Juxtapositions

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sharing photos of three different homes designed by three different Texas designers: Babs Watkins, Kay O'Toole, and Renea Abbott. I love these interiors because of the juxtapositions: crystal chandeliers with wood-beam ceilings, an antique stone torso atop a Lucite pedestal, fine silks with rough seashells, limestone with jeweled tiaras. Juxtapositions add life to a space. Mix rough with smooth, modern with antique, fine with coarse to create energy in a room.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ_7p72xcnRG5HC7ahRTTj0A-Mk5W23w6F3WT2mK97_bVGsVr574-FzCzPbXf8hJPSNFXtvKk2ePXrqu_OqN3NNgZ8w3x3obSz2mkMpR-4uanU2YDm5_7GXdEBySkf9Cnsxs5KqvJIMhK/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJ_7p72xcnRG5HC7ahRTTj0A-Mk5W23w6F3WT2mK97_bVGsVr574-FzCzPbXf8hJPSNFXtvKk2ePXrqu_OqN3NNgZ8w3x3obSz2mkMpR-4uanU2YDm5_7GXdEBySkf9Cnsxs5KqvJIMhK/s640/BlogBabsWatkins.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP7ApQIOZPrknBEK264cja2dBSanFmFn3CHBnXRYaOCMiRWdOHPFAf8ej9Vb_VAhZRkQRDew9MuzygiFbpN2z_P-Gdue9ZPyaqReT_-f_bB68nA22kFDd9FibYjTzbin7ya8suSWIvC83/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP7ApQIOZPrknBEK264cja2dBSanFmFn3CHBnXRYaOCMiRWdOHPFAf8ej9Vb_VAhZRkQRDew9MuzygiFbpN2z_P-Gdue9ZPyaqReT_-f_bB68nA22kFDd9FibYjTzbin7ya8suSWIvC83/s640/BlogBabsWatkins2.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQo8pB5cy1H0eQ6hO1bkyJqoVyoSh8LiSHTI2rIsuBGqgjh-HkGSJkMqQslnEkteNbVvNYUYjBZJjPosZk0o7JEwn987HlgRCghJqvIobBinqXvC68W9_QKMeLDX0LRtIzib5f-hzUbD5/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQo8pB5cy1H0eQ6hO1bkyJqoVyoSh8LiSHTI2rIsuBGqgjh-HkGSJkMqQslnEkteNbVvNYUYjBZJjPosZk0o7JEwn987HlgRCghJqvIobBinqXvC68W9_QKMeLDX0LRtIzib5f-hzUbD5/s640/BlogBabsWatkins3.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx3-ymDBJJ2O3SlT_chrATY20B1lNUkyGzUUhLGEQfX2e_G9curqijvFtzpHQYtofQ6rwMVvX1rebj3P1827EGVNBi6Kh-ZXQraSHParsgkRGPmU9Dy00DTqpoHRppU3DWvT0BVs5qIN3/s1600/BlogBabWatkins4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx3-ymDBJJ2O3SlT_chrATY20B1lNUkyGzUUhLGEQfX2e_G9curqijvFtzpHQYtofQ6rwMVvX1rebj3P1827EGVNBi6Kh-ZXQraSHParsgkRGPmU9Dy00DTqpoHRppU3DWvT0BVs5qIN3/s640/BlogBabWatkins4.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"A French lady of the 19th century sat in a coiffeur chair while having her hair styled. The delicate coloring of the fabric so enchanted the homeowner she decided not to have the chair recovered."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWtAQbyGPACOCKnIaxqKBG5ujdCgSJQfyD5oeetXWhAJd4L7E7YsLWQPSzpDiI5B_6iN4mbzk2fZfg4Y0KF6wm4A9677SwT9LSKoRfthtArnRX547TTnjDGwm3At7_UCCq9P8OH8pgA24/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWtAQbyGPACOCKnIaxqKBG5ujdCgSJQfyD5oeetXWhAJd4L7E7YsLWQPSzpDiI5B_6iN4mbzk2fZfg4Y0KF6wm4A9677SwT9LSKoRfthtArnRX547TTnjDGwm3At7_UCCq9P8OH8pgA24/s640/BlogBabsWatkins5.jpg" width="490" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Italian 18th-century silver leaf altar candle stand juxtaposed with English bowl. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All floral arrangements by Julie Baker."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnr2nnZ_jdGohnRYvnEfVcHCcRKh3db4Ck2a_4EaVR3Sc1mtSg4q_FsMH6Q4x8mUd4lnGP6UsHqVbDMbiYCqwo06ECY0N4QlOKxr_eS-gKXyS_ATWDNVRqCCq79c1vGuQqwGUCHnsapC4/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnr2nnZ_jdGohnRYvnEfVcHCcRKh3db4Ck2a_4EaVR3Sc1mtSg4q_FsMH6Q4x8mUd4lnGP6UsHqVbDMbiYCqwo06ECY0N4QlOKxr_eS-gKXyS_ATWDNVRqCCq79c1vGuQqwGUCHnsapC4/s640/BlogBabsWatkins6.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Sunlight is welcomed through uncurtained windows throughout the house. Antique linen cloth softens metal dining table. Murano chandelier adds grace."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmUnrGonnf2pH-3_VrrcQK3ETd2BstBlqrEnOkdvohsHnIsfTI_Fwzpduy2DkiQ7VhIcccyxvknwWI9g0GqoCy4ao5uOZiX2IiVXMWWkS0LGVOeDCShqXEX7-F9hljOj2m65oWxtgfdaI/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmUnrGonnf2pH-3_VrrcQK3ETd2BstBlqrEnOkdvohsHnIsfTI_Fwzpduy2DkiQ7VhIcccyxvknwWI9g0GqoCy4ao5uOZiX2IiVXMWWkS0LGVOeDCShqXEX7-F9hljOj2m65oWxtgfdaI/s640/BlogBabsWatkins7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5WrmwuiCjN-_syhj9v9WFP-D6foeeqnUDRL2ev5scps6NizZF7ecBIQs1EHRi5e12twTqA23X37o_LOmmSok5YsBeKVQQ30DV3uX_Rvph9N8QRzCa0fid0kdK7mceiZdJRbhcnPGfICx/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5WrmwuiCjN-_syhj9v9WFP-D6foeeqnUDRL2ev5scps6NizZF7ecBIQs1EHRi5e12twTqA23X37o_LOmmSok5YsBeKVQQ30DV3uX_Rvph9N8QRzCa0fid0kdK7mceiZdJRbhcnPGfICx/s640/BlogBabsWatkins10.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Beneath a 1940s Parisian wrought-iron and crystal chandelier, Louis XVI side chairs surround metal-legged table. Trumeau rests on Louis XVI chest. Silver tureen is English."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-0wB2UGSK5GWsuTbVHaG-boVwRvujY2KYtRiboTN5wYwp6eH_kTqyi0fQvhfIXLo1cX0i8aimcuXVDQHd818v7r6yVicbyarDQjoybKuj4jmNQf3Eidf9spUl9MvdMRS4TKWbCAkX8Hf/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-0wB2UGSK5GWsuTbVHaG-boVwRvujY2KYtRiboTN5wYwp6eH_kTqyi0fQvhfIXLo1cX0i8aimcuXVDQHd818v7r6yVicbyarDQjoybKuj4jmNQf3Eidf9spUl9MvdMRS4TKWbCAkX8Hf/s640/BlogBabsWatkins8.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Minimalism is continued in the great room where limestone floors are deliberately left bare."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEHdsGvy3oTXgognAy-cDOAv6Ax9voS2a-N6MJKr9yu8fdZHjPqj72Ddf4M4gQeovPDOBDOIWO9oMh76hAoXpOCh6qwvOifZkzFCz8MTixNBB27OkvrHVOql6qHHwkNxey6hGYTXCfmA-/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEHdsGvy3oTXgognAy-cDOAv6Ax9voS2a-N6MJKr9yu8fdZHjPqj72Ddf4M4gQeovPDOBDOIWO9oMh76hAoXpOCh6qwvOifZkzFCz8MTixNBB27OkvrHVOql6qHHwkNxey6hGYTXCfmA-/s640/BlogBabsWatkins9.