BACK to BLACK

<p align="center"><strong>"Every room can use a touch of black"</strong> is so true and is something to remember when it comes to interiors.</p> <p align="center">Bright colors are taking a back seat to black. </p> <p align="center">Back to Black, the name of Songstress Amy Winehouse's soulful vocal, is enough to inspire the return to </p> <p align="center">classic, forever black.  Amy's song (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aygAu1x2uQo" target="_blank">listen to it here</a>) is my inspiration for The Return to Black, in fashion as well as in Interiors.</p> <p align="center">Think style, think sophistication, think timeless.</p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nTTJmAfbx_rISk1D-wbcV-uEgib54sylcKvrTwM0r9K4eweIREZvuyBAIXR6iLeMpHUBeEJ0ueAY0AY57bRvH6bwNoIVGzLvVP5mfmaF_h9aBNZOBu-QAlYtNv_meugQ3CHGX77_kuFp/s1600-h/image8%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuLGzcdHvWWZeqsOcgoOVJ43a7RQqejMO9iEvGKPW72yKqxcvG6Yh8TPkxU6vmltPKDgUCFXFxLvC-DocYUcFXK0aS8182KysZRsB7x1RXXywpJjW6crOKDYOlkyuJA44Fj7PYpGu6ZPj/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="119" /></a>   <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqj2fB8tFr6Dc-ZBrt6NziCfDBYm3eEOMixH_D_5LtdtwNuzMxhldhbF_o7cL6AuykpjUAan6nYRwzuPhlyVaaywOrjCt_ANE7iEO29YvbUGSKxNYXv3FHXL4KTcO9Akj7m-0IEK84GyVq/s1600-h/image17%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WO8Z3pCMppf04GTl0ZjBSYxckuCF28YWWa3id2BNZRwct2QsSCHho_oCWqJAQNzyugq76sSzetY2C_gw2c8phtbYWJknFsCwZYSeJH_wuO19PJw-Wrji0U29U1edFP83lgKZkp5yeX5a/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="156" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3rh6FK692T7cseXqDg2k69oSlZGJJZiuVvp4Tvn0I5wC6us-6_qrgB0RozI1eTkkDEs9U3O2fXH10CTyHNTykcuppMxSq2Eh3KDMPO5IEmb7DYQSOnvjldfR31UrokUvEp4JxWbt-17eI/s1600-h/image20%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23Zf0uAE991eYGSspJJOkz6b0LgAzJtiGTxn5JyFGVVcOUExEVO3dh3fYhSIkfNUSLeBGXBmay3qmo027X22DkW5diEUx19qrNGi_lhACsEslYdmhUkl48q34evZR5mYo09AIBytPL1mA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="160" /></a> </p> <p align="center">The little black dress,or <strong>LBD</strong> as it is known in fashion shorthand, is an timeless classic.  <br /><font size="1"><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3003182?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=black+in+Designer+Collections&origin=searchresults" target="_blank">Tory Burch</a></font><font size="1"> left   </font><font size="1"><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3003262?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=black+in+Designer+Collections&origin=searchresults" target="_blank">Philip Lim</a></font><font size="1"> center   </font><font size="1"><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3001397?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=black+in+Designer+Collections&origin=searchresults" target="_blank">Vince</a></font><font size="1"> right </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="1"></font></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14SE63n0fZu1sOx4abAjisaSfr3RK-ccpcZ8oaFn-rOz7HE3bkjLixds4SXqt6IiY6LRUofNHQvBlz76TKUFL96MR_EuRWmXFeQPbpaMmO9J1AFUj4MOV-yLevHYDqMTPUEWCkKr9FzTL/s1600-h/image27%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT96KQWHDtECBxYjtjyLkJ_lRkkIX07CDmIf9nwI7rwwF2NDS9hcGWrEV1uotDl3GLK3DcfFv8lc2x1E4ecvBerR5rqYXzcCyiJVR-4J12_6FjrFc5mYdjZ1d2xlKHB5mUZJ8SUHU7zvtt/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="460" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aygAu1x2uQo" target="_blank">Amy