Outdoor Entertaining from New England Home magazine

I was honored to be asked to contribute some of my favorite outdoor entertaining items for New England Home magazine's Perspectives column in the current issue. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WrkqvYmODQmIypD7uAOB_qUZ99PnGc9esp4yD1mp3xCekwlf7eBbzSqqtw8v5yJY3gGuaPKzm1Sz78GJNe1RjN6f_bvvd32avbA6uThmIQzgMknAfmXZ4CyF-d_DDdob2ux517MaOX0/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WrkqvYmODQmIypD7uAOB_qUZ99PnGc9esp4yD1mp3xCekwlf7eBbzSqqtw8v5yJY3gGuaPKzm1Sz78GJNe1RjN6f_bvvd32avbA6uThmIQzgMknAfmXZ4CyF-d_DDdob2ux517MaOX0/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+1.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIiR31KLcGkgkIxJgOs44KzMhONQo1SFh-CSmRTdBeQvlfb5zTlG2RhMz984AJTDXbWWAWWIjDWOPV3-aNe28WRovXNSFCysE9ffldM_bObkVl1mL-QD8kS0DWo3Q_Sq8oSvOMcogPz8/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIiR31KLcGkgkIxJgOs44KzMhONQo1SFh-CSmRTdBeQvlfb5zTlG2RhMz984AJTDXbWWAWWIjDWOPV3-aNe28WRovXNSFCysE9ffldM_bObkVl1mL-QD8kS0DWo3Q_Sq8oSvOMcogPz8/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+2.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8oz1t20I557UMumwI0c-BTSQZip9HHSprAaY64oHbZss1AHd8NckCqHsZjqBl34pEzRPgcYLUdOUpK33m5VE8Do5hwxNDMl4PM93tQWTKlFCFBa6qWBPSJYhJ36ygXEsqNR6Itt-_as/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8oz1t20I557UMumwI0c-BTSQZip9HHSprAaY64oHbZss1AHd8NckCqHsZjqBl34pEzRPgcYLUdOUpK33m5VE8Do5hwxNDMl4PM93tQWTKlFCFBa6qWBPSJYhJ36ygXEsqNR6Itt-_as/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+3.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI7CyRtWXg-wSeTLDVSTF_3kN6KHEZTOP29znGEewNioPMyKzNWQ8sanjn5FWhjPT_nq_p4rA9Zq1DAKhc1OTFIZ0LLCGhLT66iI-RhzfydQYeZZGznEkfiXGVELmjfeuKdaf03B0e_0/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQI7CyRtWXg-wSeTLDVSTF_3kN6KHEZTOP29znGEewNioPMyKzNWQ8sanjn5FWhjPT_nq_p4rA9Zq1DAKhc1OTFIZ0LLCGhLT66iI-RhzfydQYeZZGznEkfiXGVELmjfeuKdaf03B0e_0/s1600/NEH+Perspectives+Summer+2014+4.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://issuu.com/ncihomedesign/docs/new_england_home_july_august_2014?mode=embed&layout=http%3A//skin.issuu.com/v/light/layout.xml&showFlipBtn=true" target="_blank">Here's the digital edition.</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_CB82BJENhaU33Uq15_wvFq9xLiT4XwnhmKYt2NDIe4qMd0ftXt_QGDxGqdgy4WOREe8h0qTopVPGdq_niQAezh1fW7dqUo3_t0nt_UaywSk_vjVDnxUy7r2pCQAWPo80sGvwmTI1A0/s1600/Linda+sig2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_CB82BJENhaU33Uq15_wvFq9xLiT4XwnhmKYt2NDIe4qMd0ftXt_QGDxGqdgy4WOREe8h0qTopVPGdq_niQAezh1fW7dqUo3_t0nt_UaywSk_vjVDnxUy7r2pCQAWPo80sGvwmTI1A0/s1600/Linda+sig2.JPG" /></a></div><br />

Outdoor Entertaining from New England Home magazine

I was honored to be asked to contribute some of my favorite outdoor entertaining items for New England Home magazine's Perspectives colu...

