Le Corbusier

The genius of international design, Le Corbusier (above, in a portrait painted by Morten Lonvig), created the experimental city of Chandigarh, India in 1952 and it's an amazing example of modernist low-density, government, and commercial architecture. It's amazing to see such a cluster of masterpiece buildings anywhere, and it's surprising to see this modernist beacon in India. This is how great architecture and smart design communicates modernity, progress, and innovative thinking to the world.

Ombre from J. Robert Scott

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We interviewed J. Robert Scott founder Sally Sirkin Lewis and asked her about Ombre, her company's proprietary finishing technique now available on selected new designs. "I was intrigued by the transparent effect of watercolors, and I wanted to translate the concept of a seamless color transition to wood veneer," she told us.

The end result is handmade and stunningly one-of-a-kind, with a finish that accentuates the inherent characteristics of the wood and all its subtleties. The dark-to-light transition produces a distinctive, individual effect on any given veneer. FYI: ombre is French for shadow or shade.

Philippe Starck

What happens when you get a famous designer like Philippe Starck speaking at the TED Conference (Technology, Entertainment, Design) without notes, without a PowerPoint presentation, but most definitely not without his insane, creative genius? You'll see in the following video what he has to say about design. (Amen, Mr. Starck.)

Paris Flea Markets

You will find the brilliance of European antiquities in the treasures offered in the many flea markets in Paris. The Saint Ouen Flea Markets features hundreds and hundreds of shops and vendors, and here are some of the recommended dealers within the Saint Ouen cluster:

• Le Monde de Voyage, Marche Serpette, Stand 15, Allee 3

• Du Billiard au Comptoir, Marche Serpette, Stand 9, Ailee 4

• Giles Deriot, Marche Serpette, Stand 37, Ailee 1

• Maison James, Marche Serpette, Stand 00, Allee 0

• D'Ythurbe, Marche Serpette, Stand 25, Allee 6

• S.A.D., Marche Paul-Bert

• Bachelier Antiquities, Marche Paul-Bert, Stand 17, Allee 1

For more information, read our article on French Tips for Decorating Success.