272 p. ; ill., plans ; 30 cm. ; book

You don't need to spend a week in Atlanta to see the best of what the city has to offer. Here's your guide to one perfect day in the city, with recommendations for where to eat, drink, and play.

Recently sold: $2,500,000. Magnificent 1916 brick Tudor, meticulously restored and updated. Large scale, light-filled rooms, beautiful woodwork and fine period detailing. Gracious living room with adjoining sunroom and den; dining room with terrace access. Gorgeous chefs kitchen with fine finishes and top-notch appliances; 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, including fabulous master suite; 3 fireplaces; family/media room; abundant storage; attached 1-car garage. Privately situated on 12,672-sq-ft corner lot with lovely grounds.

This beautifully restored country house is rich in architectural detail accentuated by the lighting. The design is simple and discreet, emphasising focal points and creating moods with layers of light.

I would love to live here.

Comment sait-on que l’été est là ? Quand on peut se prélasser au soleil au bord de la piscine. Au cœur de toutes les attentions cet été, ce point d’eau incarne le farniente qu’il soit petit, design ou XXL. En attendant d’y barboter, faites-vous rêver avec ces 15 piscines...

This farmhouse makeover reveals the key to aging gracefully.

Good design is about finding the delicate yet pleasing balance between form and function. Though a lot depends on what you want to get done, a good rule of thumb is to keep your designs simple, so that they’re easily understood, practical, and aesthetic. But some people throw the rulebook out the window into the dumpster. And then they wing it.

Prairie buttercups are pretty to look at but have a terrible taste if you happen to be a hungry cow! While they aren't considered poisonous, they have irritants that aggravate the stomachs of cattle that graze on them. But these flowers taste so bad that cattle generally take a few bites and leave them alone.

Growing up in a middle class house, one did not toss around words like Chinoiserie. My mother decorated our living room in what she called "Oriental". We had lacquered tables and screens, and porcelain knickknacks, and 1970's Chinese Chippendale chairs with a faux bamboo motif. That style and vintage of chairs became the darling of the Hollywood Regency era of chick decorating, showing up on every page of Domino, and then on every design blog. Really fine Chinoserie The Domino book has a more modest Chinoiserie motif on the cover What my mother did definitely stuck into my being, because today in my home, I have another version of middle class Chinoiserie. I use toile with pagodas and peacocks printed on it, and lanterns and Foo dogs, and at one time had a modest collection of Chinatown blue and white porcelain. Eye candy Chinoiserie I segued from my mother's idea that is decidedly American, what she called, "Oriental", to (in my mind's eye) a more chic sounding French interpretation, of what I call, "Chinoiserie" (first made popular in the 18th century). But basically it's the same thing with varying degrees of style, taste, and budget. Uber interior designer Ann Getty - the above images are of her work showcasing her love of Chinioiserie The words of Ann Getty The interior designer Ann Getty loves Chinoiserie. She elevates it way beyond the beloved chick decorating genre. She's wealthy and talented enough to seek out fabulous antiques, and use incredible fabrics, textiles, and hand painted wall coverings. Ann Getty did the interior design for a client's dining room, a deconstructed modern Chinoserie - LOVE the lime green silk drapes - but not sure of the two tables, practical but kind of restaurant-like for a home Here is the same dining room, the tables set for a party Who among us doesn't have the if-money-were-no-object fantasies? If I were a rich girl, I would love some Ann Getty Chinoiserie style. In the meantime, it's wonderful to gaze on the images of her work and be inspired, and to be content with my green silk drapes, orange French chairs, a Chinoiserie inspired fabric covered wall, Chinoiserie toile in the bedrooms, lanterns in the kitchen, and so on and so on... Modern Chinoiserie by Ann Getty - LOVE the French style chair in orange A wall size mood board by Ann Getty of fabrics destined for the Sherman House renovation - Shown in front is a newly restored period commode - Read More in Veranda Classic Chinoiserie by Ann Getty - The surround of Chinoiserie wallpaper creates a peaceful haven - The confluence of grandeur and comfort results from the use of French furnishings, rock crystal lamps and Indian fabrics Ann Getty tells us how she does it The grand life at Chez Getty And go to The Enchanted Home for a really nice round up about Chinoiserie. Please add my NEW address to your blog list: http://thevisualvamp.blogspot.com And please become a Follower

Hollywood actress Greta Garbo's former seven-room New York City apartment is up for sale for the first time in 64 years for nearly $6 million.

A wild environment, a dark modern circled house, and a secret feeling of comfort. This is a modern curved house in the middle of Costa Rica jungles, a futuristic design with a lot of elements from space and other planets. A house for an Alien that chooses earth for living. So this is The Fugitive Alien House .