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same home as the reconditioned settee, we performed a similar operation on a French Louis XV chair that, due to it’s outdated fabric, was looking quite tired.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I’m always amazed at how you can take a piece of furniture that’s really outdated, one you’re tempted to discard, and transform it into a piece that fits a room perfectly.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.

I was at a client recently who impulsively purchased a sofa last year at a price that seemed too good to be true. Turns out it definitely was too good to be true, and the workmanship was so bad that it now needs to be replaced. It may not end up on the street like the sofa in the photo, but it certainly was an object lesson on the importance of purchasing quality goods. Penny wise and pound foolish is a well-worn phrase, but in the furniture business it is so true. Poorly made sofas are glued instead of hand doweled, they use wood that is not kiln-dried, and the result is that even with light use they will wear out quickly. There are, of course, different price points, but you can purchase a quality piece that will last a lifetime without paying a fortune. Another important measure of quality is detail. Cushion foam should have a high-density core with a wrap of down that is channeled so it doesn’t move. A cheap core with a wrap of polyester will simply not last. So as you make interior decisions, sometimes it’s wise to wait until you can purchase quality. In the long run it will generate much more satisfaction and, yes, even save money.

A few years ago I had a lot of fun doing a Nursery For Twins at a show house in Rumson. I designed a pair of cradles for the room that have never found a home. They look so forlorn in storage, with their cute curves finished in a light teal glaze against a cream background. If you know of someone who’s expecting please have them take a look. I would have the initial of the child’s name painted on the back, and I promise that the value would be extraordinary—draping and duvee included!