Shell Shocked

The bungalow's decorative saga that began with the fireplace continued when Emily's first shell piece was added to Berthold's mantel. "It needed something, so I started with the framed mirror but ended up covering the whole thing." The attraction of the glistening, light-reflective surfaces found on the polished shells soon extended to other aspects of Emily's collecting and design life. These are brought together by a meticulously arranged interior, set off by the saturated paint colors on the walls and the silken brocades and old lace used on soft furnishings. "The house is entirely Emily's work," says Berthold. "I really have nothing to do with it."