Winehouse</a></font> </p> <p align="center">A room needn't have a total makeover to make a statement with black - punctuate a neutral interior with a sleek black table lamp. <br /></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7URXHgmWk2WXGiisIdn1IGDJQr96twGATiM8N13fu_PKk-JZc6-1gXB9ARacdhk4GNFsyh_08-0fAXfDJ40MRqe0VbTZMxRFBGNeX1n907LkxOMCRVBq-4O8fA3LHiX2dPMOikMeymXC6/s1600-h/Porta%20Roma.png"><img alt="Porta Roma" border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GuTdn6SekrOP6Z5kLQ0FL-k4aIEQqwZMrh_cOD8A_AyUL6qA_UBlIveXGmhovzUPSWsLwr40KKiqwy2Iev6-0pHZsCCwuQQEhg-fdeliUZoG1mBRuFTuBLdDvUp_ZgFy9vtniVBPLhAo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="260" /></a> </p> <p align="center">A <strong>TOUCH OF BLACK</strong> in a room can act like a punctuation mark!</p> <p align="center">This gourd lamp with black silk oval shade is from the stylish <a href="http://www.portaromana.co.uk/?page=details&pid=499&sid=1&cid=1" target="_blank">Porta Romana</a> lamp company in the UK and is a timeless classic.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFciyT41447UshtbbwJ4TR7dEwLulBnijBZMSbPz5H360-RcynnFTDL7rKiL4eLFxJEXhmIUwXlQMR2GW_U80Iat7PILkOSZ2_utGeDXfrEIVmuONMdINMZSoDxV9eT9QksyLyDO7T4-Z/s1600-h/night%20hotel%20new%20york%20lobby.png"><img alt="night hotel new york lobby" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFz6SxTaNU93-XuwSKUiknkh79ViLD5_pU2hAbc-lFFGMACAtdu_N66a_iQHtbTvN3gRKdO_PC-429AZJkLRfQ1qdjrYZ8SHAPp2qE17CL4AAGfAylsiTj5w2FQ4iMuXOLxz2K5oi3MsO/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="544" /></a> </p> <p align="center">The <a href="http://www.nighthotelny.com/" target="_blank">Night Hotel</a> (pictures above and below) in New York is a study in black and is decorated in <strong>"Modern Gothic Gotham"</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVYoR1O6tfN-Wu2nse1sLwSi0NPvobK2K86G11y0D6CAUMfpVIOqvhO5JUtOAQtpxMxRAuAMgHEE9u-H38bvLXj6PQx-09AhsuwEYkq8w27ATPFB6Ou2QKt56eQQz6e0_s5ZXogiGAaBc/s1600-h/night%20hotel%20new%20york.png"><img alt="night hotel new york" border="0" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt-Xxd4OnCuLM4wrThhGKaT0KUdaDxlxI19C5p_cPBWAJGB6ROJg_op8kWL-WpZpN9Vm5Pk1bNPUp5clwnieq4Li6RLvMDXTYFeZiSscUuc_-xKuMth_lTXCvSc7N-g_7W0GYZaxRTkeg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="548" /></a></p> <p align="center">  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u4ctpcNh07BC1lQcOT4USwDOWSRBC8w9mAy-E-GetrqbC1N_q9QCeA0sJ32PZ3fFu7A4CbrGh6x0d8bym8p2Vo-H7aq4jg7ny3BaVtDvJio21N9Hlww7IjoNQZvX7ZNZZNQNM-sM0cho/s1600-h/pophamdesign%20com%20tile1.jpg"><img alt="pophamdesign com tile1" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUo_1WxkhbfPHKKxsetdHFpSf2lpN69SXDsiAUP9pvPIPFgfJ9r1haBepjKc4eCpKub0PjzZlZKlEAUzcdGy2lq0x5ua1qUevxZQTJykwQwPU3ONLoBSs__3Zj1uhKIsfqBkOJBeK5hry/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="544" /></a> <br />A bold black stripe down the back and seat of these mid-century chairs creates added interest. <a href="http://pophamdesign.com/" target="_blank">Popham Design</a> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmfZhcdIj3DrhxHGUg9hCjg9o01XQZ2guFk1qLsj3-1bndUiAWkBlvMEX1f5HkGJyBseICeuhAn2SlKzE1H9Nx3UtxTNYKNGl1_Yr8LepocwN2O5zwie4eWr7bPbIvlInbEGVVVMsflkq/s1600-h/image4%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLmczQDuZcnOgZ4JNIeHXziJUH9HFFDrev3LUCqndi6TEN6A7DKXvxMldN22gfPzFNfh0EH_urr1WEl_dOT0jln0RTGDnOUMKP51RnEzn8kqAGGvXAhBhgdDUcBQqTRZIsUFRjYCUSv5o/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="537" /></a> <br />Black & White photos line the walls of this stairwell, and the black geometric "David Hicks" inspired carpet <br />adds <strong>drama</strong> and lots of <strong>glamour</strong>.  <a href="http://www.ericcohler.com/portfolio.php?im_id=9ℑ_id=49" target="_blank">Eric Cohler</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJDH7RfGYFrEi1CA2S7sWNCJ-8GesBxH2fuBIgTgmP5gKv-yI3fWUmYanaOL-955guE3-qHYRidoKdo43Ilrf3mfIDIzSS5yNrDwkHwPGLg67J40toyRNpZ_YjTRQ-K9lJHxNPCNKpTOb/s1600-h/InstyleMarch%2008.jpg"><img alt="InstyleMarch 08" border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSq1zEHdSXkKfHzBitCRTReQIhXV9jsQf4xxuMyNtTp5wuHMqq9nH1TwKRweltAMacqAjQTkcIaUQiv-HSkH_oq4DCAmwRi4awN6gShwc7GrM3KRgVNfNWErfq8nQVxrtUR9SF3Ov5I5Wy/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="551" /></a>  </p> <p align="center"><strong>Hollywood Glam</strong> - black patent headboard & bench - <a href="http://www.instyle.com/instyle/" target="_blank">InStyle</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_ZXRXpDNb7wkLml8-p7hqFXUBj7nyKuRhaB94YPyto4UB9KjclRuAn5aNc1RBquZkNho6IqMA1XGhLme9UZvtURtsRyFaOjGlQJHXyf4ByI8hqA9xtSVRcfzsIaOUUKEIz4ss060bcmf/s1600-h/Jaime%20Haydon.jpg"><img alt="Jaime Haydon" border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2ZpMpL_bWSe9FxEHpW-V7SFnckMS3L167c9W6WjWFNNtWcB8CnaWAtZRBBMuY3gUF6mBXm7E-l2pcCAM7WZor2tJiHSXVez3JAqfAp2POOO7bCVDQIe9wAsHZjGTPX_2Wi0QP1ZiIpOZ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="365" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0GTKNKjq1knkXXQpzJP1kUCsdN0G9jcKxENNo1aawhv2vjXtak4DenlDb2bveR1krs9vkuPeEIXP7wi-6zi0a_B4Ct1Ez0CalM3_3ffaSm3JSf_VL1tT6HU6Hu7iZlkRys4FB-TGd7I7/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkWWbqjGOjEX4ois9GUoP9OHPQRhuhs_ioWjNir-3Ful4g57rK0_2ENlpTSNtRvWy38ySy7c2FyolevU2Obf0yWJ2XzPeKgqX3w9QjDrIyjGDB6CAhyAiR_CEGbgWj7ro7dLg5AuwDemw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="360" /></a></p> <p align="center">The black marble floor is another <strong>timeless classic</strong> (left) <a href="http://www.hayonstudio.com/news.php" target="_blank">Jamie Haydon</a> / Kitchen with black slate floor (right) </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibULh-aAQ4ZiLyiC2etHjHXT2qrE-9FYtDEYN4JA7yJZFxZyapOzH0hO5Cmm6rXqzwFqwMVb2cnDz8RRcRpG5cWdnIQueKxSRgF9pbg08ZCtaUl3zplQFhk7p2M8oCg5B6AgLufc_LVmwJ/s1600-h/Mary%20McGee.jpg"><img alt="Mary McGee" border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM5bDhtY5uV7E1rfHiqVmETn78INoLLqjrJ4xcrPUNR7rsTN0oQ8a8_dF1B_7XTwQkoYO-8lGDSF1-98dunt4Zrm28AWVRBDh_Mg429PEcx_pG_ipwbeQwI8ozNMH4Fnz0p7wQ4QEgmI-/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="314" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUBqh2t5WDcDRjrvTJ_GeEbnlxl7dxN9-cHSpux4xSSWMZD4-tj6VSkgx1tGZzQB-ShyphenhyphenjEiy4nCGa-6BbkU7r6abgpICphKGHYHf8YxwuwsGxjuqkm-Qw9_KCFADKSzuwnNoT0QGqv3cd/s1600-h/NickyHiltonIinstyleMarch%2008.jpg"><img alt="NickyHiltonIinstyleMarch 08" border="0" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqeg_TauPwTYbNL6Q-DE_cuzcBfsJ9Vwvm_7Vgg9vtw1H4ENSlmB_UgYAYgEUAQNsFro5dXiazSWortbQ_E5VTRGK9VKgqsV-lgsQZ9voDN7ZTBU0RCaEF1TjjBg-QNXg9yFDfF55yskM3/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="414" /></a> <br /><font size="1">Black & white dishes (left) </font><font size="1">/ an iconic Chanel tray (right).  <br /></font>When I think of Chanel, I think <strong>Black</strong>, I think timeless, I think classic, I think unforgettable! </p> <p align="center">  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla1ZzYQ5PZFmxPhuhxCNlWGKjUHSvm0y7LNGL11gh5SvDuz43VSJs-a3krW5CxD9pY6La0xVaWd3LINo-cpWNTw-bWH4osYDIqvCfDg71U9dnkNz-doH7HPFq4Yb8G7_oQwblC1jjFGQm/s1600-h/Mary%20McGee1.jpg"><img alt="Mary McGee1" border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKNoK_Yzo_tzJEbw65QG0rht5ImpK1gl9kQSY9QuvxCX1asLMD4d72OHMIa_7vUHEY6jmYec2mkdDkwZ728rN4Az_vQDubcjbpfomvGln646SC17UYADjJ5MPm363YSkpPeQsAP-8xXVX/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="452" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U58TycqSz1EB718zQWiosyEIjnKXnuFOQVzO7bwUE1rfpWaZldvehAQTPd_OlAij5jjWnx85tA8EWaT3rwfAsqkeGxWFoiLVJO0HPknPQf9rdZTw1HFyTU6fzLkqqHCH4UbHR8KHMpmg/s1600-h/suzanne%20kasler%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="suzanne kasler" border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVirwX483xqVBQk12UIJDQBvJv082cSzz74suac50-3F_yDUrazjX0i-hP9xIFChDfOe4g3D4mJa9T-bcvd2qkfGPE_v9_XvVHGb7-COGCo00AISXdASQSvv54v6O_xRgfOOvhNSCySENW/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="282" /></a>  </p> <p align="center">Timeless black sofas add drama and are a grounding element in the above rooms. <br /><font size="1">(left) </font><font size="1"><a href="http://marymcgeeinteriors.com/" target="_blank">Mary McGee</a></font><font size="1"> / (right) </font><font size="1"><a href="http://www.suzannekasler.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne Kasler</a></font> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iPPE6qShqDROHCsJ6_9WPR7HOipZk-vuNo0-liWXQagHmvCOxdxO3-XlF-ryqFQffldft26ZHJv1ASisSPCiwpY-9J-3Q1ERkeVOSo65l5_zDsAEGXbDTOuoX3oiX2tb4B7YdB1J3zH3/s1600-h/colorama%20se.jpg"><img alt="colorama se" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUZozLKIi1gMrL253zeDXmkWayjOqIxqma_r4Gu6HXVeFsuSmpUrFBxdX0gyHAdHTzBcxsQGk0w-fsADYgUl5a0gUGvlLF4CtiSmtJXQ6KLAHyKm7LtBDhtT-yj6s_XeZoz7it37q8qSW/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="466" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Want to add <strong>drama </strong>to a room quickly and inexpensively, try painting or wallpapering a feature wall black. </p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvZ7UW2W49qdDZ8r1tWiBPjpDSGyO8RbF0IeADnplmknHoWBlLQ3BPyyelilDo_lPXpbGTMeypAMFW1SyRXXoEVY8967OqR2XJYe1NZy4_f0INDg2DaRn6QZ-Iu3vQYoiEjuquoEMXB87/s1600-h/NY%20Times.jpg"><img alt="NY Times" border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWIn05BqBhRATOKQdi8nEYtGclbCfRYpsmzeXD6V7VNP7It88sPZmsz0_Ui5qGvCRXOeQYMKAzKYsF3xDvGk2hLsj_iHJpxydvyHE9h1y4GC1eGStoTMBdvHOD5AUaaI7pYDnQgQoGgYH/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="467" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Paint your house black.  My favourite black paint is Benjamin Moore Black Beauty - photo NY Times </p> <p align="center"><strong>Black can act as a neutral because there is no color it doesn't go with.</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2msLo5yk9RP73KsrkaMJXMiCT_HRmc-xnwpyKrMOs4OdhNmGwVq3Mta-IwCEvZIMzxF8cYa0vqGkffK1mrJLrlIYlmGIwE-21bgrlGE3SOLE4JZrAlBLFE1se1-5CUhJch0p9s4-Xmqt/s1600-h/buffalo+horns+from+z+gallerie.jpg"><img alt="buffalo horns from z gallerie" border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLVrKdgLGGWlKNKLIT2ttoebHgdKO3rLhv3Q4_080X8hY52qsxwLZD2xPejdl1LWllOLtXaM9NPXIFkFzz8htW39JF_-uDHdna-21LEs-4BUtVVmWPT1txMVwPmYp0fUeoC0pXM68SX_2/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" width="356" /></a></p> <p align="center">Accessorize with these buffalo horns from <a href="http://www.zgallerie.com/" target="_blank">Z Gallerie</a>  <br /> <br /><strong><em>To see more posts on colour trends click </em></strong><strong><em><font