Sunbursts

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Louis XIV was born in 1638 and was crowned king of France at the age of 5. He reigned for 72 years - a "golden century" during which France was the most powerful political and cultural force in Europe. Louis XIV enjoyed absolute sovereignty, which he believed was a God-given right. He moved his court from Paris to the Chateau de Versailles in 1682 - a strategy that allowed him to keep watch over his nobles and prevent them from rebelling against him. Versailles, with its Hall of Mirrors, was a fitting home for a monarch who chose the sun as his symbol. The sun god was Apollo, the patron of music, poetry and truth. Louis XIV, the Sun King, surrounded himself with the best artists and playwrights of the time. According to the <a href="http://en.chateauversailles.fr/" target="_blank">Chateau de Versailles website</a>, he played the guitar, rode horses, enjoyed billiards and was an excellent dancer who performed in ballets. The mirror was very popular in Baroque design (approximately 1600 to 1750), and the sunburst mirror became a symbol of Louis XIV's illustrious reign. Centuries have passed, yet the sunburst continues to add beauty to interiors of all types. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRpcje9iOUQlH6popGphXaLZYVFmn90MhXFtHnMrYgcndmU4KCTNn0jHa18VH3cAcQOdgn2zBWiKNYL-gC6NFQ4mFHbYc2811zhHMfzQpIGWSBU_LIx7qyoVvUnun6u9v6Gd7Ec1zJmbW/s1600/DSC_0006-529x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRpcje9iOUQlH6popGphXaLZYVFmn90MhXFtHnMrYgcndmU4KCTNn0jHa18VH3cAcQOdgn2zBWiKNYL-gC6NFQ4mFHbYc2811zhHMfzQpIGWSBU_LIx7qyoVvUnun6u9v6Gd7Ec1zJmbW/s640/DSC_0006-529x800.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gold leaf sunburst frame from France c. 1780.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sixteen rays appear to be symmetrical, but closer inspection reveals that each one has a different thickness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.carlmooreantiques.com/" target="_blank">Carl Moore Antiques</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvCk1itHtPnoHNtOvEmzmBZ7rTYyHtoY8S04j3uFC4s48hkWh-ySntSlrqwSyu799ShBzx3GGNm1G_hIW9IpYmxIf-MURXif_hFnoniagCbMKX90WG0c3wPACp1twYCcAhwkSJZnDBTaW/s1600/1-kincaid-0509-xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvCk1itHtPnoHNtOvEmzmBZ7rTYyHtoY8S04j3uFC4s48hkWh-ySntSlrqwSyu799ShBzx3GGNm1G_hIW9IpYmxIf-MURXif_hFnoniagCbMKX90WG0c3wPACp1twYCcAhwkSJZnDBTaW/s640/1-kincaid-0509-xlg.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A raw umber glaze over stenciled walls adds some age. Moorish tiles from <a href="http://www.countryfloors.com/" target="_blank">Country Floors</a>. Benches covered in Lyon Stripe from Travers. Sunburst clock from <a href="http://johnrosselliantiques.com/" target="_blank">John Rosselli</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://cathy-kincaid.com/" target="_blank">Cathy Kincaid</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Reed Davis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/cathy-kincaid-french-country-design?click=main_sr#slide-3" target="_blank">Sophisticated French Country Design</a>" by Christine Peters.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5WlvfGn1aIQN45n0Nw_xD7dQCPPY0V07xrtwz10DnRBHNJQONM3JL0EHFIrECWPTeRMOuhyphenhyphenDJJBQJPekVzrrQt1NPflFkXyC6gJ4X8yvCiUzYpC3ucuY4FPqdHJLMnWxWBvo28sKyFRB/s1600/3-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-17252392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5WlvfGn1aIQN45n0Nw_xD7dQCPPY0V07xrtwz10DnRBHNJQONM3JL0EHFIrECWPTeRMOuhyphenhyphenDJJBQJPekVzrrQt1NPflFkXyC6gJ4X8yvCiUzYpC3ucuY4FPqdHJLMnWxWBvo28sKyFRB/s640/3-feature-shubel-0109-xlg-17252392.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The living room walls are painted <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a>'s Bridal Pink, a soft color balanced by the deep browns and earth textures in the room. Hanna chairs in leather flank an antiqued brass drum table, both from <a href="http://www.olystudio.com/" target="_blank">Oly</a>. The girandoles are 19th-century French. Natura carpet in Seagrass is from <a href="http://www.starkcarpet.com/" target="_blank">Stark</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Stephen Shubel of <a href="http://www.stephenshubeldesign.com/" target="_blank">Stephen Shubel Design</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Jeremy Samuelson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/power-of-color?click=main_sr#slide-3" target="_blank">A California Home Shows Off the Power of Color</a>" by Mimi Read.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgR_FFvr3yYWDjwYihtipaQmpmrmEC_SARrQNwbBjXGA_2BTLRA8dC2M6NXhu3JavqHNfpPwaE20llLa36QFfNeQ_ntYCSpauMRYujb3PqbfdYqFHfJmZMSHOZ7YrVbe5nKpbprkrVg6A/s1600/BlogStarburstsADJan2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgR_FFvr3yYWDjwYihtipaQmpmrmEC_SARrQNwbBjXGA_2BTLRA8dC2M6NXhu3JavqHNfpPwaE20llLa36QFfNeQ_ntYCSpauMRYujb3PqbfdYqFHfJmZMSHOZ7YrVbe5nKpbprkrVg6A/s640/BlogStarburstsADJan2011.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A circular carpet from Galerie Diurne, designed by [Jean-Louis] Deniot, simplifies the five-sided living room. A 20th-century gilt-wood sunburst clock echoes the carpet's pattern."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied-a-terre in Paris.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.deniot.com/" target="_blank">Jean-Louis Deniot</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Marina Faust.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Penelope Rowlands.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A la Mode"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/" target="_blank">Architectural Digest</a> (January 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IufJl_g4k29EA88pw51GRJ9kJ9SST7AWIQOi5eLG4EpQ3R5s9mpTYXk1O61DEyUH-EjX0zD9IhMdmu2Db7Ut7DU-PwZAPwWSQ_1ajKOKLHGK1FU7RC7BUKOdGv3oU2wvo07EI5PjEFBX/s1600/BlogStarburstsVerandaMarch2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IufJl_g4k29EA88pw51GRJ9kJ9SST7AWIQOi5eLG4EpQ3R5s9mpTYXk1O61DEyUH-EjX0zD9IhMdmu2Db7Ut7DU-PwZAPwWSQ_1ajKOKLHGK1FU7RC7BUKOdGv3oU2wvo07EI5PjEFBX/s640/BlogStarburstsVerandaMarch2011.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Midcentury mirror in Austin, Texas home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.janshowers.com/" target="_blank">Jan Showers</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renovation architecture by <a href="http://www.steinbomer.com/" target="_blank">Steinbomer and Associates Architects</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Stephen Karlisch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Degen Pener.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Clearly Luminous" produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/" target="_blank">Veranda</a> (March 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEVan3nNECxT8Wk0ajcMmSQuZkDCgHcRWFF2-i2gyuQ9MWLnRHmjdBzG23SilglYrh-mjSYTIqZRFPlNnjl3Irt5wULErVzcRhJTL-zrwmUqS620hSVX7tF-YQKwYrxdsLxpEt935nZjH/s1600/BlogTubVerandaMayJune2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEVan3nNECxT8Wk0ajcMmSQuZkDCgHcRWFF2-i2gyuQ9MWLnRHmjdBzG23SilglYrh-mjSYTIqZRFPlNnjl3Irt5wULErVzcRhJTL-zrwmUqS620hSVX7tF-YQKwYrxdsLxpEt935nZjH/s640/BlogTubVerandaMayJune2011.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A graphic mirror over a sculptural tub illustrates the power of simplicity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tub with burnished metallic finish, faucets; by <a href="http://www.waterworks.com/" target="_blank">Waterworks</a>. Sunburst mirror, <a href="http://www.bakerfurniture.com/" target="_blank">Baker</a>, repainted by Rising Tide. Limestone floor, Architectural Ceramics."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marwood Estate (outside of Washington, D.C.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renovation and interior design by <a href="http://www.marydrysdale.com/" target="_blank">Mary Douglas Drysdale</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Restoration architecture by Anthony S. Barnes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Peter Vitale and Max Kim-Bee.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Susan Stiles Dowell.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Capital Idea" produced by Charles L. Ross.