Love: The Right Lamps...

..as they serve as the jewelry in the room. Each room composition is unique and they can either play a supporting role or be the sculptural star. I'm a fan of using identical lamps to flank a sofa, but different end tables from the same collection (as long as their heights are within an inch of each other)...too much symmetry creates tension in a room... My only rule is to never have the eye see a bulb when sitting or standing, decorative bulb lamps notwithstanding... Some great offerings below:

Images: curreyandcompany.com,wildwoodlamps.com,arteriorshome.com

Showcase: Bernhardt Interiors

Bernhardt has been blowing the doors off lately for affordable high style...feast below and visit bernhardt.com for more inspiration....

Linen covered and brass edged cocktail table

Curvy acrylic cocktail table

Pale gray bone-inlay chest...need to see to truly appreciate!

Linen covered and edged with nailhead side table

Herringbone inlay

Acrylic pedestal end table

Sigh

Hollywood Glam

love love love

Fabulous end table

Chinoiserie cocktail in metal

Shades of 'Downton Abbey'

Fresh twist on a classic

Study in nailhead

Modern spin on the Greek Klismos chair

How fun is this?

Could see this in a dining setting

Concrete cocktail and petrified wood end tables; texture juxtaposition with velvet is wonderful

...and they can do 'Restoration Hardware' as well

Not your Grandma's four-poster

One useful piece

Love this cocktail!

Lacquer and metal occasionals are just lovely

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