The Way We Live With Color (Rizzoli, $39.95)
In the newest addition to The Way We Live… series, author Stafford Cliff and photographer Gilles de Chabaneix capture the colors of everyday life by depicting how color is used around the world. The Way We Live with Color focuses on how color influences the way we live in a room and how it’s not only paint on the wall but also the bright and unusual accents on floors, furniture, ceilings and windows. The book also reveals how varying materials and textures — metallic surfaces, colored glass, stone, brick or wooden ceilings — can open up new areas for exploring color and mood.
Step Back in Time
Country Floors’ Olde English tiles re-create a rich tradition for your contemporary castle. Inspired by tiles found on the floors of medieval manors, these new tiles gain the look of age with a softly pitted stone-like patina to complement today’s interiors. Country Floors, 800/311-9995,
or go to www.countryfloors.com.
French Flair
Before there was Barcalounger, there was the chaise de malade, but this reclining piece is far more refined. French for “sick chair,” it was historically used by the infirm in the late 1700s. Made of walnut, the chair’s tapered, fluted legs make it a prime example of the Louis XVI period while its larger scale offers a unique and stylish spin. Balzac Antiques, 3506 Magazine St., 899-2668.
The Perfect Pear
Hand-painted on a paper drum shade, pears pair nicely with the distressed ceramic base of this oversized table lamp. Its fruity appeal makes this lamp an obvious choice for extra lighting in the kitchen or breakfast room or for incorporating an unexpected freshness into the living room. Fischer-Gambino Lighting, 602 Metairie Road, Metairie, 833-7757,
or 637 Royal St., 524-9067.
The New Loo
There’s now a decorative solution to perhaps the most unattractive bathroom fixture — the toilet. Julien’s BenchToilet by Troy Adams Design conceals this unsightly necessity with a sliding wood panel that creates the look of a sleek powder room bench. The award-winning piece also houses a deep storage drawer and offers ample style and practicality. Troy Adams Design for Julien, Southland Plumbing, 2321 N. Arnoult Road, 835-8411, or go to www.julien.ca.
Aged to PerfectionLike a fine wine, some things get better with age. Made of Indonesian hardwood, this stunning obelisk’s weathered look is the result of naturally occurring climate conditions. This architectural element, traditionally found outdoors, becomes reborn when it’s placed within a room, and it makes an interesting adornment atop a mantel or coffee table. Estella’s, 701 Metairie Road, Metairie, 833-8979.
Essentially French
A vintage French lantern infuses casual elegance into any room and ranks among the most versatile of home accessories. It can be wired for use as a modern-day light fixture or displayed as a unique centerpiece with pillar candles placed inside. A bouquet of lavender and greens further transforms this piece into an aromatic terrarium. Distinctive Design and Décor, by appointment, 895-8680, or go
to www.distinctivedesignanddecor.com.
In Stitches
Part of Maya Romanoff’s newest wallcovering collaboration with famed architect David Rockwell, Stitched has the timeless appeal of hand-stitched leather. Inspired by Romanoff’s best-selling Weathered Walls, Stitched possesses an enticing textural aesthetic that is both fluid and dimensional. Maya Romanoff Extraordinary Surfacing Materials, 773/465-6909, or go to www.mayaromanoff.com.