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/" target="_blank">Veranda</a> (May - June 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdYS9KnWI81bjBLq57Q-8zfZHvHXsMWd3-paCUmITpE6lvzgYFQ12aMZ4WClpOPGK7Lubr7dpyMtw1ih6q-VQC0LNbhaW38GTONSumLWsCFOK6rGY56ZYDsbDhxyFDy8eQy8q3rW6FWgC/s1600/celerie-kemble-ed0711-01-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdYS9KnWI81bjBLq57Q-8zfZHvHXsMWd3-paCUmITpE6lvzgYFQ12aMZ4WClpOPGK7Lubr7dpyMtw1ih6q-VQC0LNbhaW38GTONSumLWsCFOK6rGY56ZYDsbDhxyFDy8eQy8q3rW6FWgC/s640/celerie-kemble-ed0711-01-lgn.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A 20th-century gilt-wood clock hangs above a custom-made marble mantle; the antique screen is covered in a <a href="http://www.degournay.com/" target="_blank">de Gournay</a> wallpaper; the 19th-century chair is upholstered in a cotton by Luigi Bevilacqua, and the rug is from Galerie Shabab."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living room of Jane and Michael DeFlorio's Manhattan townhouse.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://kembleinteriors.com/" target="_blank">Celerie Kemble</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Waldron.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Ingrid Abramovitch.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/tailored-to-perfection-70109#slide-1" target="_blank">Tailored to Perfection</a>" produced by Anita Sarsidi.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a> (July - August 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyrZjIeQOIY2yn_h-u7jRF9HT5MnPbu_R6dRDLzcaWrFR_Yrjg03-GD2u2BHbk2GTSM0Xa7yjmyevjL3hP0cCVcDJeZDxdDGt5rqz0eVTCN1cjBAbiIl-3OSLPp3qExbMO29l_bgNKdsl/s1600/item16.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.suzanne-kasler-atlanta-house-17-terrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyrZjIeQOIY2yn_h-u7jRF9HT5MnPbu_R6dRDLzcaWrFR_Yrjg03-GD2u2BHbk2GTSM0Xa7yjmyevjL3hP0cCVcDJeZDxdDGt5rqz0eVTCN1cjBAbiIl-3OSLPp3qExbMO29l_bgNKdsl/s640/item16.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.suzanne-kasler-atlanta-house-17-terrace.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sofas by <a href="http://www.janusetcie.com/" target="_blank">Janus et Cie</a> and 1950s French woven chairs from the Nicholson Gallery beckon from the terrace; the sunburst mirror is vintage."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atlanta, Georgia home of interior decorator Suzanne Kasler.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://suzannekasler.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne Kasler</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural renovation by <a href="http://wtbaker.com/" target="_blank">William T. Baker and Associates</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Jen Renzi.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2012-04/suzanne-kasler-atlanta-house-slideshow#slide=17" target="_blank">A Perfect Union</a>" produced by Howard Christian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/" target="_blank">Architectural Digest</a> (April 2012).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhWoZ1qEDOfjPMdYJpg3GreZ4fSot_fpqGa62tZXCrijxHjGvvQBZLXrdulngafKWAFbO5HQs5BJ8P_X9tsAgyxtFHwVkeoQ7WFEJmlrp-RXqovHlBa_5NDAgZjXVvx_z46C-oSRzg17Z/s1600/living-room-palm-beach-0511-Braff01-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhWoZ1qEDOfjPMdYJpg3GreZ4fSot_fpqGa62tZXCrijxHjGvvQBZLXrdulngafKWAFbO5HQs5BJ8P_X9tsAgyxtFHwVkeoQ7WFEJmlrp-RXqovHlBa_5NDAgZjXVvx_z46C-oSRzg17Z/s640/living-room-palm-beach-0511-Braff01-de.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" The first thing designer Meg Braff bought for this P</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alm Beach living room was the fabric on the club chairs, <a href="http://www.cowtan.com/" target="_blank">Cowtan and Tout</a>'s Tortola in Multi Fern, and then she pulled her palette from it."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://megbraff.com/" target="_blank">Meg Braff</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Thibault Jeanson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/palm-beach-design-decorating-0411#slide-1" target="_blank">Step Inside a 1960s Style Palm Beach Home</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (April 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtZM55VTjqn2pxNodreIAHofYGBXUZWo6aV2F4ioG6BGDF5z0yNS0VMT_PUgq2y4xQ2awIUIzsNvbBeavOvUXaoje2f2TvLprR13ldLLNuTkFbXiGLdE-zugEG_wkHKOs8x-_J6yr2VLl/s1600/smith-10-0909-xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtZM55VTjqn2pxNodreIAHofYGBXUZWo6aV2F4ioG6BGDF5z0yNS0VMT_PUgq2y4xQ2awIUIzsNvbBeavOvUXaoje2f2TvLprR13ldLLNuTkFbXiGLdE-zugEG_wkHKOs8x-_J6yr2VLl/s640/smith-10-0909-xl.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" 'I found this amazing embroidered satin from <a href="http://www.bergamofabrics.com/" target="_blank">Bergamo Fabrics</a> and used it on the bed, to create a little jewel box,' [Windsor] Smith says. 'And then I added that whimsical Italian mirror. It's like a star hanging over us.' Slim chaise covered in <a href="http://www.kravet.com/" target="_blank">Kravet</a>'s Obsession, and Zebra Bed from Windsor Smith Home."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Windsor Smith's Los Angeles, California home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.windsorsmithhome.com/" target="_blank">Windsor Smith</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Victoria Pearson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/windsor-smiths-home?click=img_sr#slide-20" target="_blank">A Look Inside Windsor Smith's Stunning Home</a>" by Christine Pittel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvqCkmdBWeoaXyGcMNU7hmPw31NxtGBuekAJMB3hiYzGBD4mW6lWEbJC8HofMMSxAbLKve3HBjrC_AqEYNPPNPNFcdy9Zu5-V2JILYDOnLD09x-uQLcevvKUClScKHhhNnvmkiIyPEf5M/s1600/tiny-dining-room-with-big-style-xlg-42804578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvqCkmdBWeoaXyGcMNU7hmPw31NxtGBuekAJMB3hiYzGBD4mW6lWEbJC8HofMMSxAbLKve3HBjrC_AqEYNPPNPNFcdy9Zu5-V2JILYDOnLD09x-uQLcevvKUClScKHhhNnvmkiIyPEf5M/s640/tiny-dining-room-with-big-style-xlg-42804578.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Designed by Kim Fiscus, this tiny dining room, once an office area, is practical  . . . with a touch of drama. The 18th-century gilt starburst is six feet in diameter and probably from an Italian church."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Francisco, California house of Bruce and Kim Fiscus, an antiques dealer specializing in 18th- and 19th-century European pieces.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.kimfiscus.com/" target="_blank">Kim Fiscus</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Reed Davis.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by Mimi Reed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/fiscus-soulful-accessories-0608?click=main_sr#slide-11" target="_blank">Accessories are Soulful</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (June 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodol_t4sYlKAqlgofUaFx_d_RVI_wH_qv531OFBWzD7lshGFLHVLrO_6M5bvA-NtRQ6FFvRNIRZ7pMydIcgnpe0gKNcBwG6gU7gCaHZQQXn7vkjbdaVWZVtYUOQlfhShFv4IuhQx92UEu/s1600/BlogStarburstsVerandaJanFeb2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodol_t4sYlKAqlgofUaFx_d_RVI_wH_qv531OFBWzD7lshGFLHVLrO_6M5bvA-NtRQ6FFvRNIRZ7pMydIcgnpe0gKNcBwG6gU7gCaHZQQXn7vkjbdaVWZVtYUOQlfhShFv4IuhQx92UEu/s640/BlogStarburstsVerandaJanFeb2012.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The walls of the dining room were meticulously hand-painted to look like ikat fabric. Chairs in <a href="http://www.fschumacher.com/" target="_blank">Schumacher</a> fabric with linen backs, dining table, sunburst mirror and chandelier, all custom."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dallas, Texas home of designer Kelli Ford and her family.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://kirstenkelli.com/" target="_blank">Kelli Ford and Kirsten Fitzgibbons</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architecture by <a href="http://www.larryboerder.com/" target="_blank">Larry E. Boerder</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Max Kim-Bee.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Jeff Turrentine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Haute Hues" produced by Carolyn Englefield.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/" target="_blank">Veranda </a>(January - February 2012).</span></div>

