Get out your pencils, kids.  We're having a Pop Quiz.  

My husband once asked, 'Don't you get tired of looking at old decorating magazines?'

I threw him the side-eye, heaved a huge sigh, and replied (as if explaining to a 4 year old why we can't see the wind), 'An interesting tableau never goes out of style and every time I look at it I see something new.'  

Every time I look at these images, I do see something new . . . . 

Heart Beat Oz

What do I see?

1.  The fabulous 60's credenza, of course

2.  The pastel portrait

3.  The interesting tablescape

4.  The tall mirror to the left which visually extends the room

5.  The television!  They made no attempt to hide it but it doesn't scream

     at you when you walk into the room.

What do you see?

Elements of Style

What do I see?

1.  Oriental meets Contemporary: a marble-top Eero Saarinen Tulip Table
     and black lacquer Bambooserie-style chairs

2.  The black and white theme infused with black framed map prints and a
     zebra-ish ceramic bowl

3.  A Mother-of-Pearl trimmed Art Deco mirror 
4.  An amazing grey wall paint and Chevron striped light pink chair cushions.
What do you see?

Little Augury

What do I see?
1.  Obviously, a gallery format of interesting prints,
    paintings, and etchings; I especially like the mix
    of frames and matting materials
2.  A rug that I would kill for (not kidding)
3.  The desk - French Provincial, similar to the one
    on the right - with a caned Louis XVI side chair
4.  The brass Grecian-style lamp is in perfect proportion to not overpower the wall of art
What do you see?

Meryl Stern Interiors

What do I see?

1.  Serenity.  The taupe/putty walls highlight the painted paneled wainscoting

    (which bridges the dark stained flooring and  paneled ceiling) and the

     natural-finish furnishings.

2.  Many designers would have chosen an oriental rug instead of the muted

    natural fiber one but they would have been wrong, wouldn't they?

3.  Deceptively, this seemingly simple setting is quite powerful.  The round

    Dublin mirrors and  the newel post offset the "boxiness" of the space with

    the mirrors reflecting the natural light from the door's side panes.  Ironic

    that the lighting is a boxy lantern, isn't it?

What do you see?

The Lennoxx

What do I see?

1.  Harmonious tranquility and balance reign even though a mixture of

    textures and shapes dominate the design.  An oval rug, a rectangular

    brass and glass console, two Charles of London style sofas, glass,

    ceramics, metal, acrylic - the muted palette makes this potpourri of

    materials work.

2.  The window panels are magnificent in their simplicity.  Color and

     design are wisely presented in the accessories.

3.  I love the pop of yellow, don't you?

What do you see?

Veranda

What do I see?

1.  The blues and greens are effortlessly linked through the reproduction
    vintage Thibaut Design wallpaper.

2.  The glass and brass bamboo table is timeless.

3.  A contemporary chest quietly sits in the corner, offering a charming
    platform for the stark white ceramic lamps, reflecting the traditional
    chair rail and molding.  

4.  The mirror above the chest picks up the ocher brown of the whimsical
    squirrels and vines in the wall covering perfectly.

5.  The Grecian trim on the white window panels is a tiny touch of
    ingenious design.

6.  The "tufted & stuffed" contemporary club chairs are amazing.

What do you see?

And, now, your Bonus Question: 

What one element was included in each of the examples we disected? 

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You're right - flowers!

Flowers are an ESSENTIAL element of any decorating scheme,

whether it's traditional, contemporary, country, or vintage.  

This weekend pull out the old decorating magazines you've been saving and

revisit your favorite designs.  Bet you'll find something new in every one of them.