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTosRlTWrcW2oaui8uezh89cGEX_LkSREp4eqvN0nWxVrr_uLEBd-ny6aTMFXNQzDb0dhCRqUN6Yz8k6f67Rp7bqowkgRW-MfXE3WQMBRd64USqHSicyxMTdEHL_T_laHKpiPv4mHkrMQb/s1600/BlogBabsWatkins11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTosRlTWrcW2oaui8uezh89cGEX_LkSREp4eqvN0nWxVrr_uLEBd-ny6aTMFXNQzDb0dhCRqUN6Yz8k6f67Rp7bqowkgRW-MfXE3WQMBRd64USqHSicyxMTdEHL_T_laHKpiPv4mHkrMQb/s640/BlogBabsWatkins11.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Torchere is Italian. Jay Iarussi painted the modulated walls throughout the house."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Home in River Oaks (Houston, Texas).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Babs Watkins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Patton W. Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape design by Sarah W. Lake, M.L.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Peter Vitale.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Charles L. Ross.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Light Touch: An Unclouded Vision” produced by Chris King.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOf6-FR-_LR8YdR13W_ZzOwiydzmYiPbKXukbEkxXH34pEOWWwvAlw7UpiG6lfr9yT1hBYmUCgzrVXg0ZURTYq02hrdoC-T0FRgYiX7owtCntxUqeFfotRA0p_9qJeEXaVzWN7PxXnCp7/s1600/BlogKayOToole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOf6-FR-_LR8YdR13W_ZzOwiydzmYiPbKXukbEkxXH34pEOWWwvAlw7UpiG6lfr9yT1hBYmUCgzrVXg0ZURTYq02hrdoC-T0FRgYiX7owtCntxUqeFfotRA0p_9qJeEXaVzWN7PxXnCp7/s640/BlogKayOToole.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Louis XVI <i>lit d'alcove</i>, Louis XV chairs and wired Venetian metal lantern. Floors stained in <i>parquet de Versailles</i> pattern. Terra-cotta painted dog made in Mexico."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas highrise apartment of Kay O'Toole.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kay O’Toole of <a href="http://www.kayotooleantiques.com/">Kay O’Toole Antiques and Eccentricities</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Sharon Perry Wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Tria Giovan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Judith Nasatir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“A Whiff of Whimsy” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfbssiOy1Wba9900-sQ-uW34aVNBXayMfgox6ACV9DGGseGCs5RLPHmvBfqRcQnFFwJLxPssYvCg1M4dbQ77Z9wJNfmDA72G5Odv8uaZN-l9xy_tcU9oWleQlazyVT78QxK1HQR6y9iSd/s1600/BlogKayOToole2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfbssiOy1Wba9900-sQ-uW34aVNBXayMfgox6ACV9DGGseGCs5RLPHmvBfqRcQnFFwJLxPssYvCg1M4dbQ77Z9wJNfmDA72G5Odv8uaZN-l9xy_tcU9oWleQlazyVT78QxK1HQR6y9iSd/s640/BlogKayOToole2.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas highrise apartment of Kay O'Toole.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kay O’Toole of <a href="http://www.kayotooleantiques.com/">Kay O’Toole Antiques and Eccentricities</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Sharon Perry Wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Tria Giovan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Judith Nasatir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“A Whiff of Whimsy” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5cvM6suyDMhOJblU225VHVgagpiGc6DLihwJTyaaJuoIy6RVNY5JU60kjHyt8cHcPQufyQmNZkFEJA2HyVy1ErrrtB4l31jCzaPe4M6iaYaZI8BxhzoZhhMkE0GBH3kfsU5SymMbDyCR/s1600/BlogKayOToole3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5cvM6suyDMhOJblU225VHVgagpiGc6DLihwJTyaaJuoIy6RVNY5JU60kjHyt8cHcPQufyQmNZkFEJA2HyVy1ErrrtB4l31jCzaPe4M6iaYaZI8BxhzoZhhMkE0GBH3kfsU5SymMbDyCR/s640/BlogKayOToole3.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas highrise apartment of Kay O'Toole.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kay O’Toole of <a href="http://www.kayotooleantiques.com/">Kay O’Toole Antiques and Eccentricities</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Sharon Perry Wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Tria Giovan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Judith Nasatir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“A Whiff of Whimsy” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3T3tS34vmOCPnWcN6V70EPNm9K_N7CKhGZ3BXlTxJcmo8EFiJ5FKimKq9IOm2N-_lmxVrn1HbBFq6XtjSPp8cYHaantaEet-bJcpeDBHlwuBb-UAR1Zv-u2fF7L50j2sMFcl87CUbDt_/s1600/BlogKayOToole5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3T3tS34vmOCPnWcN6V70EPNm9K_N7CKhGZ3BXlTxJcmo8EFiJ5FKimKq9IOm2N-_lmxVrn1HbBFq6XtjSPp8cYHaantaEet-bJcpeDBHlwuBb-UAR1Zv-u2fF7L50j2sMFcl87CUbDt_/s640/BlogKayOToole5.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"In master bedroom, greyhound, Sici, on custom iron bed with custom headboard. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Italian chandelier. Bed fabrics by <a href="http://www.fortuny.com/">Fortuny</a>." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas highrise apartment of Kay O'Toole.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kay O’Toole of <a href="http://www.kayotooleantiques.com/">Kay O’Toole Antiques and Eccentricities</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Sharon Perry Wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Tria Giovan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Judith Nasatir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“A Whiff of Whimsy” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM20kvVWr3hV0Hsoft4EFbp4KduQyRkn1kUHv6Gmq0kOccCfpZZAaD777hVtx7AuGqS44YnCM04_rED0vh8uQub_f5ey_5wIyedruvgDFYc62MUPaF-c_BWfbDJgGeRns-KSrvbuldyeB/s1600/BlogKayOToole6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGM20kvVWr3hV0Hsoft4EFbp4KduQyRkn1kUHv6Gmq0kOccCfpZZAaD777hVtx7AuGqS44YnCM04_rED0vh8uQub_f5ey_5wIyedruvgDFYc62MUPaF-c_BWfbDJgGeRns-KSrvbuldyeB/s640/BlogKayOToole6.