Sunbursts

Louis XIV was born in 1638 and was crowned king of France at the age of 5. He reigned for 72 years - a "golden century" during whi...

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Counting Sheep with "Les Lalanne"

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Everyone can recognize animals throughout the world. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You don't have to explain what they are or mean.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francois-Xavier Lalanne</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1927 - 2008)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The French artist Francois-Xavier Lalanne trained as a painter but became a sculptor of surrealistic animals. His "Mouton de Pierre," a group of ten painted epoxy stone and patinated bronze sheep, sold for $7,474,500 at a <a href="http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5521330">Christie's</a> auction in 2011.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3OFJ9kRVjV4qy4S9OfbqzULnaWorI0Kq-KPo3Xr9ZjTA8aV-BAtZs0j9xGzWwHuSkyYD5aUQau1Hk27bXu-Xwsz52SP_RHw4HjGd8U1_b1GHF5w7DVOLouXPrnMF6Uqj6I7P4K6ZqTI/s1600/francois-xavier_lalanne_mouton_de_pierre_a_group_of_ten_painted_epoxy_d5521330h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3OFJ9kRVjV4qy4S9OfbqzULnaWorI0Kq-KPo3Xr9ZjTA8aV-BAtZs0j9xGzWwHuSkyYD5aUQau1Hk27bXu-Xwsz52SP_RHw4HjGd8U1_b1GHF5w7DVOLouXPrnMF6Uqj6I7P4K6ZqTI/s640/francois-xavier_lalanne_mouton_de_pierre_a_group_of_ten_painted_epoxy_d5521330h.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/arts/design/14lalanne.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print">New York Times</a></i>, Lalanne said he "wanted to bring the notion of usefulness to sculpture and to demystify art, which he regarded as a funhouse rather than a cathedral." </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a young man, he briefly worked at the Louvre and on days when the museum was closed, he could not resist the opportunity to climb onto the back of the bull Apis in the ancient galleries. With regard to his own art he explained, "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just the fact that you can squat on it reduced the risk of this inappropriate devotion."  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lalanne met his future wife Claude Dupeaux when she attended a showing of his portraits and landscapes at a Paris gallery in 1952. For a while the couple created window displays together. One of their clients was the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who later bought many pieces of the art they made. Said Francois-Xavier and Claude about their creations, "They are not furniture, they are not sculpture - call them '<a href="http://www.artnews.com/2012/04/24/brass-menagerie/">Lalannes</a>.' "</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francois-Xavier Lalanne died in 2008 at age 81, but his widow Claude Lalanne (born in 1924) continues to produce work in Ury (south of Paris) where she and her husband created art together. Designer Reed Krakoff and architect Peter Marino are two high-profile fans of Lalannes, and photos below feature the works in interiors the two men have designed. <a href="http://www.paulkasmingallery.com/artists/les-lalanne">Paul Kasmin Gallery</a> represents Les Lalannes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi660bI1Pe7sv69mwcWNlip6eR3q7dj4zoQQlIfxQ3FHoXoosy1cb1APBqTX4oLFPu0qon0xGBC2hocISAJHb_jxbb3pxb5V4zoemQXwcEiO3jemfnWPKJBcbqRTReElVhuv6fURVOkf54/s1600/d5270123l+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi660bI1Pe7sv69mwcWNlip6eR3q7dj4zoQQlIfxQ3FHoXoosy1cb1APBqTX4oLFPu0qon0xGBC2hocISAJHb_jxbb3pxb5V4zoemQXwcEiO3jemfnWPKJBcbqRTReElVhuv6fURVOkf54/s640/d5270123l+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/claude-lalanne-crocodile-banquette-a-gilt-bronze-and-5270123-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5270123&sid=ac21b238-cbc5-4011-b43a-96d9df57ba59">Christie's</a> sold <i>Crocodile Banquette</i>, a gilt-bronze and copper crocodile bench designed by Claude Lalanne in 2008 for $482,500 on December 8, 2009. A chair with a similar design appears in a photograph below of Reed and Delphine Krakoff's home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVY53WEJ-ryQyzSir2rJlWwR3GpT78XLwn_ZWcoR9oXS6wTvEe10UrPfg1T0Cow1T2EEereCkhLdkLFkhxjijQJbSlvp86pQOx-SckPp87PmB1O_TCWjVeJ2U_lUK0inORA7sryxaFm0/s1600/claude_lalanne_banc_crocodile_petit_modele_2008_d5320933h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVY53WEJ-ryQyzSir2rJlWwR3GpT78XLwn_ZWcoR9oXS6wTvEe10UrPfg1T0Cow1T2EEereCkhLdkLFkhxjijQJbSlvp86pQOx-SckPp87PmB1O_TCWjVeJ2U_lUK0inORA7sryxaFm0/s640/claude_lalanne_banc_crocodile_petit_modele_2008_d5320933h.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/furniture-lighting/claude-lalanne-banc-crocodile-petit-modele-2008-5320933-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5320933&sid=5227bc8b-a721-4cbe-9679-478659d97422">Christie's</a> sold Claude Lalanne's <i>Banc Crocodile, Petit Modele</i>, 2008 for $156,806 in Paris on May 28, 2010. Similar benches appear in two rooms featured below.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some photos of sheep and crocodile sculptures created by "Les Lalannes:"</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfk0_S4gpwSovsFFlA2D06UJVDvQOTMBz75Wxcb5kjjQF5-uzJTC9E3AVvm4pGGwP_ZwbUMgSxqbw8VKk_1hSls6v1jQcSv38clopukG4-HevC5Qf-BXP9RvhaMAQVC49t3c3InWJ9lQ/s1600/DAG-sheep6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfk0_S4gpwSovsFFlA2D06UJVDvQOTMBz75Wxcb5kjjQF5-uzJTC9E3AVvm4pGGwP_ZwbUMgSxqbw8VKk_1hSls6v1jQcSv38clopukG4-HevC5Qf-BXP9RvhaMAQVC49t3c3InWJ9lQ/s640/DAG-sheep6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Moutons Transhumant (Bebris)</i>, 1988.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Moutons</i>, a herd of 12 sheep and lambs, was first created in 1965, with several updated editions since. The work was created to be something </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">invasive and out of the ordinary,' meant to mock what is traditionally viewed as 'fine art.' Placement in the Palmetum evokes a peaceful, pastoral setting. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The art of Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne was at Fairchild [Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida] during the 2010 - 2011 art season. Their art is inspired by nature itself as Claude Lalanne typically uses plant forms in her work and her husband </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francois-Xavier used animal forms."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.fairchildgarden.org/events/festivalpicturelink/Les-Lalanne/">Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZUUyDxODQu5RjY-fmih5B9ewEAAUWknxONeVWtbXKtcZiIPPnkRHboa4pSYSKedO_LvMrWLO_Y05sUMyhyaZb8RzYoQs_R8lyauoLXMp1A-Bg0SuMFF31s0cjx9x11zVs6bUfGwWpYk/s1600/estates-greystone-great-house-7-0309_MD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZUUyDxODQu5RjY-fmih5B9ewEAAUWknxONeVWtbXKtcZiIPPnkRHboa4pSYSKedO_LvMrWLO_Y05sUMyhyaZb8RzYoQs_R8lyauoLXMp1A-Bg0SuMFF31s0cjx9x11zVs6bUfGwWpYk/s640/estates-greystone-great-house-7-0309_MD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lalanne Sheep, 1965.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salle de Reception designed by <a href="http://www.waldosdesigns.com/">Waldo Fernandez</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Great House at Greystone Estate Show House.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Peter Vitale.