Crossing too many t's and dotting too many i's makes a room look overdone and tiresome. One should create something that fires the imagination without overemphasis.

In restoring a house one must first realize its period, feel its personality and try to bring out its good points.

Even if it's not a style of architecture or period you like, a decorator has to have a feel for a house's personality and try not to fight against it. I like to get the juice out of a house and not spoil it.

If every piece is perfect the room becomes a museum and lifeless.

Scale is of prime importance and I think that oversized scale is better than undersized scale.

In choosing a colour one must realize that it changes in different aspects.

How lucky I've been to live in such beautiful places and able to make them as I dreamed. I've been lucky. I've adored my houses more than my friends (or husbands).