We would like to implore Frank and MarySkillern, the owners of a 4,250-square-foot townhouse at 127 East 62nd Street, not to sell.

The property is listed with with Douglas Ellimans Sabrina Saltiel for $9.45 million, but who other than the Skillerns, he the former CEO of American Express Centurion Bank, she an interior decoratorboth avid patrons of the artswould maintain an array of ceramic dioramas depicting Shakespearean scenes on the lighted glass shelves in the dining room? Who would keep the subterranean cabaret room, dark and shiny with marble floorsoutfitted with a PA system and a baby grandcozy with guests tapping to the tunes of Patti Lupone and Michael Feinstein, whove both performed here? Who else would hang the hallways of upper floors with original, whimsical Miros and sly Hirschfeld caricatures?

The answer is practically no one.

When we visited recently with Susan Bands, a family friend of Ms. Skillern and a broker with Marcus and Millichap who is helping with the listing, Ms. Bands shared theObservers hope that the home, whose asking price was reduced in November by $1 million, find a buyer that appreciates its current charms. For it is not just the Skillerns cultured collectibles that give the place character, and it would be a shame, we agreed, to strip away its aristocratic flourisheseven if they are a touch old-fashioned.

The stately five-story with five fireplaces, four bedrooms and a skylighted media room that opens on a cedar-plank roof deck, went up in the late 1800s. Its ornate motifs recall the wedding cake interiorsand ballgownsof DisneysBeauty and the Beast.

Made in Neo-Grec style, the home sports intricate wallpaper with repeating floral patterns, massive fluted pillars and great quantities of baroque molding and trim. There are heavy, gold-framed mirrors and hefty chandeliers. Theres a library done in red and currently lined with volumes of American history interspersed with small busts of Abraham Lincoln. One imagines the home as an ideal locale for games of hide-and-seek among a certain class of precocious, studious youngster.

None was present during our brief stay, however, but for a well-groomed, small white dog that yapped at theObserverwith the shrill admixture of pride and fear peculiar to toy breeds.

Thats enough, Gracie, Ms. Skillern told the dog, betraying a soft hint of her Southern lineage. You only need to comment.

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Gilt to the Hilt: Upper East Side Townhouse Seeks Artsy Eccentrics With Glitzy Streak

A Ukrainian couple, who were married 10 years ago, remarried as per Hindu tradition in a simple ceremony at a goshala (cow shelter) at Neelavar village in Udupi district on Wednesday.

A retired professional Ukrainian football player, Vitaliy Hryhorovych Reva (40), tied the knot with his wife Elena Reva, an interior decorator, in the presence of their eight-year-old daughter Vasilissa, 16 Russian and Ukrainian friends, and a few local residents.

Mr. Reva wanted to wed his wife in the Hindu custom. The couple had come to receive Ayurvedic treatment here. The wedding was arranged by Ayurveda practitioner Thanmay Goswami. The groom was dressed in a dhoti-kurta and a peta, while the bride wore a sari. The rituals were conducted by priest Manjunath.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Reva said he had read a lot about Indian philosophy and had even applied it in his football game. He practiced Yoga daily, which had helped improve his concentration in the game. It was my dream to get married in the Indian tradition as I had read that marriages here are done by keeping fire as messenger to god amid chanting of mantras, he said.

He had asked Mr. Goswami to arrange a traditional Indian wedding. I wished to get married in the presence of cows and in a spiritual environment, he said.

Dr. Goswami said though Mr. Reva was attracted to Indian philosophy and culture, he also loved his Ukrainian culture. When he expressed his desire for a wedding as per Indian traditions, that too, in a simple manner in rural surroundings, I decided to arrange for it, he said.

Cathiana, a friend of the Revas, said she liked the ceremony. It is very impressive, she said.

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A Hindu wedding for Ukrainian couple

Carousel Post > Life & Style > Home of the Week

Christmas has a peculiar relationship with winter. Its wintry December, but more than that its the holiday season. And as the trees become bare and the cloudy skies and chilling temperatures roll in, most of us dont notice it because of the lights and decorations, brightness and cheer of the holidays.

Then comes January 1st, the lights come down and we suddenly look around at how gray and somber everything is, how short the days are, how the lights all seem to have gone out.

Its part of the Seasonal Affective Syndrome SAD, says interior decorator Jason Jennings, an apt description for peoples moods this time of year.

So Jennings, who spends a good portion of the months of October and November putting up clients Christmas presentations, then turns around in January and decorates for winter. He takes down the things that scream Christmas like Santas and elves but keeps those snowflakes and icicles that remain appropriate through January and February.