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/great-house-greystone-estate#slide-7">Veranda</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH9nshNVBUusIUmJao1ZerSnmbN3e9IeHWppAzh8UqGTK4zNeolfqGEd_-s-JoABxtEdNOtwGbeYPoYc3hkNE3LwUpg7ArR_xBaPRg9LAy204RDfl9_F8u6yscu9kf5JzPehJ4dDMV98/s1600/paris-apartment-design-ideas-deniot-0511-03-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH9nshNVBUusIUmJao1ZerSnmbN3e9IeHWppAzh8UqGTK4zNeolfqGEd_-s-JoABxtEdNOtwGbeYPoYc3hkNE3LwUpg7ArR_xBaPRg9LAy204RDfl9_F8u6yscu9kf5JzPehJ4dDMV98/s640/paris-apartment-design-ideas-deniot-0511-03-lgn.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The entry holds a pair of 1940s Gilbert Poillerat lanterns, a Deniot-designed mirror, and a sheep sculpture by Francois-Xavier Lalanne; the console is draped with linen embroidered and painted by Jean-Francois Lesage."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris pied-a-terre.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.deniot.fr/">Jean-Louis Deniot</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Luxe Living on the Left Bank" by Ian Phillips.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/luxe-living-on-the-left-bank#slide-3">Elle Decor</a> (May 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HYw7nKfW53ACUYF_o3eLD_SZfI_6fyb_RphQCTRhYrxuqISDmfi5Gb9tH7ZwnbpGM2vaFzQJGS5-2ZpA3kqAy4ghsUdAU93dgTzuNq7Vd9UAi3rE6gwViBQNdFHbvjCgcbxuGjSihjU/s1600/paris-apartment-design-ideas-deniot-0511-10-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HYw7nKfW53ACUYF_o3eLD_SZfI_6fyb_RphQCTRhYrxuqISDmfi5Gb9tH7ZwnbpGM2vaFzQJGS5-2ZpA3kqAy4ghsUdAU93dgTzuNq7Vd9UAi3rE6gwViBQNdFHbvjCgcbxuGjSihjU/s640/paris-apartment-design-ideas-deniot-0511-10-lgn.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another view of the entry and the Lalanne sheep sculpture.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Artwork above the console is by Sebastian Hempel, and the pair of brass-and-chrome lamps are from the 1970s; the floor is paved in 18th-century French limestone </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with black-marble accents."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris pied-a-terre.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.deniot.fr/">Jean-Louis Deniot</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Luxe Living on the Left Bank" by Ian Phillips.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling/luxe-living-on-the-left-bank#slide-10">Elle Decor</a> (May 2011). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1J6E3VCWr8lDr2C5LwLVgmwWffb-_8uFNQBGUwqupRhCzr88vgPkKa8xFrn8IIJi1KLsmwu9bfceVadlIcknkfp-D9ogUU-sSS0eeMYcWMo7F5kgzXy6vDGHewQKe8SQ8oQnaKmr6AQ/s1600/img-reed7_221453298211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1J6E3VCWr8lDr2C5LwLVgmwWffb-_8uFNQBGUwqupRhCzr88vgPkKa8xFrn8IIJi1KLsmwu9bfceVadlIcknkfp-D9ogUU-sSS0eeMYcWMo7F5kgzXy6vDGHewQKe8SQ8oQnaKmr6AQ/s640/img-reed7_221453298211.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Alexander Liberman's dot painting hangs above Garouste and Bonetti's console and chairs and a flock of Lalanne sheep in the entrance hall."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manhattan home of Reed and Delphine Krakoff.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Reed and Delphine Krakoff.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Reed and Delphine Krakoff: Design for Living" by Hamish Bowles.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Sheila Metzner.</span><br /><a href="http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/reed-and-delphine-krakoff-design-for-living/#/magazine-gallery/reed-and-delphine-krakoff-design-for-living/7" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vogue</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (August 15, 2010).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGSjT1umWSsiTBE3-m-VBHB-G_TEw5QAOkJH3DPdogWRAubLx8RBWHILjXKjSUzfWcw9T9yXZmuj29GuH70ZnmOD1XnCBUG0ULijRjCu6fheugeqnlZHC_uPm9JmmygpzSu8iiBoXtNg/s1600/img-reed1_221213875959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGSjT1umWSsiTBE3-m-VBHB-G_TEw5QAOkJH3DPdogWRAubLx8RBWHILjXKjSUzfWcw9T9yXZmuj29GuH70ZnmOD1XnCBUG0ULijRjCu6fheugeqnlZHC_uPm9JmmygpzSu8iiBoXtNg/s640/img-reed1_221213875959.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Robert Motherwell's 1968 <i>Open No. 16</i> surveys the living room's designscape. The Claude Lalanne bronze crocodile chair sits next to a chrome-and-Lucite </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guy de Rougemont coffee table. Jean Royere's 1953 sofa.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manhattan home of Reed and Delphine Krakoff.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Reed and Delphine Krakoff.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Reed and Delphine Krakoff: Design for Living" by Hamish Bowles.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Sheila Metzner.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/reed-and-delphine-krakoff-design-for-living/#/magazine-gallery/reed-and-delphine-krakoff-design-for-living/1">Vogue</a> (August 15, 2010).</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tovcmaSqn397FSMSdhGBURN2Goe_HJ4-gd_13AqaomvuWjfKcthU77PeE5gXAAjccWylT6p08BJ0K9MQEEIcsWX3s3QRosRfThoDU_LjTGquaurQcS8zjH0rJWt2dyqb7LEkG2a7oro/s1600/item4.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.peter-marino-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tovcmaSqn397FSMSdhGBURN2Goe_HJ4-gd_13AqaomvuWjfKcthU77PeE5gXAAjccWylT6p08BJ0K9MQEEIcsWX3s3QRosRfThoDU_LjTGquaurQcS8zjH0rJWt2dyqb7LEkG2a7oro/s640/item4.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.peter-marino-05.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cocktail table by Claude Lalanne.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Four Seasons penthouse suite of Ty Warner.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior architecture and design by <a href="http://www.petermarinoarchitect.com/">Peter Marino</a>, FAIA.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architecture by I. M. Pei, FAIA.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Durston Saylor.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architecture/2012-01/peter-marino-homes-slideshow#slide=5">Architectural Digest</a> (July 2007).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD0bT0wYWROksJTOHfPm7VYj8BUi0k7e8rJCEI09gFspyrImgvdXS3wTx0XiC9Je2a-M9P6JespDuA1KqnPYLe8e-OANHPlJY_s_lStha3Bj2C9SZj1Nf_Eh_Nojkd2wLEMm1SWA2b4k/s1600/design-ideas-ayres-ED07-04-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD0bT0wYWROksJTOHfPm7VYj8BUi0k7e8rJCEI09gFspyrImgvdXS3wTx0XiC9Je2a-M9P6JespDuA1KqnPYLe8e-OANHPlJY_s_lStha3Bj2C9SZj1Nf_Eh_Nojkd2wLEMm1SWA2b4k/s640/design-ideas-ayres-ED07-04-lgn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Armchairs upholstered in linen velvet by Quadrille, a custom-designed ottoman by Jonas Upholstery, and a Claude Lalanne bronze bench used as a cocktail table in the library; decorative artist Jean Carrau painted the paneling to resemble pine and treated the knots with gold leaf."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.bjminc.com/">Brian McCarthy</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architecture firm: <a href="http://www.fairfaxandsammons.com/">Fairfax and Sammons</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Waldron.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Transformers" by Mitchell Owens.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/the-transformers#slide-4">Elle Decor</a>.</span></div></div>