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Houston, Texas highrise apartment of Kay O'Toole.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Kay O’Toole of <a href="http://www.kayotooleantiques.com/">Kay O’Toole Antiques and Eccentricities</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Architectural renovation by Sharon Perry Wise.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Tria Giovan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Judith Nasatir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“A Whiff of Whimsy” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV71pm6eF_EkJ6krrdk-uR8EbWrkiTfFdwhOhJAqSRVavLBgDrhghjx7Q3MPMT102w4prSZ9xBsWyPbdWPkH1ucP_1Z4dUlqNc7Nvos8RE1VWZ3lgJMCN6MjJxJyiaiHNkorlTLTHWpdij/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV71pm6eF_EkJ6krrdk-uR8EbWrkiTfFdwhOhJAqSRVavLBgDrhghjx7Q3MPMT102w4prSZ9xBsWyPbdWPkH1ucP_1Z4dUlqNc7Nvos8RE1VWZ3lgJMCN6MjJxJyiaiHNkorlTLTHWpdij/s640/BlogReneaAbbott.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Antique stone torso. Custom Lucite pedestal. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Gustavian-inspired chair in Classic Cloth damask."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfA9rACh4_12hRijyyjf8YBtdd7_aJfxss_egWOk1tbK-m2BEDOzaA1Ufb9t-YHQjuyY7cvm2x22s1k0GrDZNwKZ3W_G2SP8Ea73zevkOF7YSQgkAls2XfEsQD4xErBBcYkxM8b5dVRYY/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfA9rACh4_12hRijyyjf8YBtdd7_aJfxss_egWOk1tbK-m2BEDOzaA1Ufb9t-YHQjuyY7cvm2x22s1k0GrDZNwKZ3W_G2SP8Ea73zevkOF7YSQgkAls2XfEsQD4xErBBcYkxM8b5dVRYY/s640/BlogReneaAbbott3.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Drapery in Brunschwig and Fils stripe."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrXtzTRedsunIWQUqBoHCbO2SregGBcK4ACUeIICoZkkTi8klSd6v7ao0BDdiVWfQXkax9NZliwT3KN0YBloRBo8qV6NYsY6CDQ6AkfidMWTprQaH0NJ3C8elASNANSSVpwF88i4Ni_GH/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrXtzTRedsunIWQUqBoHCbO2SregGBcK4ACUeIICoZkkTi8klSd6v7ao0BDdiVWfQXkax9NZliwT3KN0YBloRBo8qV6NYsY6CDQ6AkfidMWTprQaH0NJ3C8elASNANSSVpwF88i4Ni_GH/s640/BlogReneaAbbott4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"French chandelier and 18th-century sconces."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFSGUQ8c4rSJWUksRQjZH1ut8s-sSM8abAXXRcGgALSIHUwq1wMFDAZJh8CoEu8MHWWFAV9Te7X__qi8u9wToGVzAmgzCb-b71sluYWJ_KqZogvNwWN0HmtnK8NGuMDzPnsGzRt3Qbuzv/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFSGUQ8c4rSJWUksRQjZH1ut8s-sSM8abAXXRcGgALSIHUwq1wMFDAZJh8CoEu8MHWWFAV9Te7X__qi8u9wToGVzAmgzCb-b71sluYWJ_KqZogvNwWN0HmtnK8NGuMDzPnsGzRt3Qbuzv/s640/BlogReneaAbbott2.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Louis XVI chaise longue in cotton. <a href="http://www.fortuny.com/">Fortuny</a> fabric on pillow. Nesle sconces. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Cy Twombly lithograph. Louis XIII limestone mantel."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfhNQgftI_2BlX9JomglAjwizSwnRTSOoVIanJz3FHvEkSMJZypFmaf9QQ84are0eljGDSfa9zpfAB_-qDdwJQBY9NOCC7cWY26nVmIN3kHoQVVPN4edTtPWoNSKSJA_zynPv7L-SsAGF/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfhNQgftI_2BlX9JomglAjwizSwnRTSOoVIanJz3FHvEkSMJZypFmaf9QQ84are0eljGDSfa9zpfAB_-qDdwJQBY9NOCC7cWY26nVmIN3kHoQVVPN4edTtPWoNSKSJA_zynPv7L-SsAGF/s640/BlogReneaAbbott6.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Table skirt in Silk Trading Company stripe. Venetian 19th-century mirror. French chair in linen.. Custom linen curtains. Sisal rug by Creative Flooring."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwE5yn6Nv2GqbdQs_iXYg9FVg-L8431xeFGbEr0Hs8MJqPjJlGL4P0fD1JqZdfJXFhsL-c9HqDgDFGx0qo8wnqsuXiJoPgULvVsZiS5lNTqCamPWy8ESzhBjaBiyzqQldBZ54-YcJIC8w/s1600/BlogReneaAbbott7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwE5yn6Nv2GqbdQs_iXYg9FVg-L8431xeFGbEr0Hs8MJqPjJlGL4P0fD1JqZdfJXFhsL-c9HqDgDFGx0qo8wnqsuXiJoPgULvVsZiS5lNTqCamPWy8ESzhBjaBiyzqQldBZ54-YcJIC8w/s640/BlogReneaAbbott7.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"In bath, 17th-century beams, <a href="http://www.waterworks.com/">Waterworks</a> showerheads/controls, tub and table. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Carrera mosaic floor."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Provence-style farmhouse in California.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Interior design by Renea Abbott of <a href="http://www.myshabbyslips.com/">Shabby Slips</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Building design by Michael Layne.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Landscape architecture by John L. Wong.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Photography by Roger Davies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Text by Degen Pener.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Passion for Provence for a California Family” produced by Mary Jane Ryburn.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (September 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div>

Juxtapositions

I am sharing photos of three different homes designed by three different Texas designers: Babs Watkins, Kay O'Toole, and Renea Abbott. I...

