· If something doesn't look right -- a lamp on a table, a chair by a sofa -- try rotating it. Sometimes a slightly different perspective changes the whole look and feel of a piece.

· Think about how you want to use your rooms. In my living room, I wanted one side to feel sleeker for evening entertainment, so I kept the floor bare. On the other side, a rug warms up the space for after-dinner coffee or an afternoon read. You don't have to use rugs everywhere. Bare wood floors are beautiful.

· Use lamps. Overhead lights help light a space. Table lamps help light the people.

· Connect with your past. Use something inherited or that's been with you a long time. Personal items -- an antique, a family portrait, a find from a trip -- make the space unique and like no one else's.

· Use antiques. Antiques ground a room. New houses need lots of antiques.

· Avoid using inexpensive, mass-produced products in a new house. They just look cheap. In an old house with bones, you can get away with it.

· Use things in unexpected ways. While ashtrays have gone the way of the past, why waste a beautiful Baccarat ashtray? I've put stones in mine, to remind me of Hatteras. I also have an antique lantern lying on the floor. It works.

· Something that's off is always good. Throw an unexpected fabric into a room.

· If you're just starting out, invest in a few good pieces, like a sofa and a beautiful table. Buy the best sofa you can afford. It will be worth it.

· Don't be a slave to any one historical period in a room or house.

· Invest in the dining room last. A plywood table with a beautiful cloth will be perfectly functional and still create a mood.

· Don't be impatient. You'll only make mistakes.

· Buy on trips and travel. Forget about photos. Buy keepsakes that will remind you of your trip far more than a photograph. Keep a journal, if you like.

· If your house isn't working, host a big party and see where everything winds up.

· Consider using screens. They add shadow, light, architecture, and art. Have a good upholsterer create one for you.