Counting Sheep with "Les Lalanne"

Everyone can recognize animals throughout the world.  You don't have to explain what they are or mean. Francois-Xavier Lalanne (1927 - 2...

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Black and White

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black and white. Perfect for the kitchen, the bath, a foyer or a gracious curving stair. Perfect even for circus tents, or the illusion of one . . .</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvqN7FQnICtfwA2k4w1fWVnU1C5EPfUTE7H7cfmoka3mUrjaHKwR18pUdY_n38VQk71Aiu91U1JuwOtBDzfMRg6TQAWU4cfgzh21PttX0vUJSc7EX0TvZowTpXjPKTImqwegoh2LvJ-Q/s1600/item6.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.jean-louis-deniot-chicago-apartment-07-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvqN7FQnICtfwA2k4w1fWVnU1C5EPfUTE7H7cfmoka3mUrjaHKwR18pUdY_n38VQk71Aiu91U1JuwOtBDzfMRg6TQAWU4cfgzh21PttX0vUJSc7EX0TvZowTpXjPKTImqwegoh2LvJ-Q/s640/item6.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.jean-louis-deniot-chicago-apartment-07-kitchen.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I told Jean-Louis [Deniot] I wanted the apartment to be beautiful without a stick of furniture in it," the wife says. "You had to say, 'Ooh,' even when it was completely empty."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prewar apartment in Chicago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.deniot.com/">Jean-Louis Deniot</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Dan Shaw.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The French Connection" produced by Robert Rufino.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (December 2011).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJigQ67yk8RHCSx3cQjI7DKh_mabOGsmBKwi45QyyJ2SUW8z_RQhbhBWeggJd9nMex35ZYE0I2v2fswYULhfU03eKDlDSXxy5kze5fJRClqcnrkpgtKskgUBlSnaJ2TXhBR3m3dbZAH5I/s1600/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesEDDec2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJigQ67yk8RHCSx3cQjI7DKh_mabOGsmBKwi45QyyJ2SUW8z_RQhbhBWeggJd9nMex35ZYE0I2v2fswYULhfU03eKDlDSXxy5kze5fJRClqcnrkpgtKskgUBlSnaJ2TXhBR3m3dbZAH5I/s640/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesEDDec2008.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The walls of the bathroom and adjacent laundry are covered in <a href="http://www.clarencehouse.com/">Clarence House</a>'s Large Stripe wallpaper applied both vertically and horizontally, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and the checkerboard ceramic-tile floor is American Olean."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago apartment of decorator <a href="http://www.branca.com/">Alessandra Branca</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Thibault Jeanson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Styled by Carlos Mota.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Return Engagement" text by Jan Parr.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tS1MCz_5ezXwm2hqzIj3yy_xhb97gen0zp1b6lAGiDVC0VoKn0fvalh6N5HjcvyLUGNhXoPMyfACqlSF0Z0S9bfkkkgRdYrAwJVbcJFkYkUdx1GDxsBDl8mDQZMMqgbIuOP7d2q9vgo/s1600/item0.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.shelton-mindel-manhattan-01-foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tS1MCz_5ezXwm2hqzIj3yy_xhb97gen0zp1b6lAGiDVC0VoKn0fvalh6N5HjcvyLUGNhXoPMyfACqlSF0Z0S9bfkkkgRdYrAwJVbcJFkYkUdx1GDxsBDl8mDQZMMqgbIuOP7d2q9vgo/s640/item0.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.shelton-mindel-manhattan-01-foyer.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Iconic photographs of New York greet visitors in the foyer; the plasterwork ceiling and picture lights were designed by <a href="http://www.sheltonmindel.com/">Shelton, Mindel and Associates</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historic Manhattan apartment.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renovation and furnishings by <a href="http://www.sheltonmindel.com/">Shelton, Mindel and Associates</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Joshua McHugh.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Dan Shaw.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Leading Role" produced by Robert Rufino.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (November 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5QWucCS-TUxwc2YJspBXklJBnwLWuJC4lo82IsOXd7x_47Z7laBvNpOCs_jSgseewOcKBIHQOpFD-Z9YqkX7qplzKV0X6lqIR7cn30sLqTbv4To2iPqm93geffCjv7O2UOyke2jW4Bo/s1600/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.then-and-now-01-entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5QWucCS-TUxwc2YJspBXklJBnwLWuJC4lo82IsOXd7x_47Z7laBvNpOCs_jSgseewOcKBIHQOpFD-Z9YqkX7qplzKV0X6lqIR7cn30sLqTbv4To2iPqm93geffCjv7O2UOyke2jW4Bo/s640/item01.rendition.slideshowHorizontal.then-and-now-01-entry.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oval entrance hall with a ceiling dome. Belgian marble tiles.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Francisco apartment of Gary and O.J. Shansby.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.suzannetuckerhome.com/">Suzanne Tucker</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architecture by <a href="http://www.skurman.com/">Andrew Skurman</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Peter Haldeman</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wish Fulfillment" produced by Howard Christian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (February 2012).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ2fE0k-tTPvQwUInN9OkwpWZeonNgwNuMSJb_s84A__kIodzmt_fL4gznrFfqxgTbAFFna7AUEttx-s1JZ-5QT4-QrN-fl8GAqLsFBzirhCnrGgVcW75BogsNkLEQYDZnx_fI2rbr8g/s1600/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesHBSept2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ2fE0k-tTPvQwUInN9OkwpWZeonNgwNuMSJb_s84A__kIodzmt_fL4gznrFfqxgTbAFFna7AUEttx-s1JZ-5QT4-QrN-fl8GAqLsFBzirhCnrGgVcW75BogsNkLEQYDZnx_fI2rbr8g/s640/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesHBSept2011.