Alas, Emerald, however grand the place is or could be made, I must decline the proposal. Find yourself a younger hero, lass, this one’s staying right here in her warm corner by the fire. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppet_on_a_Chain

Moving on then, for every minor “Why’d they do that?” I can find, there is a zillion times better “That is so cool!” waiting to counter it.

As for the “whys” – the sunken entry floor obstacle to disabled visitors and the white rail balusters against cream colored walls above; recreating Redwall Abby in the living room with no visual relief above head level; flowing chiffon drapes above the kitchen counters and a white shag rug under the table.

And the cool counterpoints – a dining room that sports marble floors, red patterned wallpaper, heavy gilt moldings and double crystal chandeliers and still manages to not only not look overdone, but is stunning; a two story great room that avoids too much nothingness by incorporating hammerbeam trusses overhead and a fireplace big enough for a pig roast; an office with a relatively petite yet perfectly proportioned fireplace with delicate wood carvings and a stunning green marble face. And the master bathroom? I could happily live in there for days… Ahhh… The outside, too, projects an incredible air of solidity, taste, and aesthetic appeal with a lovely use of outdoor living spaces as well.

That’s it… when I take over the universe I’ll put forth a decree: All homes will have this much taste, even if size and materials constraint necessitate doing it on a small scale. The Empress has spoken.