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Tiny Tables, Big Style

I hope everyone is doing okay in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy!? We were very lucky here on Cape Cod, didn't even lose power, though many others did. My thoughts go out to all those in the more affected areas in New York, New Jersey and all along the coast!<br /><br />I wanted to share a post I just did for <a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/2012/10/linda-merrill-tiny-tables-big-style/" target="_blank">New England Home magazine's blog</a>. I wrote about my love of tiny tables: they are not only beautiful but also very handy!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP34MlNRIXlyk0ncqUA5kCALt-Yvms0Ai_Gsoegqs6MT6tNfolSwCTzqxk_EsrS6LOnwFBAYDoXxcHDCleZyWyFJQHXJOP_vTvJUVoBvHFZTGTiVsq9b9GcYJGBo8tA4X9t7_MpXDXMAaE/s1600/NEH+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP34MlNRIXlyk0ncqUA5kCALt-Yvms0Ai_Gsoegqs6MT6tNfolSwCTzqxk_EsrS6LOnwFBAYDoXxcHDCleZyWyFJQHXJOP_vTvJUVoBvHFZTGTiVsq9b9GcYJGBo8tA4X9t7_MpXDXMAaE/s1600/NEH+blog.jpg" /></a></div>Read the rest of the article <a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/2012/10/linda-merrill-tiny-tables-big-style/" target="_blank">here</a>. And below are some lovely little tables that I've been noticing recently:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/14214555045371292_3zvk32cW_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/14214555045371292_3zvk32cW_c.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Dunes & Duchess'<a href="http://dunesandduchess.com/" target="_blank"> Drinks Top Tables</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/165296248793905570_dEYpRrHn_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/upload/165296248793905570_dEYpRrHn_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Van Collier Ginkie <a href="http://www.shopcandelabra.com/vancollier-ginkie-martini-table.html" target="_blank">Martini Table</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/180284791302653714_JUOw1TMr_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/180284791302653714_JUOw1TMr_c.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=16337420&parentid=A_FURN_FURNITURE&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=10&navAction=jump&color=&pushId=A_FURN_FURNITURE&popId=APARTMENT&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=" target="_blank">Accordian Side Table</a> from Urban Outfitters</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/8233211789829457_QkTlz6d4_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/upload/8233211789829457_QkTlz6d4_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zincdoor.com/p/Silver-Waves-Martini-Table__SA780072.aspx" target="_blank">Silver Waves Martini</a> table from Zinc Door</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stanleysignatures.com/tables/products/712-12-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.stanleysignatures.com/tables/products/712-12-13.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stanleysignatures.com/tables/#69" target="_blank">Manhattan Martini Table</a> from Stanley Signatures</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/1196337371180248_BtlR8lVU_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/upload/1196337371180248_BtlR8lVU_c.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=rhbc_prod373186" target="_blank">Parisian Side Table</a> from RH Baby & Child</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Tiny Tables, Big Style

I hope everyone is doing okay in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy!? We were very lucky here on Cape Cod, didn't even lose power, though ...

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Tuesday whereabouts

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/wp-content/themes/tarski/headers/greytree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="http://blog.nehomemag.com/wp-content/themes/tarski/headers/greytree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Today is my second stint blogging over at the <a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/2011/02/linda-merrill-upholstery-the-value-proposition/#respond">New England Home</a> website. I'm writing about the value of custom upholstery - <a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/2011/02/linda-merrill-upholstery-the-value-proposition/#respond">so check it out</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.nehomemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Settee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.nehomemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Settee.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />And, if you haven't yet had the chance to read my digital magazine ::Surroundings::, I'd love for you to take a look. If you'd like to see specific types of content, let me know!<br /><object style="height: 272px; width: 420px;"><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v2/IssuuReader.swf?mode=mini&autoFlip=true&documentId=110124172644-2ac0dd220bf04558821292ae069dd0a1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v2/IssuuReader.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" wmode="transparent" style="width:420px;height:272px" flashvars="mode=mini&autoFlip=true&documentId=110124172644-2ac0dd220bf04558821292ae069dd0a1" /></object><br /><br /><br />Otherwise, I'll be hunkered down at home. I'm in the blue zone above. Yup, it says it all...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9z-HwDMIt_SOJqHaGHpXiEA7iO_cmMcZaUQQ5x44_OFIE8jN0YiLEsFlHjBsLAlSUVTPLkJuJgF2hcuFw4C_kzS1rsqiA0tdKvDJr0GC7aye5yDlj0FbPgs_n78m_atkDHefQAwzPMiD/s1600/weather+forecast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9z-HwDMIt_SOJqHaGHpXiEA7iO_cmMcZaUQQ5x44_OFIE8jN0YiLEsFlHjBsLAlSUVTPLkJuJgF2hcuFw4C_kzS1rsqiA0tdKvDJr0GC7aye5yDlj0FbPgs_n78m_atkDHefQAwzPMiD/s1600/weather+forecast.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: #d5a6bd;">If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!</div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Tuesday whereabouts

