Black is a strong, sophisticated color that be used almost anywhere. Dressed up, it’s dramatic and refined, while a matte, distressed black feels right at home in simple country interiors. Black is ideal for highlighting shape and texture.

With accents in gold, L’Objet‘s Bibliotheque Candle emphasizes the ridged porcelain material in this sultry color.

From the renowned Christofle, this Black Goblet adds a rich, dark elegance combined with the bright shine of crystal.

Sophisticated, contemporary and just a little bit rebellious, Royal Copenhagen’s Black Fluted Mega dinnerware brings intrigue to your table.

For more ideas, follow our Decorating with Black board on Pinterest.

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Since the early days of the Ottoman Empire, Uşak (Turkey) has been one of the most prominent cities for rug production, so it comes as no surprise that the English language adopted the name Oushak to describe these beautiful wool rugs.

These heavy, hand-knotted Oriental rugs are characterized by elaborate geometric patterns with medallions, vines and leaves woven using very high quality wool.  Colors vary, but they tend toward vegetable dyes in warmer shades of ivory, saffron, cinnamon, terracotta, apricot, blue, green, and gray.

In the United States, Safavieh has long been one of the leading purveyors of Oushak rugs and a favorite of the interior design community.  Since its founding in 1914, Safavieh’s skilled artisans have been hand-knotting these beautiful, vegetable-dyed rugs. The results are elegant, traditional designs in soft, faded colors that add warmth and charm to any room.

Using muted blues and neutrals, this Safavieh Oushak Rug brings color to a room without overwhelming it.

In lush earth tones, the organic color pallet of this Oushak combines nature with understated luxury.

Worn yet welcoming, the simple sophistication of this Rug is compatible with nearly any furniture and decor.

With just the right touch of color, this vibrant Oushak gives any room a warm and cozy feel.

In a creative, asymmetrical pattern, the neutral colors of this Rug balance the elaborate detail of the design.

To view our entire collection of Oushak rugs, click here.

Inspired by the lustrous mineral, Malachite trends have been striking both the runway and the home. The rich green hue and organic shape add the perfect decorative accent to any room or tabletop.

Flooding the catwalk with color, Malachite is one of the season’s most dynamic looks.

Finished with 24 karat gold details, L’Objet‘s Malachite Desk Accessories make stunning gifts with a bold statement.

The geometric accents of Tony Duquette’s Malachite Chargers add regal charm to your table.

For more ideas, follow our Malachite board on Pinterest.

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Surrounded by the constant motion of today’s busy world, it is easy to overlook the smaller details. But occasionally a vision can ground us, reminding us how fantastic natural beauty can be: a colorful sunset, the feathers on a bird, or the texture of a mineral.

“Cabinet of Curiosities,” L’Objet’s fall collection, is a feast for the eyes spanning centuries of design.  Inspired by natural history, geology and architectural relics, this is our favorite of founder Elad’s collections.  Flooded with saturated colors and fluid shapes, these stunning pieces will take you on an unforgettable journey.

Carrousel Gold is a miracle of movement and light, captured in an amalgam of 24-karat gold-plated brass and pure whimsy.

Snake and Crocodile are flights of fancy for lovers of faraway places, exotic textures, curious curvatures, and distinctive craftsmanship.

Coral is decadent, sophisticated, and entirely unexpected.

Malachite is bold and sumptuous, inspired by cultures ancient and new, united in a riot of elegance.

To view our all of our collections by L’Objet, click here.

Have you ever wondered why so much traditional porcelain dinnerware is made in blue and white? Mottahedeh has truly mastered this timeless look. The rich, saturated blue seen in this dinnerware is produced by using cobalt, a naturally occurring element.

Discovered in Persia, cobalt was first used by the Chinese before 1200 AD, and is seen in many old porcelains because it was one of the first colors to be fired successfully by ceramicists.

