LA DOLFINA

I've had this arrangement in what I like to call,   "My Cabinet of Curiosities",  for several years now and felt like it was time for a change. "  Inspired   by this set of 20 vintage shell specimens I purchased from my friend Janet at French Blue , who found them on one of her trips to France, I set about changing it. The first thing I did was swap out the botanical prints for the collection of delicate boxed shell specimens identified in French. I must admit that it was hard to decide what to feature in my "new" cabinet as I've amassed quite a collection of God's treasures and wanted to showcase them all! But in the end I defaulted to sticking to the same configuration as my old "Cabinet of Curiosities", introducing similar but new treasures. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out! Some things just can't be improved upon... Believe me... I tried! I even went so far as to leaving just the boxed shell specimens ...

Created by Robert Rufino, vice president of creative services and visual merchandising for Tiffany & Co. "I wanted to feel as if I were on my own big private ship heading somewhere wonderful.  Some evenings I'd have a formal dinner table.  On others, I'd want something colorful and lively.  I like the idea of bringing a collection of seashells and starfish onto a table with beautiful china, crystal, and silver.  Formal with casual works because it's s-o-o-o relaxing." And he believes that a sense of humor and "wit, as in intelligence," are keys to every aspect of design, especially tables where people gather to dine and relax.