When Beth Hunter, the creative talent behind Home Stories A to Z, moved to her home in South Carolina, she faced the challenge of redecorating an awkwardly shaped great room that sprawls into the kitchen and opens to multiple other rooms. Adding to the design challenge, it only received natural light from windows in connecting rooms, but had no windows of its own. Hunter rose to the challenge, and by using a vintage, shabby-chic inspired décor, she created a space that was more functional, beautiful, cozy and inviting for her family to spend time together.

Hunter said one of her greatest initial complaints with the great room was its lack of windows and natural light. Beyond a personal preference, artificial light alters the perception of color and, as a result, makes decorating more difficult. For a vintage, country-inspired shabby-chic interior, access to bright and airy natural light is a crucial finish for the look. Since windows weren’t an option for Hunter’s great room, skylights provided a natural answer for Hunter’s design.