Today is my second stint blogging over at the New England Home website. I'm writing about the value of custom upholstery - so check it ...

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New England Design Hall of Fame - A gala evening for all!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIgVDULbXcw70LFN7B4n4m8j0YExeIb0YIGTWdQ1y_dEbXLOj7NGmijL6vG0LfCF8thpOljceP9NzmnCk9O3IWFLK8L-YMc70nzoHCKk8RnOIoVhhExeCoY-ah-OmA6EvKvWLPJuobmA8/s1600/DSCN4172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIgVDULbXcw70LFN7B4n4m8j0YExeIb0YIGTWdQ1y_dEbXLOj7NGmijL6vG0LfCF8thpOljceP9NzmnCk9O3IWFLK8L-YMc70nzoHCKk8RnOIoVhhExeCoY-ah-OmA6EvKvWLPJuobmA8/s400/DSCN4172.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The 4th Annual New England Design Hall of Fame Awards dinner was held this week at the State Room, overlooking Boston. In four short years, it has undoubtedly become the biggest night for the New England design industry. <a href="http://www.nehomemag.com/">New England Home</a> magazine founder Dan Kaplan created the Hall of Fame Awards and had the foresight to start big and stay that way. The event formula is basically the same every year - a crowded cocktail party, a sit down dinner (which is always delicious), flowers by the venerable <a href="http://www.winstonflowers.com/">Winston Flowers</a> (see above) and presentation of the awards.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH0QW2lIorgImfY5nrsNf-huNYGMMmQzGztJlThJZ96DzPOqnEtEb4wOyBTeuiOJaq6c1-LaLQlfp41bL8kXu76p1qsePZ7NNMFj_TmR7KHEuJs95l124o0uyFkakauUPJSYQGP1Jrjgk/s1600/DSCN4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH0QW2lIorgImfY5nrsNf-huNYGMMmQzGztJlThJZ96DzPOqnEtEb4wOyBTeuiOJaq6c1-LaLQlfp41bL8kXu76p1qsePZ7NNMFj_TmR7KHEuJs95l124o0uyFkakauUPJSYQGP1Jrjgk/s400/DSCN4175.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>New England Home magazine Publisher Betsy Abeles Kravitz offers opening remarks. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(forgive the image, it's a photo of the large screen which was easier for me to shoot than the speaker herself, same with Stacey below). </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr_qjciIg9biWIHtybU_4BpUNXDa2m8v9ivMvy2yVdQKnWxsJTC9fnfH1PFbyXIZ_mMBxi9PrgF79ehIaP1Rssn5VgQuPTAmyXWaQUeljWtrDlwHq2T6uaIx1NFcdDFdpmqX8zjAov5Q8/s1600/DSCN4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr_qjciIg9biWIHtybU_4BpUNXDa2m8v9ivMvy2yVdQKnWxsJTC9fnfH1PFbyXIZ_mMBxi9PrgF79ehIaP1Rssn5VgQuPTAmyXWaQUeljWtrDlwHq2T6uaIx1NFcdDFdpmqX8zjAov5Q8/s400/DSCN4178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Stacey Kunstel (<a href="http://www.stacykunstel.com/">über stylist</a>, writer and <a href="http://stacystyle.wordpress.com/">blogger</a>) makes the presentations each year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxtYzL5cBM1xjmdsrWX0R9BDU-QIwzwSksm29Vn0QSiO1RyvV4K4BzYBNPn1KX-dYfaDbHC2UZijKMjoiQYHMEtQ50WjH4XLewXIRX1mdMHCfGQlz073afeRC-DpXyw7mN41zQUoaV2qc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxtYzL5cBM1xjmdsrWX0R9BDU-QIwzwSksm29Vn0QSiO1RyvV4K4BzYBNPn1KX-dYfaDbHC2UZijKMjoiQYHMEtQ50WjH4XLewXIRX1mdMHCfGQlz073afeRC-DpXyw7mN41zQUoaV2qc/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>An iPhone shot of my dessert. Yum!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5X2pVjYSFn_uqqj7EOm7c3rHpHewreiNiyDf7wfHqrA_G4TVoTDwCqGSImcyTzvxIJsZjqKhGxtwno-UFEYugMDCIXcOmcNpIxr7auLrQ1P5Pv6X0sEH7KzPCcOPVgdQ0OmYrQOmMNFC5/s1600/DSCN4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5X2pVjYSFn_uqqj7EOm7c3rHpHewreiNiyDf7wfHqrA_G4TVoTDwCqGSImcyTzvxIJsZjqKhGxtwno-UFEYugMDCIXcOmcNpIxr7auLrQ1P5Pv6X0sEH7KzPCcOPVgdQ0OmYrQOmMNFC5/s400/DSCN4181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Some of the lovely ladies I sat with - fellow members of my IFDA board. <br /><br />And the honorees of the evening:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs498.ash2/77185_458814404279_511874279_5212595_3946640_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs498.ash2/77185_458814404279_511874279_5212595_3946640_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>Architecture</b></u></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Thomas P. Catalano, AIA, <a href="http://www.catalanoinc.com/">Catalano Architects, Inc.