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D ebonair young British artist, art historian, and interior designer Aldous Bertram arrives in Dallas this month to debut his first book, Dragons & Pagodas: A Celebration of Chinoiserie (The Vendome Press), as part of Texas Design Week Dallas. Organized by themes such as flora, fauna, porcelain, and tropical exoticism, it's a kaleidoscope of pagoda follies, grand European summer palaces, ornate plasterwork, dragons, and painted wallpapers, with absurdly charming illustrations and collages from Bertram's own hand. Bertram first became enamored with elements of chinoiserie — blue- and-white tableware, ornate floral wallpaper, ivory pagodas — in England, where he grew up visiting lavish country estates. This fascination led him to study the influence of China on English garden design and architecture at Cambridge University, where he earned his doctorate. Now, an interior designer with Amanda Lindroth Design, he's living in Charleston. Bertram's watercolors were featured in the book Island Hopping: Amanda Lindroth Design, and his work in House Beautiful, UK's Homes and Antiques Magazine, and other design publications. His talents as an artist shine in large-scale murals he's painted in Palm Beach and in his intricate miniature designs, including dollhouses sold by Harrods in London, each one impressively built and decorated by hand. Chinoiserie in your Charleston home. I love to collect porcelain figures and animals. I have about eight Ming Dynasty tomb figures with green glaze, which I love, and a large family of green and yellow foo dogs. Why you're drawn to watercolor. I love how delicate it is and how you can embrace the often unexpected characteristics of the water as it spreads and dries. Although it is unforgiving in the sense that every stroke or error is visible, you can still build up the strength in layers. Fall wall color. Bancha by Farrow & Ball — a cozy and calming deep olive shade. What you will never use in a room. Wingback chairs. Fall candle scent. Verveine by Diptyque. Movies or series with the best interiors. The 2020 adaption of Jane Austen's Emma, which has been described as a pastel-colored confection. The BBC's War and Peace — breathtaking Russian grandeur on full display. Aldous Bertram and Amanda Lindroth will speak and sign their respective books at James showroom, Monday, September 20, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, as part of Texas Design Week Dallas. TXDW is a ticketed event; for tickets and complete schedule go to texasdesignweek.com. TEXAS DESIGN WEEK DALLAS DRAGONS, PAGODAS, AND PALM TREES In his first book, artist and designer Aldous Bertram offers an exuberant escape into the world of chinoiserie. By Linden Wilson Jobe Aldous Bertram The Royal Pavilion with faux- bamboo fretwork, Brighton Kitchen at Tureholm Castle, Sweden 100