Tag Archives: best decorating blog

chapultepec castle – a house museum in mexico

Last week I took you on a tour of Miramare, the Italian house museum built by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria. Today we continue with Maximilian and Charlotte (or Carlota in Spanish), and travel over 6,000 miles to Chapultepec Castle in … Continue reading →

miramare: an italian museum on the adriatic

Recently a client was telling me about their coming trip to Venice and the Adriatic Coast and asked for my input about my favorite Italian museum. Everyone knows the important classic museums, but with my love of small house museums, … Continue reading →

13 lighting tips for the home

Thirteen lighting tips for the home is part of my series on design tips for a more beautiful home which have all been doled out in the press by the design trade at one point or another. These, as the others … Continue reading →

interior design trade secrets: wallpaper, fabrics and pillows

interior design trade secrets-j-randall-powers

Continuing with my series of interior design trade secrets, today I focus on some of the fun aspects of decorating: wallpaper, fabrics and pillows. Again, the quotes are those collected over time from sources such as House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional … Continue reading →

grand luxury hotels: vienna

It seems that every week I hear of yet another name to add to the growing list of grand luxury hotels of the world. And often it’s a celebrity designer colleague or starquitect who has been asked to stamp their … Continue reading →

you too can dream of venice

Venice is one of those magical cities that you never forget. As an interior designer and art consultant, I am constantly seeking inspiration and ideas, and fond memories of my trips to Venice will often lead me to try a … Continue reading →

buccellati silver, inspired by nature

Buccellati silver clearly draws great inspiration from the natural world around us. More than any other firm of silversmiths that I can think of, their beautiful silver bowls, centerpieces and table articles are created using forms that all of us … Continue reading →