Despite its success as a popular color for dinnerware, cobalt remains a difficult color to use. It must be fired at extremely high temperatures, and achieves different hues depending on the temperature of the kiln. At a low firing, the color appears crisp and dark.  At a much high firing, it has a pale grey look. Mottahedeh’s cobalt is in between these two firings, producing a brilliant blue with violet tones.

Derived from Chinese design, Blue Canton classifies the style of porcelain that was shipped from Asia to England, and then to the homes of the colonial elite in North America.

A symbol of strength and fortune in Chinese culture, the Blue Dragon in this collection captures the movement and versatility of this dynamic and mysterious creature.

Inspired by the 17th Century Ch’ing Dynasty porcelain, the Blue Lace Collection has stunning bands of 22K gold that beautifully complement all of Mottahedeh’s blue and white pieces.

 A prized design since the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Blue style is based on elaborate Chinese exports to Europe in the early 1700s.

With the delicate perfection of hand-brushed gold dust, the Chinoise Blue Collection stands out because of its sophisticated matte gold finish. Today the word, “Chinoiserie” refers to the decorative style used by Europeans to mimic the look of the original Chinese designs.

No two pieces of these Mottahedeh collections are alike, making each item completely unique. As these styles have been produced for hundreds of years by hand painters, the variation causes them to be perfect complements to any high-fire blue and white porcelain patterns. Mixing and matching these pieces brings them to life in an original way every time you set your table.

There are so many ways to display the beauty of these pieces, whether at your table or on your wall.

When these collections are combined with a touch of imagination, the possibilities become endless.

 As Mildred Mottahedeh would quote an old Chinese saying, “The height of good taste is the simple appreciation of blue and white.”

For more inspiration, come see our blue and white Pinterest board.

Have you ever gone on a picnic and realized that you forgot to bring forks?  Well, if you ever went with Michael Aram, he’d create flatware out of twigs and bowls out of leaves, and you’d be dining like Alice in Wonderland.  If you like the idea of bringing something organic and whimsical into your home, this is the collection for you. In Michael’s own words, here are some of the ideas and inspirations behind his creations.

“I love the idea of looking around a room and feeling as if the outdoors is slowly and beautifully seeping into an interior space.”

“This (Olive Branch) imagery has always held a powerful meaning… peace and victory. In solid bronze, it takes on a wonderful permanence.”

“There is something so seductive about orchids in black… like the dark, velvety atmosphere of haute couture.”

“This (New Molten) collection is a celebration of craft. Each bead is created by hand and bears the interpretation of the individual welder who made it.”

“I love the idea of finding beautiful pieces from the seaside and creating vessels that can be used to set a magical environment…”

“I am intrigued by the striking textures created through the hand forging process. For me, they evoke the same deep, brooding mystery that I feel when I look at early 20th Century New York landmarks such as the Empire State and the Chrysler buildings.”

To view our entire Michael Aram collection, click here.

Set in New York at the height of the 1920s, “The Great Gatsby” embodies the height of sophisticated living. Combining economic prosperity with the popularity of Art Deco and the uproar against prohibition, the home became a center for exhibiting wealth and taste, as well as entertaining. As a member of the elite, Jay Gatsby hosts the most extravagant parties to display the finest in modern luxury.

Here’s how to get the look at home:

These bold and intricate table linens from Le Jacquard Francais showcase the rich color and lavish decoration characteristic of the Roaring ’20s.

Combining geometric designs with exquisite bead work, Kim Seybert’s table runner livens a dining room with both its elegant color and silhouette.

Inspired by the artisans of Venice, the stunning gold designs on this L’Objet Pour Fortuny dinnerware are as ornate as the textiles of designer Mariano Fortuny.

The vibrant Topaz hue and complex glass cut of Moser’s Cubism Double Old Fashioned Glasses bring the flair of Art Deco to any bar.

Epitomizing luxury, Christofle’s water pitcher has an intricate pattern of inlaid gold that brings elegance and glamour to your table.