His client Susan has an affinity for nature year-round, loving the big windows and broad views in her Indian Hills Estate home. She has filled the space with a neutral palette that is brightened up with natures colors, like grass green and sky blue.

Mostly, she wants to bring the outside in, and Jennings has done that, year-round, with bright, reflective surfaces that are also perfect winter choices. Shiny metal, mirrored finishes and glass bounce the sunlight around the house.

Some of that comes from the Christmas baubles that remain in the house after the Santas, stockings and sparkly reindeer are put away. He doesnt put the trees away in Susans house, though. The ribbons and angels are taken down, but the small white lights remain to sparkle up the greenery.

I love the tree standing in the living room with its white lights, Susan says. It was a Christmas tree, its a winter tree. It brings the outside in. Its light, its nature.

The snowflakes, garlands and stars that lit up the tree in December stay up all winter, too, because whats more wintry than a snowflake? Jennings asks. There are snowflakes and stars hanging from chandeliers, and garlands placed in bowls and dishes. The garlands lend that wintry evergreen mood to the house.

The rest is here:
Decorating For Winter

Shree Shadhi | Interior Decorator and Luxurious Furniture Work
Shree Shadhi Interior is all type of services provide for Luxurious Furniture work, Interior Decorator and Contractor, Building Materials, POP Work and Home Painting in Ahmedabad and Gujarat...

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Traditional family room photo by david hugh bragdon

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

By Debbe Daley

By Debbe Daley Decorating styles have certainly changed with time. In the days when only a few interior styles were recognized, you could surely pin down a style that suited your taste. Traditional, modern or contemporary were your choices. Today when the question is asked, "what's your style," the answer may still be traditional or contemporary but most often it's "I don't know."

In today's world of ever-changing styles it's easy to be confused. Having a decorating identity crisis is normal. Style terms such as shabby chic or rustic modern, coastal and industrial could confuse anyone. These are newer more recent styles that have emerged in the design world in the last 10 to 15 years.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Traditional style today describes a more dressed-down look, more casual. Sofas and chairs may still have a sock arm with a skirt or exposed legs of bun or turned feet but are less fussy. Florals may not be as pronounced with today's traditional style. In window treatments, fewer swags are being used and more floor length side panels provide an updated look to traditional.

Shabby chic is one style that has overtaken the decor world when decorating on a budget. This style was made popular by decorator Rachel Ashwell at a time in her life when she was starting over and wanted to create a comfortable home for her and her children; that meant decorating on a budget. Flea market finds of repurposed furnishings, painted tables, pictures and lamps all add charm to a room's look.

Rustic modern is a style that may turn historic designers over in their graves. A popular style mostly found in kitchen design, it's a combination of modern style paired with rustic furnishings. Salvage wood is used in cabinets or installed on an island base. Modern accessories, fine lines, mid-century furnishings such as bar stools with iron legs, combine to help create this look. Lighting with a contemporary feel and clean sparse walls would describe this decorating style.

Coastal style is easy-breezy. Whites, off whites, soft blues and greens make up this style, along with neutral slipcovers, and textured area rugs of sisal or seagrass. Add some painted or driftwood tables and completing this look is an easy one.

Read more here:
A glossary of style Defining the terms of home decor can help you choose what suits you

Traditional family room photo by david hugh bragdon

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

Decorating styles have certainly changed with time. In the days when only a few interior styles were recognized, you could surely pin down a style that suited your taste. Traditional, modern or contemporary were your choices. Today when the question is asked, "what's your style," the answer may still be traditional or contemporary but most often it's "I don't know."

In today's world of ever-changing styles it's easy to be confused. Having a decorating identity crisis is normal. Style terms such as shabby chic or rustic modern, coastal and industrial could confuse anyone. These are newer more recent styles that have emerged in the design world in the last 10 to 15 years.

Traditional style today describes a more dressed-down look, more casual.

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

Shabby chic is one style that has overtaken the decor world when decorating on a budget. This style was made popular by decorator Rachel Ashwell at a time in her life when she was starting over and wanted to create a comfortable home for her and her children; that meant decorating on a budget. Flea market finds of repurposed furnishings, painted tables, pictures and lamps all add charm to a room's look.

Rustic modern is a style that may turn historic designers over in their graves. A popular style mostly found in kitchen design, it's a combination of modern style paired with rustic furnishings. Salvage wood is used in cabinets or installed on an island base. Modern accessories, fine lines, mid-century furnishings such as bar stools with iron legs, combine to help create this look. Lighting with a contemporary feel and clean sparse walls would describe this decorating style.

Coastal style is easy-breezy. Whites, off whites, soft blues and greens make up this style, along with neutral slipcovers, and textured area rugs of sisal or seagrass. Add some painted or driftwood tables and completing this look is an easy one.

