One of my favorite suppliers has produced one of my favorite sofas. The proportions are perfect, the details, from the tufted back to the seat curving around the arm, are exactly right, and the taupish velvet is elegantly understated. The sofa is clean, classy and comfortable. I can’t wait to use it.

This year I noticed many quality Art Deco pieces at Highpoint. I adore the glossy veneer finishes in exotic rosewood and ebony. This oval end table emphasizes Deco simplicity and super smooth surfaces. Details include the beveled edge, sleek hardware and wood grain repeats on each of the four drawers. Whenever I see a piece like this I expect Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to glide by dancing cheek to cheek.

If you demand nothing but the best for your books, you might find this velvet-upholstered bookcase intriguing. It features exposed wood in the base, cornice and shelving, while the rest of the piece is covered in velvet with a nail head design. Perfect for the bibliophile who has everything, including the great room that would really show these pieces off.

I adore the simplicity of this French end table. Everything about it fits perfectly, from the white onyx top and gallery edge in antique brass to the flared leg. The style typifies this year’s market trends: classic, simple, clean lines, very well made with beautiful details, like the delicate brass foot caps.

With the proliferation of remote controls, smart phones, iPods, etc, gadget clutter is growing by leaps and bounds. This chair provides a clever solution. The arms contain hidden storage spaces, just the right size for electronic gadgets. There is definitely a James Bond element to these camouflaged spaces; remember the controls hidden within the armrest of 007’s Aston Martin in “Goldfinger”? Unfortunately I don’t think you can push a button to eject anyone seated nearby, no matter how boring his or her conversation.

I can be very comfortable on a sofa my husband finds too short. Conversely, if my husband is comfortable I sometimes find myself with legs dangling. Of course many sofas have a happy medium but another option is this contemporary design, which allows you to easily change the rear cushion height. Each section’s cushion can be changed, and the sofa looks good with any combination of heights. And if you’re lounging, the chaise at either end is the ultimate couch potato’s friend, for TV viewing or snoozing.

In another room in the same home as the reconditioned settee, we performed a similar operation on a French Louis XV chair that, due to it’s outdated fabric, was looking quite tired. I chose a blue plaid with contrasting navy blue welt, which gave the chair a refreshing new look, as well as complementing a cotton area rug with bold blue stripes and blue toile bedding. I accented the look with a blue toile pillow for the chair.

This antique Canadian Huguenot armoire makes a great statement, as all good armoire’s do, in addition to providing capacious storage for just about anything you can imagine. I’ve used armoires as liquor cabinets, entertainment centers, and storage for everything from complete dinner services, glassware, and flatware, to all manner of hanging and folded clothing. It’s much more impressive (and certainly has more character) than much of the furniture that is purpose built for these functions. And if you, like me, are an antique store habitué, you can find armoires of all ages and sizes, and in various states of repair, on your next antiquing expedition. You might just find the armoire that fits your decor and storage needs to a T.

I’m always amazed at how you can take a piece of furniture that’s really outdated, one you’re tempted to discard, and transform it into a piece that fits a room perfectly. The French settee in the photo had seen better days, but it is very delicately made and quite charming. I painted the frame off white with light antiquing, and used two different fabrics from Nobilis to create a large stripe. It now sits in a lovely guest bedroom in harmony with the toile fabrics that predominate. When the room is finished I’ll post photos.

I’m working on this bedroom that becomes more romantic with each added element. The centerpiece is the canopy bed finished in antique polished steel, with fabric cascading gracefully to the floor. The aubusson rug is soft and sensual, the gathered sheers on the windows are simple yet elegant, and the alabaster lamps on French night tables add just the right note of classical serenity. It still needs finishing, but a room like this might easily lead to dreams of moonlit nights and long, lingering glances across a crowded room. Or maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic.