for a comfortable escape from reality.

Possibly the most surprising aspect of this tract-home transformation is just that - the Howells don't live on a European vista, but the creation of such an original and prevalent atmosphere on the interior implies nothing less.