Love: Applied Wall Finishes...

Dimensional Venetian plaster in a stripe pattern on walls

...because they add a layer of depth unmatched by any other means. I was thrilled to get Brian McCarthy's design book "Luminous Interiors" for Christmas - he begins with creating the "envelope" of the room to serve as the springboard for his designs. Granted, his projects aren't for mere mortals...here on earth, the trick is to make the treatment appropriate to the room's architecture and overall design scheme. Some inspiration below...

Block pattern in McCarthy's NYC home

Wave pattern in plaster for a beach house

Venetian plaster detail: original method used applied medium finished with multi-wax topcoats

One of my projects; we used subtle Venetian plaster on back and stair wall and in arch to ground the two story entry

Classic lacquered walls - not usually seen in living rooms

Lacquer detail; note the multi-colors underneath shine

Dining rooms lend themselves to lacquer; this one has 24 karat gold flecks for authentic shimmer

McCarthy had these panels made in France and used brass moulding to hide seams; this effect took 40 coats of lacquer to achieve

Images:Brian McCarthy,Luminous Interiors,Laurie Foster

Need: A Little Somethin' Somethin'...

...to elevate a room from perfectly nice to perfect touch. It's all in the details: trim, contrast welt, decorative tape, fringe, ornamental nailhead. Some great examples below...

Images:houzz,housebeautiful,hickorychair,sherrill,henredon,bernhardt,harden,

Love: Murals...

...maybe because I lived in a home that had a Rufus Porter - early American itinerant painter- mural up the stairs. Believed to be the oldest art form (think cave paintings), murals are basically 'art writ large'. They can be hand-painted on the wall or in wallpaper form and, wow, what an impact - much more interesting than just an accent wall in a different paint color. Some of my favorite settings below...

Images:elledecor,architecturaldigest,houzz,lushome,buyaz,traditionalhome

Want: The Pampered Guest Room

While you don't want them forwarding their mail, you do want them to feel valued and comfortable. So often guest rooms become the repository of cast-offs from owner upgrades - not necessarily a bad thing, but finish the room to accommodate a travelers needs and add your personal touch of hospitality...

A fresh coat of paint transforms older pieces...

...including the chandelier; you want both ambient and task lighting in the room and nightstands/tables on both sides of the bed

A bench at the foot of the bed always a good idea; note sconces as well as table lamps for night time reading. Stock with a selection of magazines and a book of short stories...

Window treatments that can block out light is appreciated by light sleepers, as are fresh flowers and a water carafe. 

Crisp hotel linens and towels should be reserved for guest use - provide a selection of pillows in the closet...maybe go the extra mile and provide new bathrobes and slippers too... a reading nook gives your guest a spot for some alone time...

If space allows, a writing desk with a mirror doubles as a vanity

Images: House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Hooker Furniture