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Dale Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit, <i>Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts</i>. "Dale Chihuly has been an innovative figure in the American glass movement, creating glass on an increasingly epic scale that has astonished and enthralled people all over the world."(VMFA Fall 2012 Magazine). I have seen artisans blowing glass and, as a child, I had a collection of small blown-glass animals. I have never before seen glass pieces as large as the ones I saw at VMFA. As I walked from room to room of the Chihuly exhibit, I heard other people exclaim in surprise. We all were delighted by the magical quality of the work. The piece, <i>Mille Fiori</i>, which means "a million flowers," was like a winter wonderland made of fanciful glass creations. <i>Persian Ceiling</i> reminded me of visits to aquariums where one can walk under fish tanks and watch sea life swimming overhead. With this exhibit, however, one sees fabulous colorful shapes as one looks up at a glass ceiling. I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos I took of this exhibit. They hardly capture the beauty of the glass, but I want to share them, and I encourage anyone who will be visiting the <a href="http://www.vmfa.state.va.us/exhibitions/chihuly.aspx">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts</a> in Richmond, Virginia before February 13, 2013 to view this exhibit. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cmRslAn8W35X33z99SzRfkfUfphd91Rkp6VcDRUzLr4UqT0tEMEXezjR9YpfeeSp3WJJRuv7YWlKQPf6bKTBaWvBECIPSXDnILglwg9v0_zA0ZLcMGQfIXG_IQYZr3HKRxjKmKBcwCfO/s1600/zpfile001+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cmRslAn8W35X33z99SzRfkfUfphd91Rkp6VcDRUzLr4UqT0tEMEXezjR9YpfeeSp3WJJRuv7YWlKQPf6bKTBaWvBECIPSXDnILglwg9v0_zA0ZLcMGQfIXG_IQYZr3HKRxjKmKBcwCfO/s400/zpfile001+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Neon Tumbleweed</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Talk about a form of light - neon is light itself.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, of course, neon couldn't exist without glass."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dale Chihuly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium8RCmSeTfBYF0kDE9spi9lIdRuxDt3n9BEEVwjkQHM3qIY7HXWV6Hmf9fCnT0JTDCU3EJCwpOFSdxz3Hh8auW4U6luDiCWzP8LmES-X44QRAEE1wuX0A7ke6o6Zl41wUatS9nXx-e79Q/s1600/zpfile002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium8RCmSeTfBYF0kDE9spi9lIdRuxDt3n9BEEVwjkQHM3qIY7HXWV6Hmf9fCnT0JTDCU3EJCwpOFSdxz3Hh8auW4U6luDiCWzP8LmES-X44QRAEE1wuX0A7ke6o6Zl41wUatS9nXx-e79Q/s640/zpfile002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Neon Tumbleweed</i>, 2012, Richmond, Virginia, Dale Chihuly (American, born 1941).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl99JVve-d6gyEJknKuXchr10tvc9myJxNfidHqSct9XIepZ5uUv1-Q3ftsr871i7ZOObkfdJoHtg51Utv9seR2whtwx-9RzAXjn6Xz1nYYJD0i6uM7i9i04hmCsLr7gaNbgHMCRNdE-85/s1600/IMAG0327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl99JVve-d6gyEJknKuXchr10tvc9myJxNfidHqSct9XIepZ5uUv1-Q3ftsr871i7ZOObkfdJoHtg51Utv9seR2whtwx-9RzAXjn6Xz1nYYJD0i6uM7i9i04hmCsLr7gaNbgHMCRNdE-85/s640/IMAG0327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Reeds and Logs</i>, 2012, Richmond, Virginia, Dale Chihuly (American, born 1941).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In Finland we started making these long, cylindrical pieces, which looked like spears. This was an exciting new form. It was the first time we ever made anything like that. They can be taken anywhere - they can go outside. They are very strong pieces, and they are very dramatic." - Dale Chihuly</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-Xe8SXnQ0iPlt4zR-zwWBh8_iEx48YrLw1T6Eg-ywo4e202oWouS12nx5AIHbw88Ug8srp1B7YMM7fC76-UxORjHJdmD7hpPhPhuFS_JQDTJHsDG5fWzGmPVjd7hu813sEHu6YL_ivXJ/s1600/IMAG0341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-Xe8SXnQ0iPlt4zR-zwWBh8_iEx48YrLw1T6Eg-ywo4e202oWouS12nx5AIHbw88Ug8srp1B7YMM7fC76-UxORjHJdmD7hpPhPhuFS_JQDTJHsDG5fWzGmPVjd7hu813sEHu6YL_ivXJ/s640/IMAG0341.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This work was inspired by Japanese glass fishing floats. The row boat is life-size. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItD9EbIrPuU2-hwWMIi2QqYTX8oRjWlBF9vanVu-DUlLT4JpmG_B_mkrEBBFvm8kMyvi1jGMOFmBwwQo-BZcZAyy0zTcw7iZCVqntWv2lH-3ytYMLJ4Kc_sbaso4Y7zqXiOmZ4Wx_3RWz/s1600/IMAG0339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItD9EbIrPuU2-hwWMIi2QqYTX8oRjWlBF9vanVu-DUlLT4JpmG_B_mkrEBBFvm8kMyvi1jGMOFmBwwQo-BZcZAyy0zTcw7iZCVqntWv2lH-3ytYMLJ4Kc_sbaso4Y7zqXiOmZ4Wx_3RWz/s640/IMAG0339.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, this rowboat is life-size.