</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.catalanoinc.com/arch/images/oyster1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.catalanoinc.com/arch/images/oyster1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.catalanoinc.com/arch/images/oyster7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://www.catalanoinc.com/arch/images/oyster7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Eric Roth Photography)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">David J. Hacin, FAIA, <a href="http://hacin.com/">Hacin + Associates, Inc.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45PFIkMzNPHyuOJYEcf7jvOtMV_tQz0-8UNQJ4LJOxXT30gBZ6JhbIKd6WN03PU9k2f60P6OB-NZSDnHhXLY2fawBOEZfaN1OpOnz8hX5RprP3Le6iZWS7iBdsi1bB8nkfKeuKNtai6Wx/s1600/Hacin%252BAssociates%252C+Inc._1289670204270.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45PFIkMzNPHyuOJYEcf7jvOtMV_tQz0-8UNQJ4LJOxXT30gBZ6JhbIKd6WN03PU9k2f60P6OB-NZSDnHhXLY2fawBOEZfaN1OpOnz8hX5RprP3Le6iZWS7iBdsi1bB8nkfKeuKNtai6Wx/s640/Hacin%252BAssociates%252C+Inc._1289670204270.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBw9tlFVkim_IaBMWOGHrCHEfBaVenOorcifnATBHvkm6db_ykahCxSnPCLG7ccg6vb-tsQbHHhK0CILv9o0sZ8lrwQOKD3c8lc-gQ4Hw0Ds52nb47ZHC4i4Z_ddoKCz31fsauC8AhOTF/s1600/Hacin%252BAssociates%252C+Inc._1289670549750.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBw9tlFVkim_IaBMWOGHrCHEfBaVenOorcifnATBHvkm6db_ykahCxSnPCLG7ccg6vb-tsQbHHhK0CILv9o0sZ8lrwQOKD3c8lc-gQ4Hw0Ds52nb47ZHC4i4Z_ddoKCz31fsauC8AhOTF/s640/Hacin%252BAssociates%252C+Inc._1289670549750.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Manuel de Santaren, <a href="http://manueldesantaren.com/">Manuel de Santaren, Inc</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://michaeljleephotography.com/index_files/image6431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://michaeljleephotography.com/index_files/image6431.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Michael J. Lee Photography)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.m-geough.com/files/2010/09/manueldesantaren1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="499" src="http://blog.m-geough.com/files/2010/09/manueldesantaren1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eugene D. Lawrence, <a href="http://www.eugenelawrence.com/">Eugene Lawrence and Company, Inc</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6huHbudCRzpHDhEDoSEaf5ZhIfoh0xDOqTbsykZho3Nj0gtbOKB6iS6Y9pZ6Vs47yGy2wLigSvJaQ5DtNqZQuLIq9B_pADGCwt47uqIZXRI7mLwj8UwtpzczxLAlPraJH3az5X2bthokf/s1600/Eugene+Lawrence+and+Company_1289671531285.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6huHbudCRzpHDhEDoSEaf5ZhIfoh0xDOqTbsykZho3Nj0gtbOKB6iS6Y9pZ6Vs47yGy2wLigSvJaQ5DtNqZQuLIq9B_pADGCwt47uqIZXRI7mLwj8UwtpzczxLAlPraJH3az5X2bthokf/s640/Eugene+Lawrence+and+Company_1289671531285.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KhMrSiCaTfMwcdb2QSnut74bkjoz-1R_bYQVMIrM6Su1QTbsrebWRPjeWd3Y0VcLpkSg-CJGzgkiD-OthLAimvepL1_mOZTsOtEOYd_fleZDL3LOJunx8B4ao2yuCxmBuoCyfPs3-B32/s1600/Eugene+Lawrence+and+Company_1289671741399.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KhMrSiCaTfMwcdb2QSnut74bkjoz-1R_bYQVMIrM6Su1QTbsrebWRPjeWd3Y0VcLpkSg-CJGzgkiD-OthLAimvepL1_mOZTsOtEOYd_fleZDL3LOJunx8B4ao2yuCxmBuoCyfPs3-B32/s1600/Eugene+Lawrence+and+Company_1289671741399.