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Designer <a href="http://www.martynlawrencebullard.com/">Martyn Lawrence Bullard</a> creates an MGM musical moment with a checkerboard floor and a coordinating staircase in high-contrast black and white. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'The contrast creates a sense of drama,' he says."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walls are Decorators White by Benjamin Moore.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.martynlawrencebullard.com/">Martyn Lawrence Bullard</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Tim Street-Porter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Drama, Dahling" written by David A. Keeps.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/">House Beautiful</a> (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWUVQjVY-S4f_90u8ZGHDemapL8-z_AK_hD3WP8Ctz5xly-wUXMLKcAghuzg_-kqHamJFBc4O7HQCLVbnkVx_qsqsNBFLulfiM4QxkNwuJv3cMEGve-Ypl-xTYoVJI_GfIRqUiOM-DAc/s1600/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesDominoMay2008Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWUVQjVY-S4f_90u8ZGHDemapL8-z_AK_hD3WP8Ctz5xly-wUXMLKcAghuzg_-kqHamJFBc4O7HQCLVbnkVx_qsqsNBFLulfiM4QxkNwuJv3cMEGve-Ypl-xTYoVJI_GfIRqUiOM-DAc/s640/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesDominoMay2008Two.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A striped tent on the terrace "shelters outdoor tools and extra furniture."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Designer <a href="http://www.stephenshubeldesign.com/">Stephen Shubel</a>'s San Francisco "office and overnight getaway."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Abranowicz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Ruth Graham.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Master of Illusion" produced by Dara Caponigro.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dominomag.com/">Domino</a> (May 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk6niuMLvuNiXegQn-sANyxoI4SIQwadrGcHy_P4GXjQ_N5n-S4coKo3l03Xxb1U70o48ELzl00mFq7olLt2UiAlUgGUEQ-Zhnv-Z0GyqnRBzLbNLOUDhH6gT5YjqN2bto1cSVVWncms/s1600/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesDominoMay2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOk6niuMLvuNiXegQn-sANyxoI4SIQwadrGcHy_P4GXjQ_N5n-S4coKo3l03Xxb1U70o48ELzl00mFq7olLt2UiAlUgGUEQ-Zhnv-Z0GyqnRBzLbNLOUDhH6gT5YjqN2bto1cSVVWncms/s640/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesDominoMay2008.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Don't let your eyes deceive you: the ceiling of the studio's bathroom is completely, 100 percent flat. Shubel hired local decorative painter <a href="http://www.willemrackestudio.com/">Willem Racke</a> to paint stripes that make the room . . . seem like a dramatically peaked tent, inspired by the circus-like storage tent on the terrace. . . . A matching curtain hides not only a washer and dryer, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but the studio's trove of research materials."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Designer <a href="http://www.stephenshubeldesign.com/">Stephen Shubel</a>'s San Francisco "office and overnight getaway."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by William Abranowicz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Ruth Graham.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Master of Illusion" produced by Dara Caponigro.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dominomag.com/">Domino</a> (May 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrezNkxgTyIoUFu0zavDg4zzvbXp6uFKuaInc2vdqrBqRpq5F2nNkpzOKYYefABII2az0X8qFb7mk612ewZQzUB9czpA9GxWvMO1-TDrn9ngoogrM0pVwNPamIaKaqFU3KAgDYB1fyhE/s1600/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesADJuly2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrezNkxgTyIoUFu0zavDg4zzvbXp6uFKuaInc2vdqrBqRpq5F2nNkpzOKYYefABII2az0X8qFb7mk612ewZQzUB9czpA9GxWvMO1-TDrn9ngoogrM0pVwNPamIaKaqFU3KAgDYB1fyhE/s640/BlogBlackandWhiteStripesADJuly2011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Lined with marble and painted decades ago to resemble a tent, a bath is furnished with a Judi Boisson rug and antique Chinese garden stools."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greek Revival house in Philadelphia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.jaynedesignstudio.com/">Thomas Jayne</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Jean Nathan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Restorative Power" produced by Howard Christian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (July 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZqIBLcAfmriY_yJEYzuBSS7T7iqHYmMI998MWO6CT9aa5vOeAfCP88N5rVGwk0oJAePnFj9Zrus1N1W1ovXnqbHM9xrMPX4pdtk3kkmPzlmSpR8gf6pMq2B9sqRKKHeZ2Pq2He8gM_o/s1600/BlogGamesPeoplePlayADMarch2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZqIBLcAfmriY_yJEYzuBSS7T7iqHYmMI998MWO6CT9aa5vOeAfCP88N5rVGwk0oJAePnFj9Zrus1N1W1ovXnqbHM9xrMPX4pdtk3kkmPzlmSpR8gf6pMq2B9sqRKKHeZ2Pq2He8gM_o/s640/BlogGamesPeoplePlayADMarch2011.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Graphic patterns give the exercise room a fanciful attitude; the bold carpeting is by Durkan, and the striped fabric that tents the ceiling is by Romo."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.richardkeithlangham.com/">Richard Keith Langham</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Julia Reed.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Pieter Estersohn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"State of Grace" produced by Howard Christian.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a> (March 2011).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Black and White