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHbloJ3MDmckHuEPbVCXodg-spXjFNanXMWqu_DamRkBFXtXjICF8B3uc4do2J9D686oYrn2jpyEgO6CpVCAGSpjSc_YHQtC_2FkngVWG7NwVzaqYZq_Zl-7iwm8Eek0z17YhcbpECQLu/s1600/IMAG0331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHbloJ3MDmckHuEPbVCXodg-spXjFNanXMWqu_DamRkBFXtXjICF8B3uc4do2J9D686oYrn2jpyEgO6CpVCAGSpjSc_YHQtC_2FkngVWG7NwVzaqYZq_Zl-7iwm8Eek0z17YhcbpECQLu/s640/IMAG0331.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-QhL5A-rBs1XNxAXgnDPbst0n2ivBw6uEnQSLK5v77eOpyQ-tYRfVcae_dXVQ3XDeCnil0jmtyOdmCeiY9ilW5q1wo75JFUSQwh7Odj-bf1aSZhgNm8AYwvyCZH1d3OajwX96lo-x_LF/s1600/zpfile000+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-QhL5A-rBs1XNxAXgnDPbst0n2ivBw6uEnQSLK5v77eOpyQ-tYRfVcae_dXVQ3XDeCnil0jmtyOdmCeiY9ilW5q1wo75JFUSQwh7Odj-bf1aSZhgNm8AYwvyCZH1d3OajwX96lo-x_LF/s640/zpfile000+(2).jpg" width="348" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u5T2kJjKExrZBRkgXmxGrB03GtDSD3EkB4epiXH2Jwg85TI6Ypo20qLKg18GnofxnUa5v8SvUZesYvE9x5ewnkh7tlk_-1tgMTSMJGNNGWUTS5lw19aiFEPGgxYBFEY6bOYEhFHY1OoS/s1600/IMAG0314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7u5T2kJjKExrZBRkgXmxGrB03GtDSD3EkB4epiXH2Jwg85TI6Ypo20qLKg18GnofxnUa5v8SvUZesYvE9x5ewnkh7tlk_-1tgMTSMJGNNGWUTS5lw19aiFEPGgxYBFEY6bOYEhFHY1OoS/s640/IMAG0314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_L8cl-J-FEXbWZXDU7F0xvf09Kp6td1YWwJC92vkdp_FM379rCsgZgkOKrAVBlY0lo9eTKpRFD4uvjy6ua0RFBX5qgLVBIahLkp1LCbVBmwdr5B_rMOaZElCEfE6Y1Uczy0eRvRd79BK/s1600/IMAG0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_L8cl-J-FEXbWZXDU7F0xvf09Kp6td1YWwJC92vkdp_FM379rCsgZgkOKrAVBlY0lo9eTKpRFD4uvjy6ua0RFBX5qgLVBIahLkp1LCbVBmwdr5B_rMOaZElCEfE6Y1Uczy0eRvRd79BK/s640/IMAG0315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjm_4NEogwXDriZdeaetPQQ5xGFLBkiEfGydGynV57ZiP1pp3FCGnYRCkRn5jN-mGdhWtW41s_12Yv2-zKUMhyphenhyphenz8AqgImgFOjbM04rbSM9ZZ_eaDHr4hb1gtjqM0juMKLtjDzUHdPBNHr/s1600/IMAG0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjm_4NEogwXDriZdeaetPQQ5xGFLBkiEfGydGynV57ZiP1pp3FCGnYRCkRn5jN-mGdhWtW41s_12Yv2-zKUMhyphenhyphenz8AqgImgFOjbM04rbSM9ZZ_eaDHr4hb1gtjqM0juMKLtjDzUHdPBNHr/s640/IMAG0319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.  </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgrlK9cQcn4QTRDuKwHSUjArQEEcJrRukgljqDYd7Rc97alOPkJKDNDJc79uryLl5a3nWU9W115x_0fRIE3yzxnLA4-7aqkW-1BjVbuvwtTu-lMonExqzCxqC3THMa1quGNBrV4w81QvR/s1600/IMAG0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgrlK9cQcn4QTRDuKwHSUjArQEEcJrRukgljqDYd7Rc97alOPkJKDNDJc79uryLl5a3nWU9W115x_0fRIE3yzxnLA4-7aqkW-1BjVbuvwtTu-lMonExqzCxqC3THMa1quGNBrV4w81QvR/s640/IMAG0320.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnn-2Xe__YdE3IgPkC0jKZqflENT74rQP7_AxKb9iKd8-qF5zlyR2H-meNW-8lYZwY0ou9g2VNNZ5ertWDKBxFyXv3-hjZ7WJJBE0io_zjCcrQYUGbyq9HJ-GbstIU6FVhNj7wp1nFPhC/s1600/IMAG0333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnn-2Xe__YdE3IgPkC0jKZqflENT74rQP7_AxKb9iKd8-qF5zlyR2H-meNW-8lYZwY0ou9g2VNNZ5ertWDKBxFyXv3-hjZ7WJJBE0io_zjCcrQYUGbyq9HJ-GbstIU6FVhNj7wp1nFPhC/s640/IMAG0333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Mille Fiori</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.  </span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkEKKiyFQ_OAbGRDIKTP2zFTRNWwxeXeb5qnEWcrA1kqR_h-HDTfr9F91xYEbFKE9WoCm7yB_rE-ESXp8PhtJOpRR37MjwKgydhLkznqF-YscIjcM51LakZbVj-wMiSScmYCOqU0xdbNH/s1600/IMAG0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQkEKKiyFQ_OAbGRDIKTP2zFTRNWwxeXeb5qnEWcrA1kqR_h-HDTfr9F91xYEbFKE9WoCm7yB_rE-ESXp8PhtJOpRR37MjwKgydhLkznqF-YscIjcM51LakZbVj-wMiSScmYCOqU0xdbNH/s640/IMAG0309.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhcqgq7Pdc45sL6lLA6ZfltovwIy_7y9MVptTozAzJXlNHRGLV3ZdhJSVVpZBLTcXpggeJHO6bj2BaVuZY37HxclCuYCoExD2jKNEH96J-QwmDkOzh0hdd9_lV9Vii1t8sbzLoSBJXJ_F/s1600/IMAG0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhcqgq7Pdc45sL6lLA6ZfltovwIy_7y9MVptTozAzJXlNHRGLV3ZdhJSVVpZBLTcXpggeJHO6bj2BaVuZY37HxclCuYCoExD2jKNEH96J-QwmDkOzh0hdd9_lV9Vii1t8sbzLoSBJXJ_F/s640/IMAG0310.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qlqlOKoCQswLagihYLaLb4Rz-y4L1BckbLadtS71PXVIeMaAbE0UCyEM7S3p9h84JISY207B5iZq-__Fg5fbaF13lQgtBfUZJPCfvbVIlfui7W0KgIq7V5MdQRjnKEiKwGAPhR3G-di4/s1600/IMAG0311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qlqlOKoCQswLagihYLaLb4Rz-y4L1BckbLadtS71PXVIeMaAbE0UCyEM7S3p9h84JISY207B5iZq-__Fg5fbaF13lQgtBfUZJPCfvbVIlfui7W0KgIq7V5MdQRjnKEiKwGAPhR3G-di4/s640/IMAG0311.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CPJa-kYLtXBu31E3xZzis1AWX1d7BXAMxlE3mBATrc1cRRE2iGPLsH6S4viYzl2fBh3DaiC1OObV50CndjclKs3eUP11zXfm0IjFz4RsWGfrHZUg2uHCQBdItxdtWR44PEgHRewHXtSA/s1600/IMAG0335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CPJa-kYLtXBu31E3xZzis1AWX1d7BXAMxlE3mBATrc1cRRE2iGPLsH6S4viYzl2fBh3DaiC1OObV50CndjclKs3eUP11zXfm0IjFz4RsWGfrHZUg2uHCQBdItxdtWR44PEgHRewHXtSA/s640/IMAG0335.