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Landscape Architecture</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><h3><strong></strong></h3><div style="text-align: center;">Katherine Alexander Field, <a href="http://www.katherinefield.com/">Katherine Field and Associates</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.katherinefield.com/slideshow/116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.katherinefield.com/slideshow/116.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.katherinefield.com/slideshow/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.katherinefield.com/slideshow/102.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Keith LeBlanc, <a href="http://www.kl-la.com/">Keith LeBlanc Landscape Architecture, Inc</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwFZ1v24_hN2ozD5043NRpZvuif9p4IHAoLcBmzR0VWd1EhCqoDKNDa0L7ZUr29mBti-5GlW8LETVZGefUVrSd2N4JBnPR2CKhP1Y7TOZveu4NNJO10irlrUVUFRGhQQoXA2xMtGIy9Wd/s1600/Keith+LeBlanc+Landscape+Architecture_1289672380383.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwFZ1v24_hN2ozD5043NRpZvuif9p4IHAoLcBmzR0VWd1EhCqoDKNDa0L7ZUr29mBti-5GlW8LETVZGefUVrSd2N4JBnPR2CKhP1Y7TOZveu4NNJO10irlrUVUFRGhQQoXA2xMtGIy9Wd/s640/Keith+LeBlanc+Landscape+Architecture_1289672380383.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bslaweb.org/webart/AwardWinners2009/1-PadaroLane_Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.bslaweb.org/webart/AwardWinners2009/1-PadaroLane_Q.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><u><br /></u></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Specialty Design Award</u></b></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Roger Lussier, Roger E. Lussier, Inc. Specialty Framer<strong></strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XpV3_hfv45dLQF90xJbRcuAFGc2WxBI3R7gcp59J3SB8yVsRtxnfzAvCjyCFe2RZ8ovSeihUpf9FknwPZCmkENX5SLBMZD1PJYl72iYsWBdCRf2Z-0967ayZDDT2D4ZZXANhXKjGEvk/s400/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XpV3_hfv45dLQF90xJbRcuAFGc2WxBI3R7gcp59J3SB8yVsRtxnfzAvCjyCFe2RZ8ovSeihUpf9FknwPZCmkENX5SLBMZD1PJYl72iYsWBdCRf2Z-0967ayZDDT2D4ZZXANhXKjGEvk/s640/IMG_0004.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxAWnOEV8e79ELlrXaCNBGw_0BD9ehRpKuwPH3mTB48OXkPRqr_cAyH7_gmMwiDCViT-9ig4lffObv-wZOlxVrCiqxedK3gzQ461u3pdmpBo-TvgC8XSxHzBo06u38Ub_i3AUshHq1YA/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxAWnOEV8e79ELlrXaCNBGw_0BD9ehRpKuwPH3mTB48OXkPRqr_cAyH7_gmMwiDCViT-9ig4lffObv-wZOlxVrCiqxedK3gzQ461u3pdmpBo-TvgC8XSxHzBo06u38Ub_i3AUshHq1YA/s400/IMG_0003.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc97RZOVcwRj58MBTJn0OwmEW2NMbbEiMgUIj-Vp-dwWpNgokd_0h2t0_BRsV2aSW4hxASW_TLKNJG3Ay_5Tm8K5nkj8dxixJnPB1-KP7g3Yk-O2bKt5jmvlj3lQWzUEgWq8cpcM8S7Hyk/s400/lussier2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc97RZOVcwRj58MBTJn0OwmEW2NMbbEiMgUIj-Vp-dwWpNgokd_0h2t0_BRsV2aSW4hxASW_TLKNJG3Ay_5Tm8K5nkj8dxixJnPB1-KP7g3Yk-O2bKt5jmvlj3lQWzUEgWq8cpcM8S7Hyk/s400/lussier2.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Mr. Lussier's own home, images courtesy of Mrs. Blandings)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Congratulations to all the honorees.  You are an inspiration to those of us who follow in your footsteps. On a personal note, Mr. Lussier's own home shown above and at the dinner are my personal favorites and it was very touching that last year's honoree <a href="http://www.gmcbinc.com/">Gary McBournie</a> stood in for the elderly Mr. Lussier offering his thank you speech. On another personal note, and not to disparage the fine work of all the gentleman honored this year, it's a shame more women were not honored. Something which didn't go unnoticed, or unmentioned, that evening. However, there's always next year. </div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