color="#ff0000"><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2009/04/top-posts-on-color-trends.html" target="_blank">here</a></font></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><em><font color="#ff0000"></font></em></strong></p> <p align="center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="200" id="Player_000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7" reinit="reinit" reinitswf="reinitswf" width="600"><param name="_cx" value="15875"><param name="_cy" value="5291"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"> <embed quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="200px" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="600px" name="Player_000a3a71-181e-4455-9efc-32b49a0578d7"></embed></object></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"> </p> <noscript></noscript> <p align="center"><strong><a href="http://patriciagrayinc.com/"><font size="1">Patricia Gray</font></a><font size="1"> writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture, <br />and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you. <br />© Patricia</font></strong><strong><font size="1"> Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009</font></strong></p>

BACK to BLACK

"Every room can use a touch of black" is so true and is something to remember when it comes to interiors. Bright colors are taking a back seat to black. Back to Black, the name of Songstress Amy Winehouse's soulful vocal, is enough to inspire the return to classic, forever black.  Amy's song (l…

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Hot or Not? Sarah Palin’s Alaskan Office Décor

<p align="center">Are Grizzly Bears and King Crabs going to be the new trend? I certainly hope not!!</p><p align="center">Take the reader survey in the right hand column. Poll closed see results below.</p><h5 align="center"></h5><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/patriciagray1/SMkktgrbetI/AAAAAAAAFJY/IweYQkpmMH4/s1600-h/clip_image001%5B7%5D.jpg"><img alt="clip_image001" border="0" height="405" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/patriciagray1/SMkkt0dppDI/AAAAAAAAFJc/zK2ns-D70s8/clip_image001_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" width="611" /></a></p><p align="center">This image appeared in <em>The New York Times</em>, accompanying the story <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?pagewanted=1&ref=politics">Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms</a>.</p><p align="center"></p><p align="left">November 5, 2008<br />Here are the statistics of the Poll</p><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10gXowAwNNtGfKtJmEueXkDVMTWL8AYAU8zzbkH5-a11q-HjSS33haW2zUbizgrQkXJl1hr-9PD_5C-cgBVA_r9nsOaDG3WBXvQpjTgRK54NYKOvF7Ew5TtXeVJsQ4xW9c_eSxk4fNHWc/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOc3FydHqXDQgm_LJhqsJoscBXhTkXdRkgbNqfplY6fb-Z2LFFd52nlv0I2aV6aeeknCsSLm1fkMRORC4EXSCOZlHMWhxE9VGaNomnbHu2ZAiHULLyTC0kE_aaKJU8kTvIUG5MlW424UN/?imgmax=800" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" width="503" /></a> </p><p></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. </span></strong><b><br /><strong><span style="font-size:78%;">While you're here, </span><a href="http://feeds2.feedburner.com/patriciagrayincblogspot"><span style="font-size:78%;">subscribe to this feed</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> so you don't miss out. </span></strong></b></p>

Hot or Not? Sarah Palin’s Alaskan Office Décor

