For New York-based interior designer Sherill Canet, the past is something she recreates with relish, and is one of the hallmarks of her aesthetic. The decorator takes her cues from disparate periods and regions, including eighteenth century French and English antiques, chinoiserie, painted furniture, Art Deco, the glamour of the Gilded Age, and the mansions that once dotted the Gold Coast of Long Island, New York, a region Canet also calls home. 'A la Carte' offers readers a tutorial in decorating in a range of styles, from Old World traditional to chic and tailored. Whether your library is a modern den or a gentleman's English country retreat, Canet advises you on choosing the room's essential elements - with comfort and function in mind. From mixing pieces and fabrics to furniture arranging, Canet helps would-be designers or homeowners create what, in the end, everyone dreams of - a happy, wonderful to live-in home. | 
