Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) is dealing with more drama due to his Downton Abbey-inspired office decorations.

A government watchdog is calling on ethics officials to investigate the Illinois Republican for allegedly accepting free services from an Illinois interior decorator and paying for new furniture including a gold sconce, drippy crystal chandelier and large arrangements of pheasant feathers with campaign funds.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, also known as CREW, filed the complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Tuesday, after a story in The Washington Post described the ornate renovation in Schocks Rayburn House building office.

Interior designer Annie Brahler reportedly volunteered her services and pulled ideas from the popular PBS British drama series Downton Abbey. She had also decorated his previous office in the Cannon House Office Building, where USA Today reported that taxpayers picked up the tab for tens of thousands of dollars for office renovations.

House ethics rules bar members from accepting free gifts or services, or using campaign funds to pay for furniture in their offices.

CREW interim Executive Director Anne L. Weismann called on the ethics office to investigate Schocks actions and forward the matter to the House Ethics Committee, writing that gifts to members create an appearance of impropriety that may undermine the publics faith in government, and may provide the opportunity for improperly influencing members.

Perhaps its not totally surprising that the same congressman who spent campaign money on P90X workout DVDs wanted to create a more picturesque setting in which to be photographed, but the rules clearly require him to pay for those renovations himself, Weismann said in a statement.

Again and again, Rep. Schocks seeming obsession with his image impedes his ability to conduct himself in ethical manner.

A Schock spokesman did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment.

The decorations flap is a rare stumble for Schock, 33, a fast-rising GOP star and fitness freak whose chiseled abs landed him on the cover of Mens Health magazine in 2011.

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GOP rep faces ethics complaint over 'Downton Abbey' decorations

Rep. Aaron Schock has an explanation for whats been called his Downton Abbey-inspired office: hes never been an old crusty white guy.

The Illinois Republican made headlines this week after a report surfaced revealing his work digs in the Rayburn House Office Building received an extreme makeover from an interior decorator.

The design guru told The Washington Post which was first to report the story that the bright red walls, chandelier, feather arrangements and sconce with black candles, among other accouterments, were inspired by the dining room in the PBS drama.

When I go take a personal vacation I dont sit on the beach, I go do active things, said Schock, who is now 33 and once bared his abs on the coverof Mens Healthmagazine. And so, I'm also not going to live in a cave. So when I post anInstagramphoto with me and my friends, asTaylor Swiftsaid, haters gonna hate.

My office last year, or four years ago was a dark navy. And so obviously it wasn't of interest four years ago, Schock told ABC. So I think the fact that it's red makes people go, Wow, that's different.

Schock contends hes never even seen an episode of the popular British series.Maybe we'll have a Downton Abbey watch party? cracked the lawmaker, before adding, At the end of the day, regardless of what color wall you choose your office, the most important thing in Congress is what you do for your constituents and what you do for your job.

Schock also said, I'm not upset about the red walls.

A government watchdog is calling on ethics officials to investigate the Illinois Republican for allegedly accepting free services from an Illinois interior decorator and paying for new furniture with campaign funds.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, also known as CREW, filed thecomplaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics on Tuesday. Republicans view the group as leaning to the left.

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GOP rep on 'Downton' office: 'Haters gonna hate'

A promotional cast photo for "Downton Abbey" season 5. Nick Briggs/Carnival Films 2014 for MASTERPIECE

WASHINGTON - An Illinois congressman who decorated his office in a style modeled after the TV show "Downton Abbey" may face an ethics investigation.

A watchdog group has asked a congressional review panel to examine whether Republican Rep. Aaron Schock broke House rules by accepting professional interior design work for free.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan watchdog group, requested an inquiry by the Office of Congressional Ethics, an outside panel that reviews ethics complaints against House members. A spokesman for Schock declined to comment, as did the Office of Congressional Ethics and the House Ethics Committee, although on Wednesday, Schock told ABC News that he would pay for the work on his office.

The Washington Post reported this week that interior decorator Annie Brahler donated her services as she decorated Schock's Washington office with a red carpet and walls accented with antique-looking frames and sconces reminiscent of "Downton Abbey." The popular PBS show depicts the lives of aristocratic family and their servants in 1920s England.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., speaks in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner during a campaign rally outside the State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Monday, Nov. 3, 2014.

AP Photo/Seth Perlman

"Perhaps it's not totally surprising that the same congressman who spent campaign money on P90X workout DVDs wanted to create a more picturesque setting in which to be photographed, but the rules clearly require him to pay for those renovations himself," said Anne Weismann, the watchdog group's interim executive director.

House rules broadly prohibit members of Congress from accepting gifts or services valued at more than $50. The rules include numerous exemptions, including one that allows gifts from personal friends. Brahler, who owns an Illinois-based firm called Euro Trash, also decorated Shock's previous Washington office, the Post reported.

