House Beautiful December 2012-January 2013

Candles A twist on the typical taper, these colorful beeswax candles will make any evening feel more festive. Available in eight styles. 13½" H, $45 a pair, by Claudia Cuevas. rareculture.com. 1. Teacup For more than 150 years, they've been making some of the world's finest linens. Now Frette has a line of tableware. Hand-Painted Porcelain Tea Cup, $70. frette.com. 2. Pillow Dazzling and glamorous. Donna Karan Collection, Modern Classics Layered Jewel decorative pillow in Truffle, 9½" W × 10" H, $188. bloomingdales.com. 3. USB Drive Who would have ever thought that toting around your data could be so luxurious? In the Pocket 8GB Calfskin USB Flash Drive, $270. hermes.com. 4. Hatboxes A collection of patterns in classic blue and white. They make such a pretty group, you won't want…

"I collect tapestry pieces—worn and a little frayed, like those on this 18th-century chair—and you always see this color in them. It's a blue mixed with teal green and gray, very old-world and so restful in a master bedroom. You feel as though you could just melt into the walls." BARBARA WESTBROOK BENJAMIN MOORE NARRAGANSETT GREEN HC-157 "Bits of sea glass lazily gathered on an afternoon in St.-Tropez inspired the blue walls in a living room. There's a vibrancy to this shade. It's not shy. But it also has a kind of cloudiness, and those soothing gray undertones come out in the early morning and at dusk." MICHAEL COX BENJAMIN MOORE WOODLAWN BLUE HC-147 "I have a weakness for Roman ceramics—figurines, beakers, vases. Amazing to think they're 2,000 years old.…

VIDEO SCAN THE PHOTO TO HEAR HAMPTON SHARE MORE ADVICE CHOOSE FURNITURE THAT mixes well. Stick with classics, pieces with a good silhouette. The Grant chair from my Hickory Chair collection is a particular favorite of mine—combining my love of strong classical design and Hickory's virtuoso craftsmanship. Look at the curved wood on the back! NO MORE BROKEN DISHES! Golden Rabbit enamelware is my new obsession. I have three young children, and the Blue Swirl pattern feels like the indestructible—so far—cousin of my all-time favorite, Apt ware from France. LINEN VELVET IS GREAT FOR upholstery because it has a rich, gently aged appearance from the start. I do love cotton and more expensive silk velvets, but they show every fingerprint. MY FAVORITE DESIGN BOOK is Mark Hampton on Decorating, the…

QUICK FACTS LIVES IN Washington, DC, and Charleston STARTED AS An event designer OPENED Niche Interiors in 2010 WEB SITE www.nichecharleston.com WHAT'S YOUR… 1. NEXT BIG PURCHASE Thom Filicia's Copake Eagle console. I'm having an Americana moment, but trying to keep it modern. 2. FAVORITE SOFA Bobby McAlpine's Spider Back. 3. FAVORITE LAMP Mary McDonald's Ondine. 4. DREAM FABRIC The Scalamandré damask on the walls of the White House's Green Room before Mrs. Kennedy's renovation. I'd love to have it reproduced. 5. LATEST FIND Jonathan Adler's Brocade wallpaper in green. 6. FAVORITE COFFEE TABLE John Saladino's three-legged version. 7. NOW ACCESSORY CB2's Numi candlesticks paired with colorful tapers. 8. DECORATIVE PILLOWS By Dransfield & Ross. 9. SOURCE FOR BEDDING John Robshaw and Ann Gish.…

BENCH "This is a handmade piece from my new furniture collection. The crisscross base gives it a certain levity and lightness, so it doesn't feel blocky. It's the perfect balance to that large headboard." Facette bench, from $5,400. natashabaradaran.com. BEDSIDE TABLE "A table with a decorative base is aesthetically more interesting than a heavy chest of drawers, and it doesn't take up as much visual weight. Here, it almost functions as sculpture." Olivia Table in Gold Leaf, $720. worlds-away.com. PILLOW "I'm really inspired by sorbet colors. They all work together. For a bedroom, I always ask my clients what colors soothe and relax them." Coral Diamond Pillow Cover, cotton, $64. serenaandlily.com. THROW "A pop of color, but it's not permanent. Great to have when reading on a chaise—what's more luxurious…

Bowden Magnified in scale, a classic scallop makes a grand—and chic—impact. Hand-tufted wool, 5' × 8', in Parchment, $799. capel.com. Modern Classics CAN-1995 A burst of pattern as rejuvenating as a sunrise. Hand-tufted wool, 5' × 8', in Oyster Gray, $825, by Candice Olson for Surya. hsn.com/HBmarketplace. Caravan In fuzzy hide, this regimented geometric has a softer, cozier side. Hair on hide, 4'6" × 6'6", to the trade, by Jiun Ho. kylebunting.com. Platinum A luxurious spectrum of metallics, from silver to rose gold. Hand-knotted wool and silk, 6' × 9', $7,776, by David Rockwell. therugcompany.com. Ellington Border Just a touch of Art Deco—a stepped border inspired by an architectural detail. Hand-knotted wool blend, 6' × 9', in Platinum, $4,300. ralphlaurenhome.com. Deco Garden The trellis-like squares will bring a quiet architecture…