In a glistening metallic pattern, Waylande Gregory’s mosaic bath accessories add sophistication and charm to your bathroom.

With beautiful embroidered detail, Anali Needlework’s soft, luxurious Italian sateen bedding is the perfect indulgence in both comfort and style.

As one of the most gracious towns in the south, Charleston is a dream come true for the antiques aficionado and the design-savvy shopper.   From the elegant town houses on the Battery to the grandeur of the outlying plantations, inspiration can be found everywhere.

Luckily for us, the design team at oomph has created a new collection inspired by this extraordinary city, and every piece can be custom finished in sixteen different lacquered colors!

The Charleston Side Table combines traditional Chippendale elements with a modern pop of color.

It makes a perfect companion for the Charleston Coffee Table.

Beautifully detailed, the Charleston Mirror is a traditional Chippendale mirror with a chic twist of oomph.  Use alone or in pairs.

To see the entire oomph collection, click here.

Every wonder how your oomph table is made? Here is a quick look at the oomph factory, where every table is hand assembled, sanded, and painted by hand. With a variety of colors and options to choose from, each oomph item is custom made just for you.

Oomph tables, chairs and accessories are made in the USA at their New England workshop, using sustainably harvested wood and natural Belgian linen upholstery. But green is only one of the many colors available! See our entire collection of oomph furniture.

The Great Gatsby will always get my vote for The Great American Novel.  Here’s the tale of a man from humble roots who reinvents himself to pursue an idealized dream, a lost love from his youth.  But what is Jay Gatsby like?  What was going through his mind as he looked out from his mansion across the Long Island Sound night after night, thinking of Daisy?

Part of the answer can be found in the mansion, for our design choices speak volumes about ourselves.  For the 1974 movie featuring Robert Redford, we see a grand Baroque-inspired mansion. If this looks like a Gilded Age mansion, it’s because it is one — the movie was filmed at Rosecliff in Newport, RI, which was modeled after the Grand Trianon in Versailles and shows the aspirations of the Nevada silver mining heiress who commissioned it:

And here are the ornate European interiors of the ballroom at Rosecliff:

I always thought this was the perfect house for Jay Gatsby.  Having come from humble roots, he wanted to woo back Daisy by becoming someone else: the heir of an old wealthy family.  What better way to do that than move right into the house of one?

Indeed that is the persona that Robert Redford played in the 1974 movie: A passive, if not pathetic, man trying to fit into a world that he did not belong in.  He went to extremes to gather and show off his wealth, in the end he was just trying to fit in with the Buchanans. Notice the similarity of the Gatsby mansion to the Buchanans’ estate, Heatherden Hall:

Fast forward to 2013, and we find Leonardo di Caprio playing a different Gatsby: bolder, stronger, and more assertive.  Here’s his mansion – a fantasy castle reminiscent of the mad Gothic style of Mad King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria:

In contrast, the Buchanans’ home is based on the Greek Revival style popular with the Old South aristocrats (think Gone with the Wind and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello):

Now look at the interior.  The Art Deco look of the famous “shirts” scene might look retro now, but it was in fact cutting edge Art Deco design in the 1920’s.  Art Deco came into vogue in France during the 1920’s as an homage to the new Machine Age.  It was a bold, assertive style of the future (think Chrysler Building and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis), not the past of Rosecliff.

We can also see a bold, Art Deco motif in the floor of the ballroom, along with Gatsby’s initials prominently in the center. Talk about leaving his mark on the world:

When we build, we create a world. What kind of world is it, and where do we belong in it? Even before the first stone is laid, we’ve already asked and answered those questions. Gatsby, unfettered by prosaic considerations of cost and resale value, could create anything he could envision. From what he created, we could peer down into the deepest reaches of his soul. Whereas Redford’s Gatsby was trying to inherit a past that was never his, di Caprio’s Gatsby loudly proclaims “Here I am!”  Whereas Redford was timid and uncertain in front of Daisy and Tom, di Caprio has come to take what belongs to him.