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Congressman's "Downton Abbey"-inspired office draws ethics questions

It was all about the Schock value for lawmakers yucking it up at the Washington Press Club Foundations Congressional Dinner.

News of Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) giving his Rayburn House Office Building work digs a Downton Abbey-esque makeover complete with interior decorator-styled red walls, chandeliers and feather arrangements dominated the annual fete Wednesday at Washingtons Mandarin Oriental.

MSNBC host Alex Wagner, the emcee at the fundraising dinner, honed in on the Schock office saga from the get-go: Most of you know the news this week that Aaron Schock decorated his office in the style of Downton Abbey. What I did not realize is that this is apparently a thing on Capitol Hill, she told the crowd.

[Rep.] Darrell Issa, his office takes inspiration from True Detective, Wagner said of the California Republican. [Rep. Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.)] office is inspired by Game of Thrones. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Wager said, is a diehard fan of Sons of Anarchy. Wagner then said the perpetually tan Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) of course has taken inspiration [on] dcor from Orange is the New Black.

But Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) appeared to defend Schocks new office color scheme, saying, It should be clear that the Ethics Committee said that members of Congress can paint their walls any damn color that they want to paint them, and its not violating any kind of rule.

While he has attended the Congressional Dinner in the past, ITK did not eye Schock at Wednesdays soiree. But that didnt keep the crowd from buzzing about the 33-year-old congressman. A female companion was overheard asking Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) if she thought Schock was in attendance at the journalist and lawmaker-filled festivities. I dont know, Gabbard was heard replying, he might be hiding.

Gardner got seemingly high marks from the crowd for his rapid-fire delivery of one-liners at the event, which traditionally features a pair of lawmakers who deliver humorous remarks. I recognize I was not the original speaker for the night, the Senate freshman said with a grin. I wasnt the first pick. But you know how [Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.)] is he can be so picky about the groups he talks to, Gardner quipped to huge laughs from the audience, making light of the House majority Whips speech before a white supremacist group in 2002.

Rangels remarks appeared to be more off-the-cuff, aside from a short bit in which the veteran congressman received a fictional call (on his flip-phone) from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Telling Bibi who is poised to speak before a joint session of Congress next month that he had lunch with President Obama earlier in the day, Rangel cracked, Im afraid your name never came up.

Among those spotted at the dinner: Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Joaqun Castro (D-Texas), Mimi Walters (R-Calif.), Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a selfie-snapping Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Gwen Graham (D-Fla.), PBS NewsHours Gwen Ifill, journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault (who received the Washington Press Club Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award), NBCs Luke Russert, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Angus King (I-Maine), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and CNNs Wolf Blitzer.

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'Schock value' at Congressional Dinner

Illinois congressman Aaron Schock's communications director had a very bad day Monday when a Washington Post reporter happened to run into Schock's extremely chatty interior decorator.

Post style reporter Ben Terris was admiring Schock's outer officea fiery red affair reportedly adorned with golden sconces and black candleswhen a staffer volunteered, for no apparent reason, that the space was inspired by the popular British period television drama, Downton Abbey.

But then, the best part happened:

A blond woman popped out of an inner office. "Want to see the rest?" she asked.

She introduced herself as Annie Brahler, the interior decorator whose company is called Euro Trash. She guided me to Schock's private office, revealing another dramatic red room. This one with a drippy crystal chandelier, a table propped up by two eagles, a bust of Abraham Lincoln and massive arrangements of pheasant feathers.

Then, my phone rang.

It was Schock's communications director, Benjamin Cole.

"Are you taking pictures of the office?" he asked. "Who told you you could do that? ... Okay, stay where you are. You've created a bit of a crisis in the office."

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Aaron Schock's Interior Decorator Outs His Downton Abbey-Themed Office

The Rayburn House Office Building is a labyrinth of beige offices.

And then, theres ... Rep.Aaron Schocks new digs.

Bright red walls. A gold-colored wall sconce with black candles. A Federal-style bulls-eye mirror with an eagle perched on top. And this is just the Illinois Republicans outer office.

Its actually based off of the red room in Downton Abbey, said the woman behind the front desk, comparing it to the luxurious set piece at the heart of the British period drama.

This was a bold room. But the confidence was a mirage. For on Capitol Hill, caution is king when it comes to the micromanagement of ones image, even in the case of how a congressman decides to decorate his office.

And sometimes, a friendly outsider can inadvertently ruin a communications directors day.

A blond woman popped out of an inner office. Want to see the rest? she asked.

She introduced herself as Annie Brahler, the interior decorator whose company is called Euro Trash. She guided me to Schocks private office, revealing another dramatic red room. This one with a drippy crystal chandelier, a table propped up by two eagles, a bust of Abraham Lincoln and massive arrangements of pheasant feathers.