Black and white. Perfect for the kitchen, the bath, a foyer or a gracious curving stair. Perfect even for circus tents, or the illusion of o...

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Be My Guest

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August is the month when many people travel -- often fitting in one last vacation before school begins again in the fall. I offer a sampling of guest rooms for a range of tastes. Perhaps one of these would suit you as a comfortable home away from home . . .</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrInGQAIjz3sOHHWSBqRwD9_X5PnwkwTR3s5JHvIPLa4lC5C7JhA_fMwk7G2PHbsY-YvEbzyBHpdg2WOWlwwmUVJOmcyrDuOJzzIoV4bi3bI2vBnK47uAvBo85zbxhGVahudvTRs3YIM/s1600/mountain-homes-turner-ed1210-08-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrInGQAIjz3sOHHWSBqRwD9_X5PnwkwTR3s5JHvIPLa4lC5C7JhA_fMwk7G2PHbsY-YvEbzyBHpdg2WOWlwwmUVJOmcyrDuOJzzIoV4bi3bI2vBnK47uAvBo85zbxhGVahudvTRs3YIM/s400/mountain-homes-turner-ed1210-08-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/" target="_blank">Anthropologie</a> canopy bed, Sferra linens and antique suzani.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Mother (Mary Lynn Turner) and daughters (Marie Turner and Emily Turner) designed this family vacation home in Ketchum, Idaho.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architect: Bob White of ForestStudio.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle Decor (December 2010).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5K_sgPVwIExjs0J9GAsw83Gn4SkD2-4vXCvbmiR7F1WnepJ3qw-2tpm9CU8W_eSF9vM-qjTuVaU6VXj7qfG_tV3VCD051hpvJIf0hNLXhoWs4-OrO7BJmZqt-P-PVTACFUTV3lvw8ho/s1600/item13.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.jean-louis-deniot-chicago-apartment-14-guest-bedroom%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5K_sgPVwIExjs0J9GAsw83Gn4SkD2-4vXCvbmiR7F1WnepJ3qw-2tpm9CU8W_eSF9vM-qjTuVaU6VXj7qfG_tV3VCD051hpvJIf0hNLXhoWs4-OrO7BJmZqt-P-PVTACFUTV3lvw8ho/s640/item13.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.jean-louis-deniot-chicago-apartment-14-guest-bedroom%5B1%5D.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Custom-made guest bed with canopy of Dedar fabric.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Chicago prewar apartment designed by Jean-Louis Deniot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (December 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YAGfAyMQeY1psWTNYnhS5-HL0JlcL8NfBZ0DEFOhQlKI3JMnXfQf8mf8ZSAPS6qLh7CrF1134vLSOTfIRv5oUs9bbhcu1pypMsb1YbEqfsycLN52pqEeMiHcEgrrW5AQTjcTvTtVzug/s1600/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-07-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YAGfAyMQeY1psWTNYnhS5-HL0JlcL8NfBZ0DEFOhQlKI3JMnXfQf8mf8ZSAPS6qLh7CrF1134vLSOTfIRv5oUs9bbhcu1pypMsb1YbEqfsycLN52pqEeMiHcEgrrW5AQTjcTvTtVzug/s640/gwynn-griffith-ed0911-07-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In the guest bedroom, velvet curtains enclose a Russian sleigh bed with a coverlet and pillows in a Clarence House silk velvet; a screen is covered in an Aubusson tapestry; and the Italian footstool retains its original upholstery."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">San Antonio, Texas home of decorator Gwynn Griffith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Design by Gwynn Griffith.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by William Waldron.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Elle Decor (September 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA_qfmGeh1K8YmEt8tlqgVLoPiV5-4y-CMiJ32SJuu4oUJkzXTqXD4zzzbk3N64k1_CGc66IoD1xo9cSKHLQk2vM2fyycfr850tS7DJNwl48PjXT7d8k3NEJ172J8ej-WqWLmNdgzs_A/s1600/EDC070112Wisehart02-400-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA_qfmGeh1K8YmEt8tlqgVLoPiV5-4y-CMiJ32SJuu4oUJkzXTqXD4zzzbk3N64k1_CGc66IoD1xo9cSKHLQk2vM2fyycfr850tS7DJNwl48PjXT7d8k3NEJ172J8ej-WqWLmNdgzs_A/s640/EDC070112Wisehart02-400-lgn%5B1%5D.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An 1840s bed found at an estate sale.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Home of <a href="http://www.tommyhilfiger.com/" target="_blank">Tommy Hilfiger</a> executive Trent Wisehart in South Orange, New Jersey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Design by Trent Wisehart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Renovation by Michael J. Hoeft.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Styled by Stephen Pappas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Laura Resen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle Decor (July-August 2012)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiUrGoCoJP6nEayWFxwLsDhU9_YFyp9QqatlwLiLE1O5tNskcg-5lzka8XZ7Z-1hObcEv-CeePPI3FXzCXqxiOcq9jRTe18pvhoz1F94RZ_vMGlogf9jBgV_FeAoOqeVBNOjA0Max0i0/s1600/BlogHermesHBJune2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDiUrGoCoJP6nEayWFxwLsDhU9_YFyp9QqatlwLiLE1O5tNskcg-5lzka8XZ7Z-1hObcEv-CeePPI3FXzCXqxiOcq9jRTe18pvhoz1F94RZ_vMGlogf9jBgV_FeAoOqeVBNOjA0Max0i0/s640/BlogHermesHBJune2011.