This creative Californian breaks the decorating rules and lives large in her tiny ‘sheet metal chateau.’ By Rose Bennett Gilbert ulti-talented artist Rebecca A. Sutton took one look at the dingy little mobile home she was about to buy near Santa Cruz, California, and saw herself living in a palace. It was a small palace, to be sure, but only in terms of its actual floorspace (just 1,000 square feet total). “I get these visions...” says Rebecca. She brings those inspirations to life with a paintbrush, toolbox or sewing machine, thanks to her kaleidoscopic background experiences: She’s been graphic artist, professional seamstress, antiques dealer, make-up artist, and hairdresser to the stars.

An old French crystal chandelier sheds sparkle on the tiny (10 x 10-foot) dining ell. Rebecca replaced yellow plastic door fronts on wall cupboards with chicken wire, painted black. Banishing mobile home homeliness, Rebecca plastered over the vinyl-covered walls and chose neutral colors to set off antiques in her 13 x 27-foot living room. Stripped of its upholstery, a wrought-iron bench-cum-coffee-table complements the antique wood-burning stove. PHOTOS: bill mathews; styling: gloria gale

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