Industrial is a style prominent for city dwellers and loft lovers. It's found more often in old mill buildings transformed into loft living spaces. Exposed beams, high wood ceilings with wood floors and brick walls add warmth to these unique spaces. Iron support columns and vintage mill artifacts are a feature that can be found in most of these transformed buildings.

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Defining the terms of home decor can help you choose what suits you

EVANSTON, Ill. - An 1890s Tudor mansion with an interior decorator for an owner isn't the first place you'd picture a Ms. Pac-Man arcade game blinking in the living room and kids whizzing through the oak-paneled foyer on skateboards.

"We have a very casual lifestyle, and we have a lot of kids here constantly," Jodi Morton said. "It's organized chaos, and I kind of like it that way."

To just about anyone, the Space Invaders arcade game (next to Ms. Pac-Man) and the drum kit (next to the grand piano) would be an improvement over what preceded them: Pigeons roosting in the fireplace and mice scampering throughout the dark interior.

"The house was in very sad disrepair when we bought it," Morton said. "There were no electrical outlets and the entire first floor was covered by pea-green shag carpeting. Millions of animals were residing in the house because it had been vacant for over a year and a half. It would have been a tear-down if it wasn't in a historic preservation district."

Her husband, David Morton, co-owner of DMK Restaurants, saw past the water damage on the first floor and the fire damage on the second, where the four bedrooms had been fitted with locks for boarders at some point.

He admired the lead glass windows, the open vistas from dining room to foyer to living room, and the second-floor library with beamed ceiling, a hallmark of architect Ernest Mayo, who designed many homes in Evanston, Ill., north of Chicago.

For years, the Mortons had been designing their own restaurant interiors and buying and fixing up homes, a hobby that launched their business, 2to5design.

This edifice presented unprecedented challenges.

They bought it anyway.

Selling their north suburban Northfield home, they moved into an Evanston hotel with their three children, ages 9 months to 5 years. They spent the next six months there while crews stripped out asbestos, brought the wiring up to code, laid new wood floors and made the 8,000-square-foot house partially habitable.

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Reviving a Tudor, their way

Earl of Lucan wrote a desperate letter on the night that he vanished Begged his friend Bill Shand Kydd to look after his three children Was married to wife Christina and they wereawarded custody of children He also fell for interior designer Sally Ramsay Patrick who also moved in with him

By Geoffrey Levy and Richard Kay for the Daily Mail

Published: 18:38 EST, 31 December 2014 | Updated: 02:23 EST, 1 January 2015

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On the night that the Earl of Lucan vanished, he wrote a desperate letter stained with blood, almost begging a friend to look after his three children.

Lucan, who had been battling for custody of his children on the grounds that his wife was paranoid and unstable, was a man with a circle of some of the richest and most influential friends in London. But the one he asked to help was Bill Shand Kydd, his brother-in-law.

If you can manage it I want them to live with you, wrote Lucan at the Sussex house of his friends Ian and Susan Maxwell-Scott, before disappearing 40 years ago after the murder of his nanny.

Bill Shand Kydd, right, with his wife Christina. Before vanishing, the Earl of Lucan asked his brother-in-law to look after his children

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The story of Earl of Lucan's playboy best pal who brought up his children

Habitat for Humanity - The Reveal - Bridgeport, CT - Bob #39;s Discount Furniture
See and hear from the Hernandez family as they tour their new home! It was built by Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, filled with brand-new f...

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Habitat for Humanity - The Reveal - Bridgeport, CT - Bob's Discount Furniture - Video

Members of the Silver Threads Quilt Guild posed for a photo recently after donating quilts and other items to Children in Crisis.

By KARI C. BARLOW | Daily News

Note to readers: This series recognizes people who make a difference in their communities. To nominate someone, call Kari Barlow at 315-4438 or email kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com

Needy children across Okaloosa County will be snug and warm this winter thanks to the Silver Threads Quilt Guild.

Its members seamstresses and quilters from across the area made and donated 176 quilts, 112 pillow cases, 113 Christmas stockings and 74 tote bags to a variety of charities serving local children.

There seems to be such a need in this community, said Carol Stearns, guild president. And since we all love to sew and quilt, thats what we do.

The organizations that received quilts include Children in Crisis, Opportunity Place, Shelter house, the Childrens Home Society and Project Linus.

Stearns, who has quilted for four years and been an interior decorator for 30, said guild members make community service a priority.

Thats our challenge, she said. Thats our charter for our organization.

The guilds members are encouraged to donate at least two quilts a year.

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Making a Difference: Local quilters give back