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hermes blankets add a burst of orange to a white guest room.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Sally Markham.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Thomas Loof.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">House Beautiful (June 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mzrtxRvqr1XTwohoOJS8Xy66Ow2-XuK1bXLaOGVnLlVPE5pW8NuqXjRD-uwapi4XEG9fu3k835Y4kQgmPxYQbYRSkd3nl8fPbBs43C9wlScyuvy5ELcus8Hm_M_CpZqFYYJ_rfhqQOo/s1600/BlogHermesHBDecJan2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mzrtxRvqr1XTwohoOJS8Xy66Ow2-XuK1bXLaOGVnLlVPE5pW8NuqXjRD-uwapi4XEG9fu3k835Y4kQgmPxYQbYRSkd3nl8fPbBs43C9wlScyuvy5ELcus8Hm_M_CpZqFYYJ_rfhqQOo/s640/BlogHermesHBDecJan2012.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A Billy Baldwin-inspired British Colonial guest room."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by homeowners and visual merchandisers Mark D. Sikes and Michael Griffin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Amy Neunsinger.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful (December-January 2012).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpgBY57abZnFt3KrRl4KSSOFQdHFrZSQAXJtf2U9ObAOVS2QIbhajCgAL81Zr8IMRk6GCZaBApXkn-yYmbr5B9VOT_pX1qjDeMqWzDUb01nAMkE9CczWk4M-mXr50s5A7ZSLnYFCjXY/s1600/BlogBeMyGuestTradHomeApril2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrpgBY57abZnFt3KrRl4KSSOFQdHFrZSQAXJtf2U9ObAOVS2QIbhajCgAL81Zr8IMRk6GCZaBApXkn-yYmbr5B9VOT_pX1qjDeMqWzDUb01nAMkE9CczWk4M-mXr50s5A7ZSLnYFCjXY/s640/BlogBeMyGuestTradHomeApril2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The checked canopy adds height to this guest bed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Waterfront vacation house turned full-time home in Sherwood Forest, Maryland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Kelley Proxmire.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Renovations by architect Catherine Purple Cherry and builder Burt Winchester.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Gordeon Beall.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Traditional Home (April 2011).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJYAjFmnmik7f11w7H98LXyM_6RXV-gSUtgV3F0yMhsAUiEJedehgVunCR9E-0dPyA26vZWNvMfc_orYuCMKrRA0otI-WNuacPLubhLBvUL-HzVsaU2a46P9pEaC6SouRXL8hhleHuCQ/s1600/BlogBeMyGuestHBMarch2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJYAjFmnmik7f11w7H98LXyM_6RXV-gSUtgV3F0yMhsAUiEJedehgVunCR9E-0dPyA26vZWNvMfc_orYuCMKrRA0otI-WNuacPLubhLBvUL-HzVsaU2a46P9pEaC6SouRXL8hhleHuCQ/s640/BlogBeMyGuestHBMarch2011.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old toile mixed with <a href="http://www.polo.com/" target="_blank">Ralph Lauren</a> bed linens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Ellen O'Neill.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by John Kernick.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful (March 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcxhJVVVarwVzpaJoFkZhtlmCTZSWm6q4e1qP3uMr6saCP0Y6f80Av8FOB_oP6ssh_MJz1AzKAVhGWcyDXqADJ55YXAct9jQMGADFqg9pychat9yLmMYdJG10DWpV3IGlxmsMie6tuOw/s1600/BlogBeMyGuestHBFeb2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcxhJVVVarwVzpaJoFkZhtlmCTZSWm6q4e1qP3uMr6saCP0Y6f80Av8FOB_oP6ssh_MJz1AzKAVhGWcyDXqADJ55YXAct9jQMGADFqg9pychat9yLmMYdJG10DWpV3IGlxmsMie6tuOw/s640/BlogBeMyGuestHBFeb2011.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A guest bedroom merges American country with a sporty European spirit. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Austrian trophies and backpacks, Welsh blanket and English settee are antiques."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"Walls are knotty Canadian pine with a milk-paint wash."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Cheryl Tague.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by David Tsay.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful (February 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELHc0xYF2r3asIjn2dBsMbfvtT4JavVXBP88ocY8WLg7VDwGCBpCpz2G2x2k3SGnhONGaE_T0RrdJStg7sJN0gytEegUC0C_6aMC8PzCwbE2-Oa2mqHSnbsv1hFNsJF-fveONt7nCIWw/s1600/BlogBeMyGuesHBApril2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELHc0xYF2r3asIjn2dBsMbfvtT4JavVXBP88ocY8WLg7VDwGCBpCpz2G2x2k3SGnhONGaE_T0RrdJStg7sJN0gytEegUC0C_6aMC8PzCwbE2-Oa2mqHSnbsv1hFNsJF-fveONt7nCIWw/s640/BlogBeMyGuesHBApril2012.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Velvet-upholstered Darcy bed from <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/" target="_blank">Pottery Barn</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Interior design by Kelie Grosso.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful (April 2012).</span></div><div align="center"></div>

Be My Guest

August is the month when many people travel -- often fitting in one last vacation before school begins again in the fall. I offer a sampling...

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