Then, my phone rang.

It was Schocks communications director, Benjamin Cole.

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Hes got a Downton Abbey-inspired office, but Rep. Aaron Schock wont talk about it.

Lisa Myers
Meet Lisa! An interior decorator who is also an avid wine drinker.

By: IgnitedUSA

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Lisa Myers - Video

Mellinda Abbott, formerly of Billerica, has expanded her Lexington-based accounting business to a storefront at 1310 Main St. (Route 38) in Tewksbury. Abbott is a former accounting manager at Wang Global. SUN / Ryan McBride

Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

TEWKSBURY -- As a young accounting professional, she worked alongside the likes of Joe Tucci and Frank Caine at Wang Global, helping to bring the one-time tech darling out of its 1992 bankruptcy and into the waiting arms of its eventual suitor, Getronics N.V., seven years later.

Two decades later, Mellinda Abbott thrives by serving small businesses from her Lexington-based boutique firm, which recently opened a second office at 1310 Main St. (Route 38) in Tewksbury.

And she remembers exactly when it was time to run her own shop.

"My first day back from maternity leave was 9/11," she said during a recent interview at her Tewksbury office. "I had been working for a small accounting firm and I realized, 'There's no mystery to this,' and that it was time to hang my own shingle."

So as to save on overhead (and make use of her husband's construction skills), Abbott opened her first office at a building the couple owned in Lexington. They deployed the same strategy in Tewksbury late last fall, after a salon in the building they owned closed.

"I really wanted to come to this community," she said. "And I founded this practice because I want to keep accounting simple and straightforward for our clients."

Abbott, whose firm comprises three full-timers and four part-time employees, said she sees herself not just as an accountant, or even an auditor ("although I am an auditor at heart"), but as a small-business adviser.

"Clients should feel able to do what they are supposed to do, which is grow their business," she said.

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Former Wang exec opens accounting firm in Tewksbury

What To Expect From An Interior Decorator For Institutions
This article explains what to expect when you decide to hire an interior decorator for institutions. Visit Us:- http://alliedstudios.in/category/institutional/

By: Kunti Sharma

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What To Expect From An Interior Decorator For Institutions - Video

Courtesy of Sundance International Film Festival

Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez in 'Lila and Eve'

An instant camp classic, especially because it takes itself so adorably seriously

Sundance Film Festival (Premieres)

Viola Davis, Jennifer Lopez, Shea Whigham

Charles Stone III

Lila and Evestars Viola Davis as a mother grieving over her dead son, who teams up with another bereaved mother, played by Jennifer Lopez, to seek revenge on the gangsters responsible. Its an instant camp classic, especially because it takes itself so adorably seriously. It will be the perfect film for girlfriends of both genders to watch together in giggling gaggles when it screens eventually on Lifetime, one of the films producing partners. Viewers may enjoy devising drinking games that involve doing shots every time our avenging angels whack some dude, or glugging a glass of wine every time theres a patently obvious clue leading to the films big silly climactic twist.

In truth, star/executive producer Davis nearly ruins the fun, the big spoilsport, by projecting such quiet dignity as a woman racked with pain. But even she cant save this hot, nonsensical mess. Plus Lopez, her one-time castmate from Out of Sight,is on hand with her Acting Face and meticulously applied, please-take-me-seriously no-make-up make-up to suck any claims the film might have to serious drama right out of the air. For Jenny from the Block, this is her second go round as a woman hell-bent on vengeance after the deliciously ludicrous Enough (2002). They should have made this an outright sequel and called it Enough, Already.

Davis plays Lila, a working single mother in a rough Atlanta neighborhood whose eldest son Stephon (Aml Ameen) is about to go off to college when hes killed accidentally in a drive-by shooting. Lila falls to bits, and can barely cope with looking after her remaining teenage son Justin (Ron Caldwell). The police show precious little enthusiasm for finding Stephons murderer, and just to add insult to injury, Holliston (Shea Whigham, Boardwalk Empire), the detective in charge of the case, barely remembers who Lila is when she comes in to speak to him. But it's made clear later that hes not really such a bad guy because he likes Columbo, and makes fun of his partner Scaketti (Andre Royo) for using big words, and we all know people with large vocabularies are snobs who have to be taken down a peg, right?

In search of solace, Lila joins a kind of 12-step support group for bereaved woman that has some kind of super-treacly name like Mothers of New Angels. There, Lila approaches Eve (Lopez), a former interior decorator who shares Lilas anger and frustration with the police's ineffectualness. Eve agrees to become Lilas sponsor for the group, and over glasses of red wine one night, the women find a gun in Justins book bag. Lila is horrified, but Eve eggs her on to go to the drug-dealing corner where Stephon was killed to look for someone who might know who shot him.

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Lila and Eve: Sundance Review