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH8K907BBsyGvsmRBkRjyj7RWWOfaKKBea7IF_dpFn5qd0-_kmJDyyBemN9I33S48hYZiDvmBtn-orAz-8seGmHhPzeQYTX-G3WYKxSKZR9DyWQOjzJ-EfpLNDoiUDlK2UzeLYaGwko5A/s1600/IMAG0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeH8K907BBsyGvsmRBkRjyj7RWWOfaKKBea7IF_dpFn5qd0-_kmJDyyBemN9I33S48hYZiDvmBtn-orAz-8seGmHhPzeQYTX-G3WYKxSKZR9DyWQOjzJ-EfpLNDoiUDlK2UzeLYaGwko5A/s640/IMAG0336.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, 2012, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKX2ZDfoWUu5XexMFvtZSV219JpmFNU6tQO-NbO91IspUCEZ6XN71H2TV_gx31LbRx0bybdQZb2AkIqhgGmqkXm_CrewnCrHk2BCBtheYiRrA8O8A0xSfqzTwhtDytPklOGdNZnR9GFbV/s1600/IMAG0337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKX2ZDfoWUu5XexMFvtZSV219JpmFNU6tQO-NbO91IspUCEZ6XN71H2TV_gx31LbRx0bybdQZb2AkIqhgGmqkXm_CrewnCrHk2BCBtheYiRrA8O8A0xSfqzTwhtDytPklOGdNZnR9GFbV/s640/IMAG0337.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Detail from <i>Persian Ceiling</i>, Dale Chihuly, Richmond, Virginia.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Kathleen Sams Flippen.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojV25g7UiaA&feature=youtu.be">YouTube video</a> directed and produced by May-Lily Lee that features Dale Chihuly and his work in Seattle, Washington. Enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Dale Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to visit the exhibit, Chihuly at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts . "Dale Chihuly has been an ...

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Election Day: Donkeys and Elephants

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is Election Day. I won't say who gets my vote; this is a bipartisan post. However, in the spirit of the day, I share photos of donkeys (Democrats) and elephants (Republicans). Celebrate your right to vote by taking a trip to the polls today!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDRDADDs7dMRm-Upcgua9FnY7ahGcs0Sevr787Aou0ET71hRZUyRp_OTgI6QV7bTeiLu7DYrEOoYdjTFHY4-JdEJIEd-9QscG97uBl3JK6DkihaC2z4IviQgHWiQIXKmSD7NJslKtbpbT/s1600/04_ED0109_TUTTLE9_067A-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDRDADDs7dMRm-Upcgua9FnY7ahGcs0Sevr787Aou0ET71hRZUyRp_OTgI6QV7bTeiLu7DYrEOoYdjTFHY4-JdEJIEd-9QscG97uBl3JK6DkihaC2z4IviQgHWiQIXKmSD7NJslKtbpbT/s640/04_ED0109_TUTTLE9_067A-lgn.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The library features a 19th-century mahogany secretary from Niall Smith Antiques and a painting by Javanese artist Karyanto."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mila and Tom Tuttle's 1836 Greek Revival townhouse in Manhattan.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior decorating by <a href="http://milesredd.com/">Miles Redd</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/amazing-grace#slide-4">Amazing Grace</a>" by Mitchell Owens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (January 2009).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbFDIq9MjDt2ROMl_SsfRKLF1xO2ZRh2u0V5Adiv3xS1w3a6tzmtWy1c1PsHItV1MKTMS6RLt5s-jeai5HEAItkjanwFV-xdtdo5ytEODx2LoIfGhxMdWipqbGGVAlP545-zvyY-Oekyo/s1600/511Q2WPJR0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbFDIq9MjDt2ROMl_SsfRKLF1xO2ZRh2u0V5Adiv3xS1w3a6tzmtWy1c1PsHItV1MKTMS6RLt5s-jeai5HEAItkjanwFV-xdtdo5ytEODx2LoIfGhxMdWipqbGGVAlP545-zvyY-Oekyo/s640/511Q2WPJR0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Image via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596430109/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1F05S4EDARX9SAQ6CA41&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846">Amazon</a>.</span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1OZCScwwgHnaKCDByKNL57AGjvq8DJ530CKSaVICPgGRwRG5-ZTZsKgPQQNGt35fusJDuGXjdjLGcyDaHNec0-eetrGT1cQdp82w6TXdHUwUxR8AOD4VNKwetsoJp9cCcYL1ppRzZ4j_/s1600/10_ED0109_TUTTLE9_073-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1OZCScwwgHnaKCDByKNL57AGjvq8DJ530CKSaVICPgGRwRG5-ZTZsKgPQQNGt35fusJDuGXjdjLGcyDaHNec0-eetrGT1cQdp82w6TXdHUwUxR8AOD4VNKwetsoJp9cCcYL1ppRzZ4j_/s640/10_ED0109_TUTTLE9_073-lgn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In the master bath, wallpaper by <a href="http://www.degournay.com/">de Gournay</a> and <a href="http://www.us.kohler.com/us/">Kohler</a> sinks </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with <a href="http://www.barwil.co.uk/">Barber Wilsons and Co.</a> fittings."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mila and Tom Tuttle's 1836 Greek Revival townhouse in Manhattan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior decorating by <a href="http://milesredd.com/">Miles Redd</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/amazing-grace#slide-10">Amazing Grace</a>" by Mitchell Owens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.elledecor.com/">Elle Decor</a> (January 2009). </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpiGPwxcBVcLleTO8eP7p3MnWSJQeWvhwn9hbx9pzcjsp5PJiS9wso7qeOVk1KWRRlWR-6OvJaxZZt_m5Lt4pA582JcxCsHi4sz8nILAMLkvC7wd_NkwW_yJ5xcKjJ4rrv2C0Ka7TjK7H/s1600/800px-'Taming_the_Donkey',_painting_by_Eduardo_Zamacois_y_Zabala,_1868,_private_collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKpiGPwxcBVcLleTO8eP7p3MnWSJQeWvhwn9hbx9pzcjsp5PJiS9wso7qeOVk1KWRRlWR-6OvJaxZZt_m5Lt4pA582JcxCsHi4sz8nILAMLkvC7wd_NkwW_yJ5xcKjJ4rrv2C0Ka7TjK7H/s640/800px-'Taming_the_Donkey',_painting_by_Eduardo_Zamacois_y_Zabala,_1868,_private_collection.