House Beautiful September 2013

Faux Trees Whether you've got a green thumb or not, one of these Mexican papier-mâché ficus trees will bring cheer and color to any room. Available in nine hues. 28" DIA × 58" H, $550. straydogdesigns.com. 1. Plates By San Francisco ceramist Lisa Neimeth, they're dishwasher-safe works of art. Contemporary Rustic Chinoiserie Collection, from $40 per piece. lneimeth.com. 2. Chair Substantial and comfortable, it also folds up for storing. Oak frame with cotton webbing. Cuba Chair, 24" W × 30" H × 31" D, $745. carlhansen.com. 3. Hangers Dress up your closet with a pack of three that come in a mix of printed-in-California fabrics. Handmade Padded Hangers, $65 per pack. raoultextiles.com. 4. Wine Cooler Basic in design and function, this simple clay block works like a charm. Terracotta Wine…

"Everything you have heard about red is true. It creates energy. It's unfailingly optimistic. But what makes red enduringly fascinatingis its subtlety. Covered with art, red calms down into a rich and elegant background. It makes the mundane memorable." MAUREEN FOOTER BENJAMIN MOORE Vermilion 2002-10 "Poppy is the closest I've come to Diana Vreeland's red—hot, torrid, and stimulating to the appetite and the libido. There's something slightly naughty about red. It's dangerous, exciting, arresting—stop what you're doing and pay attention! Think Spanish women in red dresses dancing the flamenco." ERIC COHLER BENJAMIN MOORE Poppy 1315 "Red is an enigma—it can be daring and traditional, warm and racy, or sober when it moves toward the bloody side of the spectrum. I love fiery red for a bedroom. It makes it more…

THE PERFECT SMALL CHAIR? That's a hard piece to find. So I made one myself. With its quatrefoil back, the Alexandra has become a signature of my collection for Hickory Chair. MY GO-TO SOURCE FOR bathroom fixtures is Waterworks. Their designs are beautiful and time-less, and they have so many options. I have the Astoria faucet in my own master bath. DECORATING IS AS MUCH about what you don't do. I don't want a house to look decorated; I want it to look collected. I'm always collecting something: Eiffel Towers, small paintings, antique globes, chairs, white ceramic pieces. Two views of Kasler's Atlanta living room. ABOVE: A Picasso lithograph on corrugated board—found in Paris—has a prime location on the mantel. ABOVE RIGHT: "I've always loved armless sofas," Kasler says of…

QUICK FACTS LIVES IN Houston FIRM NAME Biscuit Home, established 2012 WEBSITE biscuit-home.com BLOG peppermintbliss.com ABOVE LEFT: "Nothing beats a luxurious bed," McCarthy says. "These beautiful monogrammed linens came from Leontine." ABOVE RIGHT: "We moved to Houston from Austin last October. The dining room has a mix of furniture bought for our first house in Chicago. I love to reuse and re-cover pieces." WHAT'S YOUR… 1. LONGED-FOR PIECE OF ART Something from Nick Knight's "Flora" series. 2. RUG OF CHOICE Stark's Antelope LP. 3. FAVORITE THING My original Lalanne sheep, scored on 1stdibs. [Shown, Black Sheep, by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams] 4. $100 DECORATING ADVICE Find a great old light fixture and lacquer it a color for major impact. 5. GO-TO COFFEE TABLE A vintage-style trunk.…

FABRICS "An animal print provides an accent without going over the top; the neon brightens up the room." Panthere de Somalie (left), cotton, by Boussac, to the trade. pierrefrey.com. Shannon in Chartreuse, linen, to the trade. pindler.com. CHANDELIER "I love using modern lighting in a formal living room. The simple glass globes add a layer of interest and become a conversation piece." Modo Chandelier, by Jason Miller for Roll & Hill, $5,382. dwr.com. PILLOW "It's a nod to ikat without being too trendy. The black-and-white acts as a neutral and grounds the room." Ikat Throw Pillow, 18• square, $58. www.highstreetmarket.com. SIDE TABLE "The mix of brass and Lucite is a sophisticated combination. Its table height and open shelving make it extremely versatile." Jacques Two-Tier Side Table,…

1. Circles Linen, by Idarica Gazzoni. harbingerla.com. 2. 20995 Cotton in Raspberry. duralee.com. 3. Artisanal Silk in Natural. donghia.com. 4. Fair Lady Dot Cotton in Jet. ralphlaurenhome.com. 5. Chana Cotton in Fir, by No. 9 Thompson. jimthompsonfabrics.com. 6. Polka Linen in Kashish Dark, by Walter G. studiofournyc.com. 7. Marese Viscose/linen in Woad, by William Yeoward. designersguild.com. 8. Pollen Linen in Hot Pink, by Kate Blee. christopherfarrcloth.com. 9. Starlight Silk in Ocean. luludk.com.…