When you have a bunch of comfortable upholstered pieces, a single bronze or brass chair really turns the energy up.

Go outside! I mean, even leaves from a park are beautiful in a clear glass vase. I'd rather see that than fake anything any day.

My favorite thing about decorating is mixing different periods and styles. If you have something that's old, and you really do want to mix those styles, then you have to add something that's obviously modern with it. You can't put a kind of a mediocre thing in the middle.

It's my job to know what's available from every retailer, catalog, website, antiques mall, and craftsperson. A good designer or decorator has to have an almost encyclopedic knowledge.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on stuff when you have amazing architecture.

I hate sets. I've always hated sets. I think that if you have a dining room set, break it up!

Mixing in some rusty oranges is a warm way to update your place for fall.