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Taming the Donkey" (1868).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Painting by Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala (private collection).</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Permission: PD-Art.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:'Taming_the_Donkey',_painting_by_Eduardo_Zamacois_y_Zabala,_1868,_private_collection.jpg">Photo obtained via Wikipedia</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9wLbv6thz0giytZE5unD4Ah8MdP39sRSnbSOMG077nMzWgM-ZokjWRetrjuCTcb4o43ppN1kM3IM_05jvNTGgk2pYR6LHzS1OwbcSAaT6H5jfNlCC3d7rTSasZuTWCoovOhcDIaLgFMw/s1600/3235_photo_1_190201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9wLbv6thz0giytZE5unD4Ah8MdP39sRSnbSOMG077nMzWgM-ZokjWRetrjuCTcb4o43ppN1kM3IM_05jvNTGgk2pYR6LHzS1OwbcSAaT6H5jfNlCC3d7rTSasZuTWCoovOhcDIaLgFMw/s640/3235_photo_1_190201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://hivemodern.com/product3235/vitra-eames-elephant">Eames Elephant</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Designed by Charles and Ray Eames, 1945.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Available via <a href="http://www.hivemodern.com/">Hive Modern</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S3-t3fXlpd1SNkEhbtRocQAY8eEH4LYMyDgjTGru8GPiWr68e5JwDSoPl-4rA8NKyvY08rjIQ-p0YVcZEFpJvE56PqxTPovucylooKgFLXAo2qPjVTSF40_RH2W8S-Jtpeecf_UAYhBm/s1600/1348155168-124ea.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S3-t3fXlpd1SNkEhbtRocQAY8eEH4LYMyDgjTGru8GPiWr68e5JwDSoPl-4rA8NKyvY08rjIQ-p0YVcZEFpJvE56PqxTPovucylooKgFLXAo2qPjVTSF40_RH2W8S-Jtpeecf_UAYhBm/s640/1348155168-124ea.jpeg" width="628" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francoise-Xavier Lalanne's 1998 "Ane de Natalie," a donkey made of bronze, leather and wood.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: JGM Galerie.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/fashion/13iht-rartbiennale13.html?pagewanted=all">Sumptuous Paris Fair Defies Bearish Times</a>" by Maia de la Baume.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.newyorktimes.com/">New York Times</a> (September 12, 2012).</span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLTiBmdLTHIJV9mryeFc6Mbz-FieRVjXS0emDI3k3gU-Sh_xuoF9DMtPJxXMhvVYtFl1NVVTx20iUi_z5zuWmGvNsT79p5AvME76N-h-jO5g5b3r5tenboLDizQjbuQUxm6uP0akHlhfP/s1600/item6.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.topiary-gardens-07-elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTLTiBmdLTHIJV9mryeFc6Mbz-FieRVjXS0emDI3k3gU-Sh_xuoF9DMtPJxXMhvVYtFl1NVVTx20iUi_z5zuWmGvNsT79p5AvME76N-h-jO5g5b3r5tenboLDizQjbuQUxm6uP0akHlhfP/s640/item6.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.topiary-gardens-07-elephant.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elephant topiary located in Green Animals, a garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Following the European Renaissance tradition of creating furry shapes in clipped trees and shrubs, Green Animals features a menagerie of adorable creatures. . . . [T]his topiary masterpiece features teddy bears, an elephant, an ostrich, a unicorn, and more than 75 additional forms of green fauna. The property was originally the summer home of Thomas Brayton, treasurer of the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company, and his family. It was the head gardener who began clipping and experimenting with topiary forms in the first decades of the 20th century."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Nik Wheeler/Alamy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/decor/2012-10/public-topiary-gardens-guide-slideshow#slide=7">Garden Party</a>" text by Katherine Whiteside.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a>.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs85ogVKQ-CWNtzVFekZzHZPYGCVO25stamr5nxQLDZk8_sJWML_g2cAtuxi_1TY_9IJ4t6wCsdQS8_i-RcJKOgbzJmTB0ggWgdSzIxsySNTM7KcsIZIQQnJbNu9n8gaPfKA2Q9wyG_70U/s1600/Donkey_head_rhyton_Louvre_Cp3555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs85ogVKQ-CWNtzVFekZzHZPYGCVO25stamr5nxQLDZk8_sJWML_g2cAtuxi_1TY_9IJ4t6wCsdQS8_i-RcJKOgbzJmTB0ggWgdSzIxsySNTM7KcsIZIQQnJbNu9n8gaPfKA2Q9wyG_70U/s640/Donkey_head_rhyton_Louvre_Cp3555.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Rhyton in the shape of a donkey's head representing Dionysus and a maenad."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A rhtyon was a drinking vessel used in ancient times. It typically took the shape of an animal or an animal head.