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One after another, ideas flow from Frank Peixoto’s imagination. The 1876 farmhouse he purchased with his partner Carlos in March 2020 in Norwich’s Bean Hill district exemplifies what he describes as his “coastal farmhouse inspiration.”

“Even though we’re not directly on the water, we specifically picked Norwich because you have everything. You have that farm life, but you also have the water right downtown” with the “docks, boats and everything. So it’s kind of the best of both worlds. So really, Norwich is a little hidden secret,” he said on a cold March day.

Set back from the road on almost two acres of land, this vinyl-sided house at 97 Vergason Ave. Ext. features a front porch with bordering sea grass during the summer months. A starfish adorns every window.

Inside, there are high ceilings on both floors and plaster walls; large curved windows bring the light inside, while many closets offer storage space and original, wide floorboards flow throughout the home.

The entire 1,800-square-foot house was dark when the Peixotos purchased it, so the first thing they did was paint everything white, said Frank, who refers to himself as a “home stylist” instead of an interior decorator, because that’s a little stuffy for him. “They (interior decorators) tend to do more remodels and fabrics and window treatments. To be honest with you, I’m against window treatments because you need natural light in a house,” which “just makes everything look better.”

If you need privacy, he suggested creating it with “blocks,” like a sofa which goes half way up the window, leaning artwork on window sills or propping old-fashioned shutters against the window and wall.

He always suggests his clients use one neutral wall color throughout the home and accent with pillows, rugs (and curtains if you wish). Right now, he said, their home “is pretty monotone, but in the spring I’ll add blues. In the summertime, I’ll add red, white and blue because of the obvious time of year. Christmastime you can add a little bit of red. We tend to keep it more coastal because I still like the blue family.”

Frank also uses twigs and branches inside and outside of their home. “I can’t keep plants alive,” he said laughing.

The Peixotos also whitewashed all their furniture. This process involves sanding all the furniture down so the paint will adhere to it. Then apply a white coat of flat primer. When it dries, add another flat paint for a rustic appearance with no shine. Later, “just sand areas to give it more of a distressed look, so it looks worn over the years. Some of the original color will come through a little bit,” Frank said.

He happily shared many other tips: Instead of storing tennis racquets in a closet, hang them on a wall. Don’t need a bureau anymore? Remove the drawers; use the bottom of each to create a bookcase. Paint it for a whole new look.

Also, baskets can be used in numerous ways. Leave them in guest bedrooms for people to put their products in and place holiday gifts in them under the tree at Christmastime.

For a spa-like effect in bathrooms, place wrapped towels in baskets, or add candles, little soaps or whatever interests you. Good lighting is important too. To create a softer atmosphere, Frank painted the walls gray in his bathroom.

When working with clients, he said his goal is to have their homes looking just as expensive as those in magazines “without breaking the bank.”

For this to happen, furniture pieces must work together and balance each other, he said. “I always look at the windows in the rooms to see what works better.”

Initially, when Frank arrives to assess situations, he said, “They want to get rid of everything and I’m like, ‘Are you kidding me? Save this and paint it this color (and sometimes change the hardware) and move this into this room because this would make a great whatever.’”

Frank also advises people not to get a colored sofa in the living room, because you’re going to get tired of it eventually. “Get pops of color through your pillows every season or your blankets, or your rugs, things that you can remove.”

The Peixotos’ home offers many creative examples of “restyling” on a budget: Scrubbed and oiled barn feeders with storage space serve as a center island (on wheels) and window seat in the kitchen and sideboard in the dining room. An ugly throwaway couch with great “lines” finds new life with a slipcover in the living room. Slender outdoor tables with “clean lines are used throughout the home,” he said because “there are no obstructions and it makes the rooms look a little larger.”

Also, creating collections on little tables in each room establishes “little moments,” Frank said. Then during each holiday, a color or theme (such as a bunny for Easter) can be added.

In one of the bedrooms, he utilized blue painter’s tape to create a horizontal wall stripe. Frank also created a whale picture with a $6 frame and a $2 sticker. The backing from that sticker was used to repeatedly trace and paint the design over one wall, creating a focal point in a bedroom. He came up with the idea after the roll of wallpaper he liked cost $300.

Originally their home was heated with stoves, so Frank created a fake fireplace where the chimney is. Additionally, long pieces of a picnic table from their property used long ago are repurposed – something he said is important to him “for some reason.” One piece forms a narrow table at the foot of his bed.

Another piece is utilized as the sign, “The White Cottage” over their shop where they hold inviting “pop-up” tag sales in front of their home. They feature coastal farmhouse décor and gifts, which changes every season and holiday. Items range from candles, wreaths, homemade pillows and signs to beach-themed towels, jugs, Christmas ornaments, pictures and bunnies and whales made by a wood craftsman.

Some of the goods they purchase from local vendors.

“That’s important to me. There are such talented people around here, so we’re trying to get some of their goods in here too,” Frank said. Items can also be purchased online.

The inspiration for The White Cottage came from many neighbors complimenting the Peixotos on how they were transforming their yard and the home’s exterior, he said. This led to tours inside, fascination with the décor they chose and questions, “How did you think of this? Where did you get this? Where do you get your ideas?” said Frank, adding sometimes people leave throwaway items outside for him.

Stopping by for the first time to shop for home-staging items, Realtor Cindy Cingranelli-Tagliaferri of Priority Real Estate Group LLC of Lisbon said she was glad to hear that Frank stages homes for people, because there aren’t “any staging companies” in this part of Connecticut.

She said she stages clients’ “homes with what they have. I try and move things. I always do a consult appointment before they list to tell them what to get rid of, but there’s always things lacking.”

Cingranelli-Tagliaferri agreed staging a home before putting it on the market can raise the sales price by thousands of dollars.

Frank said people are already seeking his help in redecorating their homes — some say they’re spending much more time at home since the pandemic began and want to change the way it looks.

This falls in line with his personal philosophy. “I would rather invest my money first in where I’m going to spend most of my time, because to me it brings me joy when I walk through the door.”

Instead of commuting to their sales directing and banking jobs in New York City, the Peixotos opted for a simpler life. Frank now works as a manager at the Banana Republic in Clinton and Carlos is a Montville Town Assessor.

They also enjoy meeting neighbors who fondly remember “sleepovers” with the former family. The father was a doctor; the mother was a schoolteacher, Frank said.

“The son robbed a bank and rumor has it that he hid the money in the barn, but the money was never found. The mother turned him in.”

For home-styling/staging consultations, call 959-217-3178. To sign up for the mailing list or to find out more about The White Cottage CT and when they’re holding their next tag sale, go to Facebook or Instagram: thewhitecottage.ct. Order items online by going to thewhitecottagect.square.site.

Jan Tormay, a longtime Norwich resident, now lives in Westerly.

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