Are Grizzly Bears and King Crabs going to be the new trend? I certainly hope not!!Take the reader survey in the right hand column. Poll closed see results below.This image appeared in The New York Times, accompanying the story Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms.November 5, 2008Here are the st…

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New and Hot Interior Design Books

<p align="center"><em><strong>"You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now except for two things: <br />the people with whom you associate and the books you read."  -- Charles Jones</strong></em></p> <p align="center"><em><strong></strong></em></p> <p align="justify">Check out some of the new books on Interior Design below in the new Amazon Widget at the bottom of this post. I am a lover of books and images and I can hardly wait to receive a new batch of books hot off the press. I am most excited about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Taylor-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393732355/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220632418&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Michael Taylor Interior Design</a> which hasn't been released yet but is available for pre-order on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Taylor-Interior-Stephen-Salny/dp/0393732355/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220632418&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. I have done a post on Michael Taylor's work, which you can read here: <a href="http://patriciagrayinc.blogspot.com/2007/07/michael-taylor.html" target="_blank">Michael Taylor - Good Design is Timeless</a>. </p> <p align="center">The <strong>James Dean of decorators</strong> is how Diana Vreeland described West Coast designer Michael Taylor. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0393732355/sr=1-1/qid=1220632418/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1220632418&sr=1-1"><img alt="Michael Taylor: Interior Design" border="0" height="305" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BtWLsUPbL._SL500_AA240_.jpg" width="305" /></a></p> <p align="justify">I was a student in Design School when the picture below of Michael Taylor's work was published in Architectural Digest . I was totally in awe of his work. Nothing had been done like this before. It was revolutionary and very fresh. I became totally mesmerized by all things "Michael Taylor".  He is still a big influence in my work.</p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxou3rOpAeltWfHvJVH-hjzjfY3-aDLbDh0p-MXG5_gZRVivJ1ViSgHO0CYmIMG48__3q6c9igWnarQQ4Fn7AhmvKfZfIJxruqpjAoMqUM1w22mrQ3FoimlraG8dkbmceRv6c-s5SI2dx/s400/michael+taylor+AD.jpg" width="501" /></p> <p align="justify">Consistently denouncing the cluttered and pretentious, he had a simple ethos: <strong>"When you take things out, you must increase the size of what's left."</strong> This spawned the widely emulated California Look, which in the latter part of his career was characterized by oversize furniture and signature elements, including Yosemite slate and fossilized stone; plump geometric cushions; logs; wicker; and lots of mirrors, all against a muted backdrop of white on white or beige on beige.