New England Design Hall of Fame - A gala evening for all!

The 4th Annual New England Design Hall of Fame Awards dinner was held this week at the State Room, overlooking Boston. In four short years, ...

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Decorating the Seats of Power

So, we've been all chewing over President Obama's new Oval Office decor. It has been received with an overwhelming ... eh... and that's on the positive side. Some people, perhaps unwilling to publicly criticize Michael Smith, rumored to be the designer, have supported the decor as at least being satisfying to Mr. Obama. Because after all, the client is always right, right? Personally, I think the designer's job is to bring to the client more than he or she thought was possible. But it must be acknowledged that whether it was Mr. Smith or someone else who did the design, it couldn't be easy to design by committee. Some wonder why we should care, it's his office after all. And to that, I say, no, it's not. The White House isn't known as "The People's House" for nothing. The Oval Office is meant for ceremonial purposes and should reflect the national and international importance of that room. Of course, the President should feel comfortable in the space, but he does have a private office as well. This is his public office and "We The People" are the owners of the space. All our Presidents are temporary inhabitants, there because a majority of those who voted gave them the permission to move in. And so I think it's entirely appropriate that we all weigh in on how we're represented to the world. And, it got me wondering, how does The Oval stack up to other heads of state around the world? (In all honesty, I thought this would be an easy post but it turned out to be more time consuming than expecting. So I've only pulled pics of the French Presidents Office and the UK's Prime Minister's office.)<br /><br /><b>US: The White House</b> (recap)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/WhiteHouseSouthFacade.JPG/800px-WhiteHouseSouthFacade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/WhiteHouseSouthFacade.JPG/800px-WhiteHouseSouthFacade.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/west-wing/oval-office/oval-office-2010-new-overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/west-wing/oval-office/oval-office-2010-new-overview.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>France: The Élysée Palace</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Palais_elysee.jpg/800px-Palais_elysee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Palais_elysee.jpg/800px-Palais_elysee.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />President Nicolas Sarkozy's office, open for tours during a Heritage Day celebration.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbBq6cwTByObw41-E6-_cTXm8uk89e4WEUnyjzxTHOquAEzcmgv6ELbEkMdN8ML7gs4Gda_IZoORXBSUBFgPEb2SMTgt_K9UlohU8hZQ0AFIclXpSZY-JE5qcsrEEl8RGsWBEE5IMh2Ry/s1600/PalaisDeL'ElyseePresidentsOffice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbBq6cwTByObw41-E6-_cTXm8uk89e4WEUnyjzxTHOquAEzcmgv6ELbEkMdN8ML7gs4Gda_IZoORXBSUBFgPEb2SMTgt_K9UlohU8hZQ0AFIclXpSZY-JE5qcsrEEl8RGsWBEE5IMh2Ry/s400/PalaisDeL'ElyseePresidentsOffice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://travelwithterry.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html">Travels with Terry</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rue89.com/files/20090929bureau2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.rue89.com/files/20090929bureau2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.globaldashboard.org/2008/10/01/nicolas-sarkozy-has-a-very-modern-telephone-table/">Global Dashboard</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09xY9Rp0jNeC0/610x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09xY9Rp0jNeC0/610x.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.daylife.com/photo/09xY9Rp0jNeC0">Daylife</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04aZ8EL93RaJC/610x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04aZ8EL93RaJC/610x.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like The White House, The Élysée Palace (finished in 1722) consists of private living space as well as offices and formal public spaces. However, French Presidents seem to have made individual choices as to whether to live there. Mitterand preferred his own home on the Left Bank, Chirac did live in the Palace and Sarkozy apparently prefers to live at Carla Bruni's home in Paris (according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lys%C3%A9e_Palace">Wikipedia</a>).