The late, great Bill Blass designed this bedroom for his country home in New Preston, CT. To this day, it feels modern, crisp, and beautifully finished. His use of chocolate and white contrast paint brilliantly highlights the dramatic molding and inspired my design for the historic Hartford, CT Governor’s Mansion, Living Room.

I have a not-so-secret love of stripes and my heart nearly burst when I saw the cover art for the MoMA show, "Color Chart: Reinventing Color 1950-Today." The palette is so joyful and fun - exactly the vibe I wanted in the Washington, CT Home, Upstairs Hallway.

This is the Hotel Gritti Palace bar – being there is like sitting in a box of jewels. The sconces, lamps and even the bottle stoppers are Murano glass. Took this shot at the bar and it inspired the 73rd Street, NYC Townhouse Dining Room.

From the outside, the Berkeley seduces you with traditional charm so it was a thrill to discover the sleek design of The Blue Bar inside. I love how the classical architectural elements are modernized with high gloss paint. My client's desire for steely blue and a fresh take on her formal home immediately made me think of this space as inspiration for the Greenwich, CT Home IV, Living Room.

Italians are not afraid of using color – saw these horizontal, graphic stripes running across the beach cabanas, at Hotel Augustus Lido, Forte dei Marmi, Italy. So chic – they inspired the Greenwich, CT Home III, Family Room.

I've always loved the colorful, graphic quality of candy - I saw these candy sticks at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC. The crispness of color mixed with the white stripes is so satisfying. When my client talked about her favorite colors and wanting her room to be fresh – I immediately thought of this candy! It inspired the Darien, CT Home, Girl's Room.

Le Sirenuse, Positano – the entire hotel is like Heaven. Shot this on the dining terrace. I love the mix of turquoise and the deep pink Bougainvillea against the crisp white walls. This color was an obsession for awhile, and I incorporated it into the Greenwich, CT Home II Bedroom.

Classic, but so modern with the large gilded letters on each shelf. I love the mix of browns and blacks – just gorgeous. Shot this photo at Trinity College's Library in Dublin, Ireland and it inspired the Oceania Cruise Lines, Owner's Suite Living Room.

These are vintage goatskin vellum barware pieces sold by my friend Dallas. Everything he finds and sells is amazing and always inspiring.

I was struck by the pretty and tranquil combination of aqua and pink on this Naples, FL garage. I used this color combination to soften the bold furniture use in the Greenwich, CT Home II, Girl's Room.

The beach at Positano is so much fun. I love the rhythm of colorful stripes – in the fencing, umbrellas and signage. My love of stripes inspired my Washington, CT Farmhouse Home Office.

Visited the Hotel Zur Tenne, in Kitzbuhel, Austria. How cool are the elevator doors …. I love anything Tyrolean and the warm textures and woods inspired the Deer Valley, UT Mountain Home bedroom.