</p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_OkmCaZSwDj9b5YGhsBjZ1O7XXcxCkx5cMmu4nAKxA0RgCj_CennAnG-S4Zq1ZmgbLPk3xiXsJKMjMbXAfO-TsmLJinX7yu7xAeIcWZiU-WgXqjionfQnUxXbTg9uuSwTIM1DReWY_c/s400/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+21.jpg" width="419" /></p> <p align="center">This is a room Michael designed circa mid 1950's in Modesto, California<a href="http://www.michaeltaylordesigns.com/mediaarchives.html"> </a></p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="557" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWA2TgnV9qak6aeA1E6KruHA4ND7UXE5EmDrny_ejvLpXV02slzVKpuqODdWw_BZV7Wh0JRL6Ji7vD0SHTD_uWfDGsNkef01OjCitoEYObtF7DXJuIoUkCTWkvckjuNV7tvsAdEiQcKY/s400/Schiaparelli+sofa+Michael+Taylor.jpg" width="420" /></p> <p><strong>Syrie Maugham</strong>, the British decorator who helped create the all-white look popular in the 1920s, provided another source of inspiration to him which can be seen in the above picture of a living room Michael Taylor designed. "Schiaparelli sofa"</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1vCSmbXlCxhps5lqk7AjCBS_6UExcTJT_euqdi1st_5XCaXGHM5x9Isp743B0DOnHcZf6P4tZUstEcZfy-D0P63ZHh8A8_VeHfuNgl-fXDu-uc5v5MrXgZuqpz8zrnUk87O23zZEgQBV/s320/michael+taylor+AD+Jan+2000.jpg" width="408" /></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3yvQ5YVc3HWHjRh8DcY9w9oaO2alGK8bP_qdkrodGzoJ6UFsjkoqk-rrBk2R46RE6oeVrqiaGjIK1Crt6R4QLZEMrEI6zE8a7sksK4EhJNbGEj2DssCO6meKyN4dFiWswsQFuNXukGx_/s400/mtSnap21.jpg" width="344" /></p> <p align="center">Taylor rivaled the legendary fashion editor <strong>Diana Vreeland</strong> in his use of maxims - "<strong>Red and green should never be seen!"</strong> was one of his favorites. <strong>"If in doubt, take it out!"</strong> was another. Taylor believed that white was the most efficient color for capturing natural light.</p> <p align="center"><img alt="" border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhviYFWGNDnYPa9_o_veZklZI1hGUxNjxKW89yaJEwoockKsc8QwDSeCvX4XdwruWaiPfjc1yw65cRdXkSdkIGdmOIuR_uM9ubxP0rvcBRP5H6lH813cWiXU3FDbw4ddGch4SNe7VTQVJF5/s320/House+%26+Garden+Feb+1991+2jpg.jpg" width="377" /></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><strong><em>"I cannot live without books." <br />Thomas Jefferson</em></strong></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">What books are you going to be reading??</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"></font></p> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" height="200" id="Player_63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2" width="600"><param name="_cx" value="15875"><param name="_cy" value="5292"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="0"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"> <embed quality="high" allowscriptaccess="always" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="200px" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fwwwpatriciagr-20%2F8010%2F63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="600px" name="Player_63ed8ca6-7168-47db-a716-a37e6e64bca2"></embed></object></p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="1"></font></strong></p> <p align="center"><strong><font size="1">Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design.  </font></strong><b> <br /><strong><font size="1">While you're here, </font><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/patriciagrayincblogspot"><font size="1">subscribe to this feed</font></a><font size="1"> so you don't miss out. </font></strong></b></p> <p align="center"><font size="1"> </font></p> <noscript></noscript>

New and Hot Interior Design Books

"You are the same today that you are going to be five years from now except for two things: the people with whom you associate and the books you read."  -- Charles Jones Check out some of the new books on Interior Design below in the new Amazon Widget at the bottom of this post. I am a lov…

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