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Circa 400 and 430 B.C., Athens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Located in the Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Louvre. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Marie-Lan Nguyen (2006), holder of copyright.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donkey_head_rhyton_Louvre_Cp3555.jpg">Photo obtained via Wikipedia</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhiH2Tk58PJBAWUuQmO76eUCCZ2OPCLFW_10kA-BDl3mLDn0Q6WJjqBRGv18yccjKmaCiyJE7-Xea8irWGoJYu8LIfDSe5bDgpC7Y9fK8gpc3UGiqJaPZag-cB3CZWjLUWe_bnx8B3qUB/s1600/NMH58TQ_mx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhiH2Tk58PJBAWUuQmO76eUCCZ2OPCLFW_10kA-BDl3mLDn0Q6WJjqBRGv18yccjKmaCiyJE7-Xea8irWGoJYu8LIfDSe5bDgpC7Y9fK8gpc3UGiqJaPZag-cB3CZWjLUWe_bnx8B3qUB/s640/NMH58TQ_mx.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White Elephant Garden Seat.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/White-Elephant-Garden-Seat-elephant/prod120410101___/?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%252Fsearch.jsp%253FN%253D0%2526Ntt%253Delephant%2526_requestid%253D59660&eItemId=prod120410101&cmCat=search">Neiman Marcus</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$199.00</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplOjJB8uEc24pV74JXZPCmKJZpy6Ox755RVqGiDnEPMZbu3QYQj17ZzM7e3eCglw2LE8SFRiN7ryleZLikxJyypwD-P-NmMQ1qe3lP-qbU5eKlr9mYhA8xYKFyqVEWhbUZOZuL_thsip/s1600/HVHB-15502-0-00-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQplOjJB8uEc24pV74JXZPCmKJZpy6Ox755RVqGiDnEPMZbu3QYQj17ZzM7e3eCglw2LE8SFRiN7ryleZLikxJyypwD-P-NmMQ1qe3lP-qbU5eKlr9mYhA8xYKFyqVEWhbUZOZuL_thsip/s400/HVHB-15502-0-00-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Herend Donkey Blue Fishnet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.herendstore.com/Herend-Donkey-Blue-Fishnet-p/hvhb-15502-0-00.htm">Herendstore</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$480.00</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxpjzKDyccBEeIImAxXMucDj5aihLa-QmxtErJnhUTquEleL9vfQOCxKaqMmpmfRpMhB9ETw2O3lrCAGlrAaiC4UJsG0JYtPcrVoDsRi_0wA64n42pwP1awxB7ml7uGezsIeQ2fQgzcZn/s1600/sp_all-ears-elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxpjzKDyccBEeIImAxXMucDj5aihLa-QmxtErJnhUTquEleL9vfQOCxKaqMmpmfRpMhB9ETw2O3lrCAGlrAaiC4UJsG0JYtPcrVoDsRi_0wA64n42pwP1awxB7ml7uGezsIeQ2fQgzcZn/s400/sp_all-ears-elephant.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/all-ears-elephant.html">All Ears Elephant</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hand-sculpted from papier-mache in Haiti by displaced earthquake survivors"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/">Viva Terra</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$189.00 </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBbZbhVlf0FH8tasSGm5JhgAXU11BIbyIGZZNhk40-M_-1Upy7L6go0MFWMCZfgc3WUdzSIZhO16OI0uniZZyPiXLKIwEDt1C1_r8ppIVBdqbxpvsRa_Ic8KkGmPKnI6O6_PpMzdSm7mB/s1600/NMN1WGF_mz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBbZbhVlf0FH8tasSGm5JhgAXU11BIbyIGZZNhk40-M_-1Upy7L6go0MFWMCZfgc3WUdzSIZhO16OI0uniZZyPiXLKIwEDt1C1_r8ppIVBdqbxpvsRa_Ic8KkGmPKnI6O6_PpMzdSm7mB/s640/NMN1WGF_mz.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Salvatore-Ferragamo-Donkey-Election-Tie-Navy-donkey/prod150790227___/?icid=&searchType=MAIN&rte=%252Fsearch.jsp%253FN%253D0%2526Ntt%253Ddonkey%2526_requestid%253D60151&eItemId=prod150790227&cmCat=search">Donkey Election Tie, Navy</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italian silk tie by Salvatore Ferragamo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/">Neiman Marcus</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$180.00 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh1yOvYN1NRN6x2dXuKEi9Ij7TFvgxRUmOeU4W8Wo8-0vPFtNpYLDq1teQNzBlS_UZ2q5GQ5PaTHmToVpxzwtX7JmzBM0xrCuNPIDC0kWZUw2Go8ZVS3DqEb8l-OWpBiYx708jkomKOMV/s1600/undicided.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh1yOvYN1NRN6x2dXuKEi9Ij7TFvgxRUmOeU4W8Wo8-0vPFtNpYLDq1teQNzBlS_UZ2q5GQ5PaTHmToVpxzwtX7JmzBM0xrCuNPIDC0kWZUw2Go8ZVS3DqEb8l-OWpBiYx708jkomKOMV/s640/undicided.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Undecided"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offered by <a href="http://www.stubbsandwootton.com/index.php/shop-men/slippers/undecided.html">Stubbs and Wootton</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$400.00 for women.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$450.00 for men.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Election Day: Donkeys and Elephants

Today is Election Day. I won't say who gets my vote; this is a bipartisan post. However, in the spirit of the day, I share photos of don...

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