"You can make art from anything," says Heidi Posner, a designer, editor, and painter, whose house in Madison, Wisconsin, proves the point. When autumn comes, and the roses in her garden stop blooming, she begins using the stems and leaves in subtle still lifes. Balls of wool, for Posner's knitting, sometimes serve as decorative objects. If they look good in a bowl, she jokes, they'll probably never become a sweater.

On a round vintage table, Posner gathers simple items in a range of textures -- silky roses, balls of yarn, and books she collects, in part because she likes the fabric on their covers.

Clean, crisp lines are softened with warm-to-the-touch materials in the living room of Heidi Posner's home in Madison, Wisconsin. A shag rug and a sheepskin throw are especially appealing in winter. "It's cold in Wisconsin," she says. "You have to create cozy spots."

A dining room window frames a table from Ikea and a pair of wrought-iron stools, which Posner found on the street in New York City.

Posner's abstract canvases decorate the living room walls; the rug's wavy pattern emulates the play of light and shadows; the lounge chair is a Takeshi Nii design; and the sofa is covered in an easy-to-clean synthetic fabric.

Dining room chairs don't have to match -- collecting compatible singles is like putting together the guest list for a successful dinner party. The upholstered armchair provides an inviting spot on which to perch; the white lacquered chair is a takeoff of a Thonet design by Hermann Czech.

From the stairway, an internal window offers a glimpse of the den's plywood shelves and a mid-century Danish Modern armchair.

Posner added custom cabinets and soapstone countertops in the kitchen.

She uses flora and flea-market finds as a decorative backdrop.

An exterior shot, at dusk; one of the best features of the 1930s house is an abundance of windows.

In the master bedroom, the dresser, bought at the Salvation Army, supports apothecary funnels; it stands beneath a rustic mirror.

Posner's puppy, Moo, in the living room.

A wood ceiling, installed by the original owners, gives a warm touch to the master bedroom, as do the walls, which are painted a pale blue-gray. Everything Posner added to the room has simple lines, from the bed to the square nesting tables; she painted the canvas, and the bedding is from Lands' End.