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>United Kingdon: 10 Downing Street</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4953955159_8cb6e79e2f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4953955159_8cb6e79e2f_z.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/conservatives/">Conservative Party </a>on Flickr</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PM David Cameron and his wife Samantha welcome their new daughter Florence home to the iconic front door at 10 Downing, today! (via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/conservatives/4953955159/">The Conservative Party</a> on Flickr)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Former PM Gordon Brown with some Americans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00158/g20-No10group_158492s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00158/g20-No10group_158492s.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00158/g20insideNo10_158404s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00158/g20insideNo10_158404s.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/obama-the-perfect-guest-ndash-shame-about-philip-1659995.html?action=Popup&ino=12">The Independant</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4619144748_c1601471f3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/4619144748_c1601471f3_z.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Current Prime Minister David Cameron (r) in his office</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4601280123_dbd648ae3d_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4601280123_dbd648ae3d_z.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://richardwillisuk.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/cam-and-thatch.jpg?w=500&h=325" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://richardwillisuk.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/cam-and-thatch.jpg?w=500&h=325" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">10 Downing Street was once a private residence and is a fairly congested section of London. The famous black door entrance is relatively unassuming as compared to The White House or The Élysée Palace. The rear of the building is much bigger looking and is the true entrance.  The Prime Minister's and their families do live in the building, which Margaret Thatcher referred to as "living above the shop". </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I think the differing design styles of the three spaces is pretty obvious and expected. All showcase their own countries decorative arts and architecture. France is bolded and gilded to the extreme, England is classic and conservative; and the US is certainly classic, but still a bit of a mish-mosh. One thing I've realized that our Oval could use - large and bold artwork, or groupings of smaller pieces. The small scale of the artwork on the Oval's walls just seems skimpy compared to the sumptuous detailing of France, or ancestral portraiture of England. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Don't forget, I'm<a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2010/09/potus-in-oval-who-did-it-best-decor-of.html"> running a poll</a> about who's Oval Office (from FDR to BHO), so cast your vote if you haven't already done so. You may be surprised by who's winning! And, since we've all been saying what we would want to have seen in the Oval's design, I'm challenging those interested to come up with a design board of what they would do. Let's put our design chops where our mouth's are. Entries accepted between now and September 30th. I'll post all and offer a prize (TBD). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/40/61AD69B5456EE9E48D48218DA34439B1.png" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border: 0pt none ! important;" /></a> <br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0pt none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

Decorating the Seats of Power

So, we've been all chewing over President Obama's new Oval Office decor. It has been received with an overwhelming ... eh... and tha...

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